Betty Lorraine Moxley Jernigan, 84, died peacefully on July 11, 2016. Betty was a long time and much loved resident of Damascus, Maryland. She was born January 6, 1932 to Robert Hyatt and Edna Virginia Moxley. Her late husband, Douglas L. Jernigan, preceded her in death in November 1994. They had been married for 42 years.

Betty graduated from Damascus High School in 1949 where she was active in basketball and singing. She had a lovely soprano voice and sang in her church choir for many years, beginning when she was just a young teenager. She also sang at many local weddings. She never lost her love of music and transferred that love to opera and, to everyone's amusement, country western.

Betty and Doug lived and worked in Washington DC early in their marriage. She worked for the Department of Forestry and enjoyed many wonderful adventures in the Pacific Northwest. She and Doug settled back in Damascus to raise their only child, Stephanie. Betty and Doug shared a deep love of the beach, which they passed on to their daughter, and of politics, which they did not pass on but never stopped trying.

Betty is survived by her daughter Stephanie K. and son-in-law Ian M. Barbour. She became the matriarch to her extended and much loved Moxley family of brothers and sisters and their children and grandchildren. She is survived by her six brothers and sisters; Robert (Bobby) Moxley, Alan (Bunny) Moxley, Carole Baltzell, Diane Reader, John (Timmy) Moxley and Sharon Reader. She will be deeply missed by them and by her nieces and nephews who dearly loved their Aunt Betty.

Betty will always be remembered by her family and friends for her generous and kind presence. When anyone was in trouble, Betty would be the first person they would turn to for help or for a shoulder to lean on. She had a gentle way of making everything better. And, if her hugs weren't comfort enough, her famous caramel cake and cinnamon toast definitely made your troubles disappear.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Betty's life will be held. Saturday, October 29th, 11:00 a.m. at the Damascus American Legion, 10201 Lewis Drive, Damascus, MD. 20872.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Betty Jernigan's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, where her devotion to providing comfort to children will continue.