Fielder's Choice

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.” Philippians 2:3-4.

And that verse topped the list. Beth was constantly putting others before herself, and she did that until she took her last breath on this earth.

She had to leave her job at the newspaper this summer as her health condition worsened. While at home in August and extremely sick, her co-worker and good friend Sue Watson was celebrating a birthday. She called Barbara Taylor, another co-worker, to remind her of Sue’s birthday and then said, “I will make the cake.”

Barbara talked her out of it — this time. But that was classic Beth, always thinking of others first.

She used her many talents to help folks, to put a smile on their faces, to boost their day — even when she was not feeling well. She didn’t let on; she just kept on keeping on.

She had a glowing personality. She lit up a room with her smile and her laugh.

She talked fast — really fast, and it was difficult to get her to slow down, much less stop talking.

Beth loved people, and people loved her. That was the way it was — period.

I got to know Beth just over 19 years ago when I moved to Holly Springs as publisher of The South Reporter. She was one of the valuable employees who I inherited.

I quickly learned how blessed I was to become a part of the work family here.

Ten years ago, we were all stunned when we learned Beth had cancer. I recall going to the hospital then to visit her, with my wife Pam and Barbara, and the outlook wasn’t good. The doctor gave her a few years to live, at most.

But the doctor did not know Beth’s heart, her grit, her determination and her love for life. She was a battler; she was one tough cookie.

She started making regular doctor’s visits, getting treatments and having surgeries.

Those things would occasionally slow Beth down, but they didn’t stop her. She kept living her life. She just kept going and going and giving and giving, whether it was a cake, a card, a visit, a telephone call or some other way of reaching out to others.

In recent years, Beth’s primary part-time job here at the newspaper office was proofreading. And she was the best — a stickler for accuracy.

I joked with her all the time about her proofreading hours. That’s something, as her boss, I had to adapt to. Beth was not a morning person; she was a night owl. I worked with her, and together we made it work. I was even her alarm clock many times, texting her the words, “Wake up time.”

Often she’d take articles or ads home, proof them after midnight and then drop them off at the office in the early morning hours so her fellow staff members would have what we needed the next day to produce a newspaper.

On Sunday, Beth’s courageous battle ended. She left behind a great legacy.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16.

Beth did so much good on this earth ­ an example for all of us to follow.