Elizabeth Family-Friends

From the In-laws

Salina Beyer

Tennessee Williams said “Life is partly what we make it and partly what is made by friends we choose.”
Elizabeth and I first met at a horse show. Our friendship really took off once my family moved next door. We have had so many great times together. From dressing up as southern bells to posing like video vamps on a sports car. Crazy, silly and down right goofy we were together.
As best friends a single word, phrase or song can trigger memorable moments.
Buckwheat the pony.
The only horse(pony) I wasn’t afraid of, I should have been, cause he was not always nice. Driving the back roads in the “Boat” and almost into Orville lake. Jamming out to “Love Shack” or “ Hey babe take a walk on the wild side “ while riding on the highway or just in Elizabeth’s bedroom. Sharing clothes with each other, and then Elizabeth helping me pick them up when they got thrown out of my window. Many nights I’d say “it’s ok if we are late “but it wasn’t ok with her parents. So she’d get grounded. I’d get my mom to talk to her mom but it didn’t help. Amanda telling on us for sitting in the hay loft with lite candles. We were fearless and not so smart sometimes.
We were together when we got pulled over for me driving too slow and another time Kelly was feeling sick. Elizabeth yelling “Switch.” Six one six, neon moon and prince mongos were a few clubs we frequented. There were always adventures when we went clubbing.
As many good times we had together there were some heartbreaking times as well. High school drama with boys, and girls that didn’t like me, but were afraid of Elizabeth. The car wreck in 1993. Divorces we both endured while raising our children. Whenever one of us fell down the other would help that one up. Praying always and being there for each other.
To those that know us best it’s no surprise we married brothers. Can’t have one of us without the other. Elizabeth has always been the one human who I felt never judged me or criticized me for something I did, instead she loved me through it.

Proverbs 27:9 says ‘Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy.’
We don’t ever know what life will throw at us next but with faith family and my bestie Elizabeth I know it will all be ok.

Philippians 1:3 ‘I thank my God upon every Remembrance of You.’

Friends are friends forever if the Lords the Lord of them and I’m so glad He brought us together.

Tony Beyer

Value of a

Sister-in-Law

Why is having a sister-in-law important? Having a sister-

in-law can be important because it expands your family

and gives you another person to share your life with.

She can provide you with love, support, and friendship,

and can become an important part of your life.

“You are an incredible

person who never fails to

make others feel special.

No one could take the

place of you in my heart.

You are an important part

of my life and my family’s

life. I'm so lucky to have

you. Whenever I need a

friend or just someone to

talk to, you've always been

there for me! “

Tony

Joan & Red Pyrdom

Elizabeth is a very strong and loving lady that God has allowed me to know. She was a wonderful mother. Knew exactly what her boys needed and took care of it. She managed to do a wonderful job. She fell in love with my boy, Chuck Beyer. I guess you could say her, and Owen did. He took Owen into his arms and into his heart just as if he was his own flesh and blood. Ever since Elizabeth has come into Chuck’s life, she has made a strong impact on my son. What I have learned about Elizabeth through all these years, is she loves deeply, her loyalty is very solid. When it comes to her family there is nothing this lady wouldn't do. She has taught her children, the love and guidance of the Lord, and made sure that they had him in their hearts. When I go visit them, Elizabeth allows me to do everything with my grandson Emerson. A lot of times she just shakes her head at some of the things we do. But she smiles that very sweet and caring smile and just lets us be a little silly, she knows how much we love each other. Elizabeth loves to be around the people she loves. She has a lot of friends all the way back to her elementary school days. Elizabeth is a great girl, that isn't afraid of getting her hands a little dirty. After all she has helped raise two wonderful Boys… This beautiful lady has got a debilitating illness. It has robbed her of her strength and her active life. But then you see her when she is at home, and she sits up in her bed and she’s doing everything she can to be an active part of the family. Elizabeth and I, when we get together, we talk and talk, about the past, we talk about the beautiful children we had. We talk about how aggravating my son can be sometimes, but she still loves him so deeply. One time my husband and I went to Saint Augustine to visit Elizabeth and Chuck and their new beautiful home, and we took Elizabeth Owen and Emerson on the trolley downtown, St. Augustine and just went all over the place had such a good time such a good time and she just had surgery and she was just as strong as ever. It was amazing. The woman is amazing, and I am so grateful that the Lord put her in my son's path. Well, it’s hard to write all this because I have to get my eyes cleared from the tears. I don’t want to know a life without Elizabeth in it. I am going to put some pictures of her and her active days just so maybe you

can see the person that I know. We love you, Elizabeth. You will get through this.

Bo & Robin Beyer

I have known Elizabeth shortly before her and Chuck got married. What a beautiful day that was. They went on a cruise honeymoon and I may be wrong but I think that was the beginning of her illness, they thought she was seasick but looking back I’m not too sure of that. Not too much after their marriage Emerson was born. What a wonderful day that was for them and all the family. Unfortunately we were living in California at the time but they brought him out to see us and spend some time with us and we took over and gave them some free time to themselves to visit old acquaintances in LA while we took care of Emerson. I remember that very well because I was terrified of sleeping with him. When he was a baby he was a fitful sleeper so my fear of him rolling off the bed even though I surrounded him with pillows didn’t give me any comfort and oh he did thrash and hit me a few times so not much sleep for me that night but I wouldn’t trade that night for anything. Elizabeth is such a wonderful mother. Her kids mean the world to her. Owen who is an adult now is so caring of his mother, he is always there for her. Elizabeth unfortunately has gone through too many episodes and has lived with MSA far too long. She has spent way too many days, weeks and when you add it up too many years with this disease which has taken her away from enjoying her children and just enjoying life. All I want for her is to be able to live a full life and live it long as she should. Elizabeth is a very important and loved member of the family. We all hurt when she is down and that happens just too often. It’s hard to just do nothing but try to make her laugh and let her know how loved she is. I truly believe there is hope for her and I as well as everyone will not give up on that.

Tonya & Clark Chitwood

Elizabeth...a woman that has been a life- long fighter. This woman has always fought for what she wants, whether it is simply a matter of seeing her point of view () or for her life...she will fight with everything in her. Family. Family is everything to Elizabeth!! The love that this woman has for those that are the closest to her is fierce. In the years that I have known Elizabeth, we have always lived states apart, but the truth of love that she has for her family is undeniable. She loves with all that she has and that love, no doubt is her reason for fighting all of these years to keep her life going. Elizabeth's journey is far from over, she will continue to fight, she will continue to love. That is who Elizabeth has always been and will continue to be

parents & sister

Rick Holland

Elizabeth was born March 30, 1975 a little before she was due. She only weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces. She was a little slower to develop than her older sister but that didn’t stop her. She had a sister who loved her and wanted Elizabeth to do everything thing she did.

We found that Elizabeth had a heart defect in her first year of life, which required a lot of doctors and trips from South Alabama to Memphis Tennessee for medical treatment. Lucky for us we had a lot of family there to stay with and get to visit. That didn’t stop her from being a beautiful baby who was so loved by her mother.

That heart problem was supposed to have been cured when she was 2 years old.

I got out of the Army and moved back to Memphis in July of 1977.

Elizabeth grew into a very active child; she was in beauty pageants cheerleading, softball, and showing horses. Elizabeth was extremely successful in winning the pageants and cheerleading.

At that time in our lives, Brenda, Elizabeths mother was actively taking her to events. Brenda told me around Christmas of 1984 she saw the girls looking through a Sears catalog and asked what they were looking for. The girls said a new dad because they never saw their dad. I was juggling work and school at the time. That is when I took a break from college, and we started riding and showing horses as a family.

Elizabeth excelled at showing horses. She enjoyed competing the most, she was highly competitive.

As in most people’s lives she grew up and became a well-behaved teenager then an adult before I was ready for it.

She found a career that she enjoyed and then met Chuck got married and gave me a second grandson. She has blessed me with 2 grandsons.

Elizabeth found out that her heart problems as a baby had redevelop and required her to have open heart surgery. That didn’t stop her from being there for her two sons and her husband.

Elizabeth developed serious medical issues after the heart surgery later diagnosed as MSA-C which has been very disabling, but like her mother she is not giving up on her life, being a wife, mother daughter and friend to many.

I am asking for prayers for her to recover and be able to live a life that will allow her to be there for her sons, family and friends.

Elizabeth will always be my baby girl, who I love and want to be around longer than me

Brenda Holland

August 3rd, 1950 - April 13th, 2022

from me to my mom

I wake up feeling lonely, even today. I miss her so much. It’s like I’m living in an alternate universe without her here. She was always there for me. It’s incredibly hard in so many ways and something I can’t ignore. My mom would know just what to say to make me feel like everything Is going to be ok. My anxiety and depression would creep up, I could just plop on the couch next to her and just like that, I was calm. I wish I could call her or send her a message. The hole she left is so big. It can’t be filled. She loved her cars. She loved her friends. She loved playing the silly games on the computer. It was the small things that mattered to her. She was grounded and secure. She just loved living and we loved living with her. Miss you Mom.

Amanda Holland Miller

Story coming soon

FRIENDS

True love doesn’t need to be just in the form of a significant other. The greatest love is extra special, in your best friend. The friend that has stuck with you through thick and thin. When bonds of friendship are tight, no time or distance can alter it. This friend just gets you and they don’t care about your flaws or past or political beliefs. She shows genuine love and support all the time and never expects anything in return.

A true friend is resilient to all. She will always be able to pick up right where you left off and it’s like there is no distance between you. No matter your path, whether you’ve just moved away from your bestie, a significant other has you spending less time together, a job has demanded more of you, or illness has taken your time and energy, it doesn’t matter. . . when you are together, you’re just happy to be in the presence of each other, laughing over the silliest of things.

The best of friends

Kellie Almeda

To have a best friend that knows you inside and out is a blessing. She knows what I’m thinking and knows how I’m feeling even when I don’t. Elizabeth and I have been best friends since the 6th grade. We had a great childhood with great parents, and we became family. I have many memories that I will always cherish.

Fun fact about Elizabeth is that she is great at reading people. She didn’t like John (my boyfriend at the time now husband) when she met him. Now she likes him, and they love watching the same shows. Elizabeth can read people and John says what everyone is thinking. Fun times!

I remember one time my daughter and I sent her a birthday card and on the front of the envelope that said,’’ Push this spot.’’ We drew an arrow pointing to a box that had the word’’ here’’ in it. The thing about Elizabeth is that she knows I like to aggravate her. We also got her two pairs of her favorite comfortable pajama pants as well. Later the next day, I got a Facetime call from her saying,’’ I pushed the button several times thinking something would happen, ‘’ I should have known.’’ Mission accomplished! I put a smile on her face!

If you ever find a friend like Elizabeth, hold on tight and never let go. She loves her family and friends and would do anything for them. She loves the lord and has such a great passion for helping others. She is one friend I will always cherish and consider family.

Misty Parks

I will never forget meeting Elizabeth. I was at Ellendale Baptist Church and saw the most stunning young woman I had ever seen before. I went to do something, I can't remember what, and I came back, and Chad was talking to this beautiful person! I couldn't believe it! Turns out, they knew each other from high school, and E had even attended his first wedding! In addition, I found out she lived right behind me! I have a terrible memory and can't remember the details, but we became close friends, very quickly. Even after she told me that "she didn't need any more friends". She explained later what she meant, again I can't remember the details, but it didn't matter anyway because she apparently couldn't resist my charms. 📷 That is my first and most funny/ vivid memory.

E quickly became a part of my "high school friends". And I fell in love with her parents, especially her mom . I still have an angel ornament that E's mom (that is what I called her) gave me - I was looking at this pretty ornament on her Christmas tree, and she plucked it right off and gave it to me E and I went through several highs and lows together. One of the best "highs" was wedding time for Chuck and E!! I was so grateful to be a part of that!!

Another thing I will never forget... Chad's ex (Laura) had gotten mad at me for something regarding Ashleigh, and E was at my house when Laura decided to come confront me. Laura came banging on my door, and I opened it, and she got in my face and started yelling about whatever. She didn't know E was there, and E quickly jumped up and came and stood right beside me and Laura instantly got super sweet and backed off and E just stood there staring her down basically until she left! That reminds me... I went with E to look at cars, and I remember a salesman coming up and trying to talk to her (we were in the car) and she gave him that look too and drove off! I always wished I had her "guts" lol.

As friendships tend to do, ours had a season. While we are not currently in the season where we see each other constantly, talk daily, take trips together, get together for dinners, etc., E was a very important part of my life during our "season". We have both since moved- yall to FL, us to AR (well, yall were in AR for a short time, too!), so distance separates us. But I still consider E one of my closest friends that I have ever had and I am so thankful that we crossed paths at Ellendale Baptist all those years ago!

Mary Anne Boyle

The first time I met Elizabeth, I remember I was at my friend, Stacy’s house. Stacy had recently started taking care of Emerson after school until she got off work. I was hanging out at Stacy’s house one afternoon when Elizabeth came to pick up Emerson. We immediately hit it off. She was so bubbly and funny. I remember thinking, “I think we are going to be great friends.” From there, Elizabeth would frequently stay at Stacy’s after work and we would all laugh and have a great time.

Almost every Friday we would hang out while our kids played. The three of us even went to Fort Lauderdale to a Dave Mathews Concert. She had the best stories, and I was always laughing so hard around her. She was also a great listener and a very caring friend.

After a few years, Elizabeth started having health issues that no one could figure out. We were there for her to bring her meals and encourage her. We would come to her house and sit in her bed with her and do whatever we could to make her feel better. Around the same time, I had another child and became less available. She moved to Orlando, and it was definitely sad for all of us.

I miss her dearly and I am heartbroken over her struggles. I always look back fondly at our friendship and the bonds we made. I have been praying for her, Emerson, Owen and Chuck. I hope for healing and restoration.