Betty Lou Bowles Jinnett

February 24, 1934 – May 8, 2025

In her final hours Betty Lou Bowles Jinnett was visited by a hummingbird that repeatedly came to her window, zealously pressing its beak against the glass as if beckoning her onward and upward to a higher and better place.

Betty flew away peacefully on Thursday May 8th, 2025, at 91 years of age, in her home in the town of Mineral, County of Louisa, Virginia, surrounded by her loving family, just as she envisioned.

Betty was born in Richmond, Virginia on February 24th, 1934, and grew up on S. Meadow Street in Richmond near Byrd Park, often reminiscing about how her cousins lived on the same street. She glowed when she spoke of how they would play together and visit Byrd Park on hot summer days to swim in Shields Lake and loved telling stories of how she met her life’s love there at the tender age of 9 years old. The many fond memories they all shared served as her inspiration for moving her family to Louisa County in 1989 to create a multi home family compound with her beloved husband and children, many of whom still live on and nearby her family homestead today.

For Betty, family always came first. Her life’s mission was to raise her family with a supportive, loving and close-knit dynamic that cherishes family time and precious memories, and in addition to the joy of those younger years, time with her grandchildren, whether birthdays, holidays, reading them “Jolly Old Santa Claus” on Christmas Eve, attending school plays or simply playing board games, working puzzles and doing crafts at home, stood out as the best times of her life. Notably, Betty is rumored to hold the unofficial world record for most grandchildren related events attended by a grandparent, and her grandchildren still tease over who was her favorite; a well-kept perpetual secret.

Betty is predeceased by the love of her life, husband, John R. Bobby Jinnett III; her amazing and larger than life big sister, Sergeant Dorothy Ellen Bowles Suess; her best friend and confidant cousin, Barbara Wash Mertens; and her eternally loved and treasured daughter, Pamela Ann Jinnett Vaughan who slipped away far too young.

Betty is survived by her three sons, Michael, Steven (Jill), David (Kristina), plus a wide array of contenders vying for favorite status, including grandchildren Angie (Nathan), Jacob (Tiffany), Sarah (Dylan), Becky (Aaron), Cory ( Angie), Kristi, Jenny, Samantha (Eric), Ethan (Becka), Hanna, Rachel & Jett … but wait, there’s more, including a group of great grandchildren currently in expansion mode, rumor has it.

Betty will be remembered for her fierce loyalty and endless devotion, for never forgetting a birthday, and will be missed beyond words. Her family is so grateful for the many years of cherished memories and the core values she instilled upon them.

Cheers to a long life well lived.

From this day forward, let hummingbird wings and a warm summer breeze remind us of the presence of Betty Lou and sweet memories with her.

The family will receive friends from 5pm until 8pm on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Lacy Funeral Home in Mineral. A Funeral Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Lacy Funeral Home, with burial to follow in the Jinnett Family Cemetery.