Betty Jane Chamberlain

Betty Jane Chamberlain was born on April 25, 1931, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the late Steven and Zonia Gardner. Betty had one sibling, Mary Gardner. Betty went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 18, 2021.

At an early age, Betty was known for being independent, outspoken, feisty, and fun. As a young girl growing up in Pittsburgh, she loved roller skating, bike riding, and spending time with family and friends, especially her best friend, the late Gladys Thompkins. She was an optimistic woman who loved to laugh. If you asked her, how are you? She would always reply, “Well, so far, so good!” Betty enjoyed life and always thought positively about the future. Meticulous about how she dressed and kept her home, she was an extremely organized, neat, and proud woman who believed in buying things that were of high quality and the importance of properly maintaining them.

Betty lived in Washington D.C. for many years with her former late husband, Charles Chamberlain. She helped her husband Charles, a mortician, operate a funeral home located in Washington D.C. After moving from D.C., Betty moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, where she lived for over fifty years. Betty’s son, his wife and children enjoyed visiting and spending time at the Maryland shore when the children were young.

Betty was extremely close to her only child, Herman, whom she adored. Her eyes would light up, and she was always smiling and happy when she was in his company. When speaking of Herman, she would often smile and boast, “That’s my boy!” Betty also had a special relationship with her granddaughter Jala. When Jala became an adult and started a family of her own, Betty would frequently visit her in Philadelphia several times a year. Later in Betty’s life, her youngest granddaughter, Dana, moved to Washington, D.C. and they got to share wonderful times together while living in the same area.

Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Gardner. She is survived by her son Herman Lee Drawn; daughter-in-law, Mary C. Drawn; granddaughters Shaunda, Jala, and Dana; great-grandsons Jaylen, Carter, and Michari; great-granddaughters Arianna, Taylor, and Zoey; nephews Wade, Johnny, Danny, and Terrell; nieces Darlene and Sarah; many extended family members and close friends.

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