Betty Jane Stokes

Betty Jane Peaco was born in Delta, Pennsylvania to Thomas and Erma Peaco. Betty was the only daughter of six children. Needless to say, Betty had an army of brothers protecting her throughout her childhood and teen years. The family relocated to Aberdeen, Maryland where Erma married George Robinson. George was quickly welcomed into the family as Dad. In the seventh grade, Betty met Theodore Stokes, the love of her life. The two started dating in the tenth grade at Harve De Grace Colored High School. On November 2, 1953, during Theodore’s first year at Morgan State University the two were married. Soon thereafter, they welcomed their first child, Karen Theodora on April 30, 1954. In April 1956, Theodora Betty was born, and in June of the same year, Theodore graduated from Morgan and joined the Army as a commissioned officer. On September 26,1962, they welcomed their son, Theodore K, Jr., known as Ken. Betty was truly a renaissance woman. She was an artist by nature. Her talents ranged from home décor, antiquing, crocheting, macramé, sewing, floral arrangement, gardening, and of course cooking. Traveling for the Army, enhanced all these talents. Betty took a piece of each place she traveled to and incorporated these places into her style - from Georgia to New York; from France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, England to Holland. Betty was liked by all. Her beautiful smile, warm personality and hospitality were known and loved by all. She fiercely supported her husband and children. Always the perfect military wife, class mother for all her children, and even the Girl Scout leader for her daughters’ troop. Each birthday for her husband and children were celebrated with their favorite homemade dinner and dessert. At the end of every day, you would find Betty on her knees praying and giving thanks to God. Betty was a strong woman. She kept her family safe and well when Theodore was assigned to Korea and Vietnam. She even conquered her fear of driving over bridges to get the family back to Maryland for the holidays. In 1983, Theodore retired from the Army, and they made Williamsburg, Virginia their permanent residence. Betty volunteered at the medical clinic at Fort Eustis and filled the rest of her time with gardening, feeding and watching her beloved hummingbirds, cooking, spoiling her “grands” and “great grands”, and of course spending time with the love of her life! Betty was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, William Peaco, Dan Peaco, Eatress Peaco, Russell Peaco, and Gene Peaco; and grandson Christopher Hayslett. Betty had a blessed and well lived life. On Friday, October 16, 2020, the Lord called Betty home. Betty leaves to cherish her memory, husband Theodore; children, Karen, Theodora, and Ken (Catharina); grandchildren, Aaron Hayslett (Leslie), and Michelle Saunders; great grandchildren, Kiara Hayslett, Malachi Durand, and Curtis Baptiste, and a host of other family and friends. Betty will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.