Tribute to Bet Mangum
Posted by jennifer | Filed under News
Today, I went to Sparta to say a temporary good-bye to Bet Mangum. I met her only a handful of times, but those meetings were life changing. I first went to her pottery to shop with Van. We ended up with Van playing guitars with Rob, Bet and I singing along. Rob insisted that I learn guitar, so that I could play rhythm, and Van could play lead. The next week, we rode to Sam Ash in Charlotte where Van bought me my first guitar!!! That was July 4th 2005. I went back about a year later, to show them my guitar, and play a little with them. I wanted them to see that I had done what I was told. 
As I was leaving Bet ran up to me with a post card showing me that she does workshops. You need to take my workshop, she said with great authority!!! As I had been praying about what was next for me in this life, and had quit UPS, a workshop with Bet seemed like the thing to do. So, I took a two day workshop with she and Rob. She was very encouraging, and fun, and made it so easy being the great teacher that she is. She let me spend the night in the cabin on their property. At the end of my workshop, Rob asked if I had any questions. I asked, should I do this thing? And he said, “absolutely!! If you give the same dedication to pottery that you gave the guitar, you will be a great potter,” Bet agreed with him. I was floored, but I believed them, and I never looked back. I got my wheel and kiln and clay, and took off with pottery. The last time I saw Bet, was when I stopped by with two small pieces that I had made in my studio. One was a small bowl, she took it from my hands with a big grin, swiped her fingers up the side to check my form, danced around laughing telling me that I was a potter, and announcing that she was keeping the bowl.
Bet was that kind of person, I never left her, the same person that I was when I arrived. A lot of this had to do with me praying for something new in my life, and being open to God’s nudging me toward the path He had for me, and saying “yes” when a marvelous woman says “take my pottery class!!”, or when her wonderful husband says “you need to learn guitar”!!
Thanks be to God, that He led me to Bet and Rob Mangum!! I am grateful, that because of my faith in Christ Jesus, I will get to see her again, to tell her how the adventure has continued!! I’ll be seeing you, Bet!!
One Response to “Tribute to Bet Mangum”
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Greg Meurs (X5Jr) Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 9:56 pmYou don’t really get to know anyone following them down the road in your respective MINI’s or consuming a cone of ice cream. I have always noticed your happy spirit when attending the same MINI events. I appreciated your asking about Ann Marie, your observations during our ride to Bryson City. I guess that is part of your artistic spirit. I, very much, like your pottery. I read your tribute to Bet Mangum. It was very nice and touching. I visited Van’s Blog and your website today; two very creative people. I am glad to have made your acquaintance.
A few years ago, I started praying, what’s next, Lord? Chris and Amy were grown, and I was getting too old to load Package Cars at UPS, and weary of trying to get my employees to load their Package Cars without my help. Although UPS had been very good to me, my husband, Van, generously let me retire. Thank you, Van.