Mrs. Betty Gordner Hickman, later Mrs. Hamilton, of Richmond, VA went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. Mom was born on October 31, 1936 in Dendron, VA, Surry County, in a house just a few miles from the Virginia Diner. She was preceded by her parents, George K. Gordner, and Annie B. Conner, both of New Bern, NC. The youngest of seven, she was also preceded by four sisters and two brothers. Mom was twice widowed, now being survived by her son, Michael Hickman, and two daughters, Mrs. Cheryl Jernigan, and myself, Deborah Hickman. She is also survived by six grandchildren and three great grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews.
Mom's family lived in various places of VA, in Dendron, Amelia, Cumberland, and finally Montross, in the Northern Neck, Westmoreland County. She graduated there at Washington and Lee High School, in 1955, and was Valedictorian of her class. She went on to do one year of Business school at RPI, Washington and Mary College (now VCU). She worked in many places throughout her life, and became a retiree of the State of Virginia, Department of Environmental Quality. Then she became a full fledged auto insurance agent, although part time, and fully retired in the year 2000.
Mom was gifted in many ways. From our grandmother, the love of music was handed down. She learned and played piano beautifully, as our grandmother taught her. In her early twenties, she almost became an instructor of ballroom dance for Arthur Murray Studios. From her high school years, she was a creative writer of both poetry and prose, and had aspired to become an author, hoping to have written her memoirs for us, her family, as well as children's story books.
So spiritually strong and loving, (but also tenacious) our mom encouraged each of us to grow in our Christian faith. There was never a time that any of us could not go to her for this encouragement, a listening ear, and a wealth of wisdom for life's challenges. Ever trusting of and faithful to the Lord, ever prayerful, believing as Romans 8:28 says, "All things come together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose", she instilled in us to have that same trust, that same faith, never wavering.
Mom, you have crossed over to the shore of Heaven, with all of our loved ones already there, and you are in the presence of our Lord. You lived a life fulfilling God's purpose for your life as loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. I can almost hear the words of our Lord as spoken in Matthew 25:21 "Well done, my good and faithful servant... enter into the Joy of your Lord." We miss you, we love you, but we have the Blessed assurance that we will meet you again on the other shore, and all be together in the Holy presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, forever. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
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