Bettye Davies Frierson

Bettye D. Frierson, 1933-2024, outlived five brothers, four of whom, Bob, Bill, Edris and Dick, are in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall Of Fame. Bob (Rochester Royals) and Dick (1964 Olympics) are in the Naismith National Basketball HOF. Tom, an engineer, had a career at U.S. Steel in Birmingham, AL.

All five brothers insisted that Bettye was the best athlete in the family. Bettye said, “I’ve still got the bruises from playing football with the boys on the corner lot to prove it.”

“Just let her play,” said future All-American big brother Edris, when some of his pick-up baseball teammates ignored Bettye. “Try her in left field,” Edris insisted. After three catches and a base hit the issue did not come up again.

Meanwhile, Bettye was honing her acrobatic skills every day at a dance studio. At John Harris H S she became the standout acrobatic, baton twirling majorette, a “Show Stopper” doing aerial walkovers in high boots and a feathered top hat.

Bettye’s father, Edris Davies, died during Bettye’s high school senior year. She was college-prep but stayed home with her mother, Esther, and younger brother, Dick. She took a job at Farm Bureau Insurance determined to earn enough to go to college after two years. In 1953, she entered Wheaton College (Illinois) where older brother Bill was working toward a degree which would lead to seminary.

Freshman Bettye met junior Ed Frierson at Wheaton and though she was two years behind him academically, she occasionally had to remind him to “respect your elders.” Indeed, Bettye was three months older than Ed.

Though she worked cleaning homes and serving food at the Student Union five days a week, she became a Wheaton College cheerleader. Her fondest memory was racing along the sideline when Brother Edris, “The Harrisburg Express,” was streaking toward the end zone. “When he crossed the goal,” as she would tell it, “he turned his head AND WINKED AT ME!” She never said, “But I know I beat him.” The family always understood that.

Ed and Bettye met when they were 21 years old. They married when they were 22 years old and they had FIVE natural born children before they were 26 years old:

Suzan, plus Debby & Dianne, Eddie & Julie, two sets of twins! Later, Bob, her “Best Gift” (cue Barbara Streisand’s “The Best Gift”) completed Ed & Bettye’s circus.

Bettye, a Phys-Ed, Home-Ec dual major graduated from Akron University the evening that three Frierson generations crossed the stage to receive honors. Ed’s mother was granted her Masters Degree. Bettye received her dual major Bachelor Of Science Degree while Suzan, resting comfortably in Bettye’s womb, was taking in all the hoopla.

Bettye worked part-time at Ensworth School in Nashville, TN just long enough (2 years) to earn money for a high quality, upright piano which she thought her family should have . . . before Ed would earn enough to purchase a piano.

Bettye loved EVERYTHING about raising her children. Especially, as they grew older, she never missed a game, recital, play or event involving a Frierson in any capacity. The family learned to support each other ignoring fatigue, boredom, or after-hours closed restaurants. “They all support each other,” she would boast when she would receive a text from one of the grandkids who was attending a cousin’s event.

Ed and Bettye’s annual family reunions grew until they included 22 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Yeah, that reunion is a circus.

Bettye went “home” knowing that her love had been a catalyst for helping to create something special in one small corner of this world. In the heaven realm of creation she will be received by her father, Edris, mother, Esther, her brothers, daughter Suzan and in-laws galore. One other recognizable spirit soul will be present. Jesus.

In the final month of Bettye’s life, she and Ed were watching a Bill Gaither Homecoming program recorded in Israel. Larnelle Harris stepped forward and began singing, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked.” Bettye turned to Ed and said, “I want that sung at my memorial.”

Jesus promised, “Lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the earth.”

VOILA!