Betty Joyce Boston

Betty loved the color blue. She played basketball in Carver High school. Similarly, she enjoyed playing softball, you often could find her play this at the congregation picnic in Brooklyn. As a young adult, she was courageous enough to leave home at the early age of 19 and arrived at Big Apple - New York City. As a budding adult, she quickly found a job and always sent home money for her family in North Carolina. She cared for her them deeply, especially her parents, anything they needed she provided.

Betty was a natural born nurturer, you could always find her taking care of others. One of the ways she took care of people was through her food. A few of her favorite dishes were mac & cheese, turkey wings, southern style fried chicken, collard greens with a smoke neckbone.

Betty had some college education in the medical field. She began working as a nurse in 1963. She later married the love of her life Laverne Boston on September 26, 1964. Their initial date was nothing short of amusing. Laverne Boston being the "the main man" he is, asked Betty out on a date without any money. Betty, being the caring person she is, laughed it off and paid for him anyway, and the rest is simply history.

They soon became parents to their oldest daughter Sarah in 1965. Since she enjoyed crunching numbers Betty began 23 years of service in the Treasury Department of Manufacturer Hannover Trust in 1967. In 1973, she gave birth to her only son Sylvester. Always a student of the Bible, Betty started studying it at the tender age of 9. As the years went by she continued to learn more about Bible truths. Eventually Betty dedicated her life to Jehovah God and became one of Jehovah's Witnesses on February 16, 1974, at Brooklyn Bethel as a member of the Brevoort Congregation in Bed-Stuy. She became a continuous evangelizer and voluntarily served in this capacity for several years. She encouraged many during her years of extensive field service in door-to-door, street work, and telephone witnessing, etc. Her love for Jehovah greatly influenced her three children, for all of them participate in these selfless activities.

Later, Betty and her family moved to Queens. There they became active members of the St. Albans and then the Cambria Heights Congregations. She planted her family roots for many years; opened her heart and home for anyone. As a result, for 23 years she hosted the local congregation book study. Once a month she would have a goody night, and no one wanted to leave. Betty welcomed her third child and second daughter Joycelyn in 1982, the greatest surprise yet. Due to her motherly instinct, it was no wonder she started a daycare center in her basement. Her daycare was not your average daycare. She always kept children as long as the parent's needed and provided a piping hot plate for those who were running late. Later in the 90's her three grandchildren were born all within two years from each other. After the first grandchild was born she was no longer just a wife or mother, she was a grandmother first and foremost. She helped each of her grandchildren strengthen their legs by playing the game called up and down. Betty played this game with Greyson, her youngest grandchild, just a few days before her passing. Each grandchild had a special place in her heart; she was their first teacher, educating them on Bible truths about Jehovah God and to always put him first. Babysitting her grandchildren in her infamous Grandma School was tuition free, for her lessons were priceless.

Betty acquired many skills and enjoyed various activities throughout her years. She could stitch a dress to perfection, potty train, because Sarah couldn't even though she tried, nurse children back to health, attend the Apollo theater in Harlem with Sarah and Ms.Elliot to watch the smooth moves of The Temptations, calculate funds with precision, catered to her children's friends, enjoyed gardening, and watched NBA and MLB games with her life partner, Laverne. Never call her during a Knicks or Yankees game, even her children followed this super fan's rule; above all, she was like a mother to everyone.

In addition, to her many talents, she was a professional at assisting Sylvester in setting up his classrooms, checking papers, and writing lesson plans. Even though she didn't particularly care for it, she helped Joyce sing and write songs. However, she did enjoy showing her how to cook her famous dishes.

Telling the truth was a cardinal rule in the Boston household. Even if you did something wrong, telling the truth would save you. One look was enough for some, while others learned through trial and error. She taught you how to be a good person, and for her - that was enough.

In 2016, she finally decided to move closer to her children. She served in the Pines Central Congregation until she passed away.

Betty leaves behind her husband of 52 years Laverne Boston; her daughter Sarah Celestine Roberts (Lonnie Roberts); son Sylvester Willie Boston (Showeshi Boston); and daughter Joycelyn Laverne Johnson (Gaarcia Johnson); grandchildren Cameron X. Roberts, Morgan C. Roberts, Racine C. Roberts, and Greyson G. Johnson; two sisters and three brothers, two sister-in-laws and one brother-in-law, along with a host of other family, friends, and spiritual children.

To close, her heartbeat, Racine, had a tradition whenever they parted, they would rub noses and say together: Remember I will always...