Beatrice "Bea" LaRue Hill Renfrow|
|
| Bea's children with William Joseph Renfrow |
|---|
| Jean LaRue Renfrow Matney |
| Joan Lorraine Renfrow Maruzo May 20, 1944 Newport News, VA-April 1, 2017 Norfolk, VA |
| Patricia Ann Renfrow Willis |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Beatrice "Bea" LaRue Hill Renfrow, of the Tempy Ann Branch, was born May 30, 1925, in the same house as her father, Millard. Bea was the third daughter and fourth child of Millard and Zilphia Stancil Hill. She was delivered by Aunt Topsey Richardson, a well-known midwife who lived in the community, close to Aunt Ronia and Uncle Stephen Stancil.
Her Uncle Clarence Hill gave her the nickname "Bea." She grew up on the farm and in the house built by her grandpa Fred Hill for his beloved Tempy Ann Stancil in O’Neal Township, Johnston County, North Carolina. One of Bea’s jobs was gathering eggs and feeding the Dominique chickens after school. She also helped quilt.
Bea recalled that when Gone With the Wind came out in 1939, it was the talk of the neighborhood. Millard was exhausted from hearing all the talk and finally said, “I’ll be glad when you all see Went With the Wind!” Bea saw it when she went on a double date to Wilson, NC.
Bea was an usher at school events and was popular. She was nominated for "Miss Glendale School" when schools used this as a fundraising event. Each penny counted as one vote. Her competitor was Mildred Woodard whose pa put in $50 to make sure Mildred won! Bea met handsome William Joseph "Joe" Renfrow at Glendale High School and they began seeing each other. Bea’s class was the first to graduate after the 12th grade was added. She was selected Valedictorian of Glendale High School in 1942.
Her teacher arranged for her to give her speech before the Johnston County Board of Education in Smithfield with the faculty from Glendale also in attendance. Bea’s speech was outstanding.
Bea married “Joe” on January 29, 1943, in Dillon, SC. They moved onto the family farm. Bea worked hard often pulling corn and hauling it in alone as Joe got a job in Raleigh. Joe decided they must leave the farm because they needed more money and was hired by the Newport News Shipyards. They moved into a Newport News apartment. World War II was raging and Joe received his draft papers. He enlisted in the Navy a month after twin daughters Jean and Joan were born in Norfolk on May 20, 1944. Bea took her daughters back home to Johnston County. Joe visited when he could.
Daughter Patricia was born June 7, 1945, in Wilson. Joe was discharged and returned to Virginia in 1946. They purchased a home at 8439 Radnor Road in Norfolk. Bea met neighbor Mary Poole and they developed a close enduring friendship. Christ United Methodist Church on Bayview Boulevard became their church home. Bea loved her large yard with room enough for a small garden where she grew tomatoes, cukes, and straight neck squash.
Bea’s first cousin, P.G. (Paul Grady) Hill, worked for Big Star Grocery Store in Norfolk and lived with Bea and Joe for a time. He influenced Bea to go to work for Big Star. Bea was an exemplary employee and loved by management and customers. Customers knew Bea as the lady with the pretty smile and sweet disposition.
Bea became a widow in 1962 at only 37 years old. Joe was buried in Johnston County. Bea worked tirelessly to provide for her daughters. They were a loving and close-knit family. Bea had little time to relax but one way she relaxed was by watching her favorite T.V. show, Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. She seldom missed it. Johnny was funny and it gave her a chance to laugh. Bea also enjoyed the music of Floyd Cramer, the famous pianist, who played piano for many stars including Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Eddy Arnold, and Roy Orbison.
Laverne, Bea’s niece, invited Bea and Eloise to accompany her and husband Don on several group tours. One of the last trips was to Nashville where they visited the Grand Ole Opry, Opryland, and several museums. Bea kept them all entertained with her joke telling. She had a phenomenal memory and told them one joke after another, keeping them in stitches.
Bea retired from the grocery store. Zilphia, decided at 99 years old, it would be better not to live alone anymore. She moved to Norfolk and in with Bea. Bea loved spending time and pampering her Mother and Zilphia loved being with Bea. She died in 2003 at 105 years old.
Reflecting on her life Bea said, “I wish I’d been a school teacher.” She was proud there are three school teachers in her family; grandson David Matney, granddaughter Laurie Ann Willis Ritter, and her husband Christopher. Bea loved fresh vegetables and planted an annual garden with the help of Joan’s husband, Cecil. Over the years she visited Mavis in Elm City, NC, knowing Mavis would be cooking some of her favorite childhood dishes including chicken pastry just like Zilphia made, fresh peas, squash, tomatoes, and oven-baked cornbread.
Jean, Joan, and Pat could not have loved their mama more. They were devoted to Bea and gave her the very best of everything. After Bea died, Pat shared this, “Mama, I hope to meet you one day cause you have been a wonderful person.” Jean treasured Sundays at her Mother’s, they were times for this close-knit family to gather for dinner, conversation, and quality time. Joan remembered that on holidays the family celebrated together, sharing love and making memories that would last a lifetime.
Beatrice died June 29, 2010, in Norfolk, Virginia. She fell in her home on Tuesday, May 25, and broke her hip. Surgery was necessary and sadly she never recovered enough to return home. Beatrice is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia.
Beatrice was preceded in death by parents Millard and Zilphia Stancil Hill who died at 105, brother Vernon ‘Jim’ Fletcher Hill, brother-in-law Willie Narvin Godwin, Leon ‘Shine’ Massey Wright, nephew James Earl Godwin, Donald Ray Wright, and niece Sara Elizabeth Sidelinger.
Beatrice is survived by daughters Jean Laurie and her fiancé Tony Flores, Joan Loraine Hilton and husband Cecil, and Patricia ‘Pat’ Ann Willis and husband Michael Willis; granddaughter Laurie, husband Christopher Ritter and great–granddaughter Sarah; grandsons William Stephen Matney, wife Cindy, great-granddaughter Ella Grace, William David Matney, wife Gina and great-grandson Austin David, Troy Willis, Ryan Willis and Rodney Harkey; sisters Mavis Cassandra Hill Godwin, Hazel Hill Wright, Virginia Eloise Hill Sidelinger and husband Wayne; sister-in-law Dorothy Hill; nieces Dorothy June Hill Brinchek, Brenda Kaye Hill Pollard and husband Larry, Linda Faye Hill Archer, Zilphia Dianne Godwin Strickland, husband Clay, Judith Laverne Crocker Murray and husband Donald, Nancy Eloise Sidelinger Herring and husband Jamie; nephews Willie Eugene ‘Gene’ Godwin, Charles Randall Godwin and wife Patsy, Joan Bass Godwin, widow of nephew James Earl Godwin, Leon Wayne Wright and wife Jeannie, Linwood Massey Wright, Yvonne Dunston Wright widow of nephew Donald Ray Wright, Gregory Hill Wright and wife Terry, Steven Lee Sidelinger and wife Charla, Michael Wayne Sidelinger and wife Andrianna, Lyndon Earl Sidelinger and wife Laura; great-nieces Elizabeth Godwin Williams, husband Tim and sons Evan Cole and Mason Alexander, Jennifer Godwin Barnes, husband Sean Russell and son Carson Plank, Cathy Strickland Barnes, husband Christopher Todd and daughters Caitlyn Elizabeth and Paige Mackenzie, Cindy Strickland, husband Dennis, daughters Logan Dianne, Nicole Grace and son Seth Joseph, Kelly Godwin Johnson and husband Brian Charles, Shannon Wright, Rebecca Michelle Sidelinger, Lauren Melissa Sidelinger, Sarah Catherine Sidelinger, Emilie Elizabeth Sidelinger, Carolyn Grace Sidelinger; great-nephews James Marvin Brinchek,Jr., Randall Scott Godwin, Michael Sean Godwin and wife Wendi, Christopher James Godwin, Bobby Glenn Murray, Donald Keith Murray, wife Lynn, daughters Anna Michelle, Judith Lauren, son Brandon Keith, Christopher Lee Wright, Kevin Dewayne Wright, wife Joy, daughters Kasey Jean and Madison Caroline, son William Harris, Richard Lee Sidelinger; plus many cousins.
Grandson Ryan said this about Bea whom he called ‘Mimi’. “She was the one person who influenced me the most in my life. She shared wise advice and was a stable force of continuous love.” Bea will be remembered for her inner and outer beauty. She was a kind and gracious woman, loved by family and friends. Bea never hesitated to go the second mile. She never complained, just tried to lighten your load. When an old flame saw her recently, he said admiringly with a twinkle in his eye, “Bea, you are still pretty!” and she was!