Betty Jean Spikes Falkner

"Betty was a lover of Her God and His people and would tell anybody of His great Love”. Betty Jean Spikes Falkner was born on Thursday, June 5, 1947, in the middle of the night, on Storrs Street in Painesville, Ohio. Betty departed this earth on Thursday, January 7, 2021, in the middle of the night, at TriPoint Medical Center in Concord, Ohio; surrounded by her family and loved ones and Pastor Travis McQueen, listening to her favorite Gospel songs and many prayers. Eighth child, born to the union of Willie Andrew Spikes Sr and Lady Mae Adkins Spikes. Grandparents were Mack Spikes and Mary Lue Clayton Spikes, King Agrippa Adkins, and Maggie Nolia Fullwood Adkins (all deceased). Betty will be immensely missed by her host of family and friends. To know her, was to love her, simply divine. Celebration of the life of Betty Jean Spikes-Falkner Brothers Mack (deceased), Willie Andrew Jr (living), and Ralph Spikes (deceased) Sisters Merrell, Eloise, Eva and Juanita, and baby sister Linda (all her Sisters are deceased). Betty lost her dad at age 4, much too soon, Lady Mae was such a devoted, wise, and loving Mother that managed to do it all after the passing of her husband Willie. Every one of them graduated from T.W. Harvey High School and some even graduated college; they never missed a Birthday or Christmas or special holidays in between they all grew up in a home filled with love. With the grace and mercy of God, her parents were able to show their family that monetary value was not everything, but with love, you always have everything you need. In 1955 Betty became an active member of St. John Baptist Church Painesville, Ohio; under the Pastoral Leadership of Rev, Wilbur Jones (deceased) of Cleveland, OH; she was baptized at Calvary CME church in Painesville as the baptismal pool had not been completed at St. John. She actively served on the MR guilds, choir, and usher board; she was also responsible in her teenage years to typeset the bulletin for Sunday morning service. Betty was a highly active child anything her brother Ralph could do; she could do better. From jumping over the hedges in the front yard to playing kickball, baseball, skating on the sidewalk, riding her bicycle, with the Mathews Street gang; to climbing on top of the garage in the backyard watching the cars go by on Jackson Street and naming the type of car just from the sound of the engine. Once her eldest Sister Merrell came back home to visit after being married, just to play baseball with her siblings, they played so hard and aggressive, that the baseball hit her and broke her skin pretty bad, and Merrell did not want her to go into the house to show their Mother what had happened and neither did she as they knew the game would be over, so they kept playing the game until they finished then went inside to get help from Mother. She loved playing sports, Basketball was her favorite to play, she would often say, I‘d rather be able to play Basketball than to watch it on television. Betty’s accolades and educational experience began at Painesville City School graduating from Thomas W. Harvey HS, Class of 1965 with a concentration in business under the DCT Diversified Cooperative Training. In addition, she also attended Lakeland Community College pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Some of her extracurricular activities were music and glee club. Betty was also a Girl Scout; she often would recite their creed during jovial moments. Betty married Roger Falkner Sr. (deceased) in November 1967. They met at the Morse Avenue playground, she was introduced to him by her younger sister Linda. They loved having gatherings at their home from hosting Pastor’s Aid’s dinners to just socializing with their friends; they later divorced July 1983, children born to their union: Son, Roger Jr., children Kourtney Maurice, Roger III (Tre’), Gianna Rachelle. Daughter, Kelly Jean (Verlin) Williams; children Brittney Michelle and Verlin Germaine III. Son, Jason Andrew, children Tashianna Reenah and Zachary Ryan. Betty instilled in her children and grandchildren as well as her nieces and nephews some of the same values that were taught to her by her Mother, Lady Mae. At times she could be strict, but we know it was only for our protection; and she was also a very giving Mother, if you needed it, she gave it and that was to anyone in need. However, she made sure her children were in church and actively participating, even when she couldn’t be there due to her health, no excuses as to why her children couldn’t be there. She wanted us all to know Jesus and receive salvation, that was most important. Even during one of her last gatherings she reiterated to her family as we all stood around her bedside, she wanted them to receive Salvation so they would one day see her and our loved ones in heaven one day. She genuinely enjoyed her family gatherings. Betty was a no limit soldier in more than one way, she always kept God first in everything she did. From giving advice to her Senior friends and Cousins on what they should do for health care services to helping them plan out their meals, she often in her later years had her children Roger, Kelly, and Jason and sometimes her nieces and nephews help execute what she needed to get done if she could not do it herself. If there was an event to be had, she could execute very well without physical limitations or from her bed even during her physical limitations; from making the necessary phone calls and making sure every detail was in place, she could get it done. Betty was the heartbeat of her household; she was a planner as many of the details in this obituary that you are reading were prepared in advance. There was once a wedding on Valentine’s Day in 1992, for her nephew Rodney and his bride Anet when she could still walk, that she helped to execute, and it seemed as if this wedding had been planned out months in advance. She helped many of her nieces coordinate their weddings and other events. Her last event she planned was the 80th Birthday drive by for her brother Willie and entrepreneur event at New Hope Baptist Church; yes, she was that good. She always directed you to do the most proper thing in all circumstances. One of her favorite sayings to her children, especially if they were fighting or misbehaving was “He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is LOVE” I John 4:8, which was usually followed by a corrective action, as her children never knew what that punishment would be… punishment could have been her blue hair comb coming in for a hot landing against your skin or you just did not know until the very moment, (you can laugh). Betty’s Work Experience Her first job in January 1965, her Senior year in high school; was at The Lake Theatre as a popcorn concession stand attendant, Mary Poppins was the big feature movie that year. She was required to climb into the popcorn machine at closing to clean the entire machine, she also was very quick with her calculations on orders, for the patrons. In June 1965 she was employed by the Ohio Bell company as a local and long-distance operator number 32. Her oldest brother Mack drove her to Cleveland to take her test for Ohio Bell, and yes, she passed on the first time. From 1965-1974 the company moved its base to Cleveland, OH, she did not travel with them because she had young children and wanted to be close in case of emergency. SO, she severed her ties with them and became a substitute secretary for Painesville City Schools, auxiliary clerk for St. Mary’s under the remedial program. She worked as a Magnetic Card Typist for John Shoop, a prosecutor of Painesville for approximately 2 years. Then employed by the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in August 1979 she was a Buyer for the Spare Parts Division. Their favorite saying “Parts R US”. God redirected her life’s plans, with a severe flare-up with Multiple Sclerosis, she had been keeping it at bay since 1974. God’s plans for her life changed in March 1992. She always wanted to be like the secretary Peggy on Mannix, we think she came close and beyond. Betty’s Personal Life Experiences Her church affiliation was changed in 1972 to the New Hope Baptist Church, under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Vincent R. Miller (deceased). She would have been there for the first meeting, but she was on the evening shift at Ohio Bell downtown Painesville, she remembered driving past James and Genie Dillard’s house on Kerr Avenue and telling Pastor Miller, she was with them. During her service at New Hope, she served on the Deaconess Board, visited the sick and shut-in, as well as singing in the choir under the direction of Merlin Harding one of her songs she led was “Jesus, When Troubles Burden Me Down”; she also taught Sunday school. Betty loved to travel when she could; trips to Disney and the Bahamas to visiting her family in Rochester, New York, and Beckley, W. Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio was a favorite thing to do, which over time as her health declined those visits turned into phone calls. Betty and her siblings would often call anyone they knew on their birthdays to sing a “Happy Birthday” tribute, some of you may have received a few of those phone calls. She was also known to call up to the Cleveland Indians to have them announce special Birthdays and Anniversaries for Family and Friends. Hobbies were working the telephone, often having 3-way conversations for hours; which was later taken over by Facebook the new modern convenience of communication, and then the use of Alexa her favorite AI; watching ALL the Baseball games she could, she loved her Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns, she was such an avid fan, she often was able to get on the phone and talk to Bruce Drennen during his sports television show; she also enjoyed watching Tennis, and loved seeing the Williams’ girls perform! She also loved Flower Designing and Candy making were a few other things she enjoyed as well. Her favorite color was Blue, she loved all shades of Blue especially, Cinderella Blue. Some of her favorite Bible verses: 1 John 4:8. Whoever does not LOVE does not know God, because God is LOVE. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. James 1: 2-4 Count It All Joy!!! 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations. 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Betty’s favorite Songs were: “Do Not Pass Me By” and “Hold to Gods Unchanging Hand” and her all-time favorite “Blessed Assurance”. My Closing Lines: Won’t you help me lift the Savior up and meet me round the throne in that great getting up morning, fare the well. Do not grieve for me as I am well and embracing God’s GLORY!!! Betty leaves to cherish her memory: Her Children; Roger Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio; Kelly (Verlin) Williams of Painesville, Ohio, and Jason of Painesville, Ohio; Grandchildren: Kourtney Maurice Falkner of Cocoa, Florida, Roger III (Tre) of Merritt Island, Florida, Gianna Rachelle Falkner of Cleveland, Ohio; Brittney Michelle Williams of Fowler, Ohio and Verlin Germaine Williams III of Westerville, Ohio; Tashianna Reenah Falkner and Zachary Ryan Falkner of Painesville, Ohio; Brother: Willie Andrew (Nell) Spikes Jr of Painesville, Ohio; Former Daughter’s in Law: Pamela Falkner of Cocoa, Florida and Yvonne Falkner of Cleveland, Ohio; Special Nieces and Nephews: Debra Stallworth of Euclid, Ohio; Sylvia Spikes of Findlay, Ohio; Melinda Johnson of Euclid, Ohio; Tishani Scott of Strongsville, Ohio; Ticel Smith-Hargrove and Bellamy Smith-Hargrove of Ankeny, Iowa; Anthony Spikes Sr. of Painesville, Ohio; Troy Spikes of Findlay, Ohio; Albert Gibson Jr. of Painesville, Ohio; Anthony Johnson Sr. of Miamisburg, Ohio. God Children: Damian Spikes, Travon Mixon, Jericia Johnson, and James Johnson and over 100 additional Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins! Special Friends and Family: Cynthia Puckett of Painesville, Ohio; Barbara Aston of Seabreeze, Texas; Mother Dorothy Dozier of Cleveland, Ohio; Willa Wilburn of Cleveland, Ohio; Gloria Robinson of Cleveland, Ohio; Louise Sams’, Rose Edwards, C.J. Spikes, and Rose Lyons all of Painesville, Ohio; Vivian Arline of Beckley, W. Virginia; Maurice Wright of Cleveland, Ohio and Henry Williams of Fort Wayne, Indiana. As you can imagine Momma was often on the phone. A Homegoing service will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday, January 15, 2021 at New Hope Baptist Church, 428 West Jackson St., Painesville, OH 44077. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged during all publicly attended events. The family will receive friends from 11:30 – 12:30 pm Friday prior to the service at the church. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged during all publicly attended events. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Painesville, OH. Arrangements entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Mentor, OH 44060. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Betty Jean Spikes Falkner

June 5, 1947 - January 7, 2021