Betty Lou Small entered this life on August 2, 1941 in Elizabeth, NJ to Payton Edward Allen and Armetta Lyles Allen. Betty was the 2nd oldest of seven children. She went home to be with the Lord on July 28, 2019. She is preceded in death by her parents Payton and Armetta Allen; 3 sisters, Jean Small, Blanche Allen and June Byrd and her son Frederick Shorts Jr.
She graduated from Battin (All Girls) High School in Elizabeth NJ and married Frederick V. Shorts Sr. in 1960. They resided in Linden, NJ where she worked for Hertz Rent-A-Car and RCA. In 1971, she began working for Xerox Corp. in their Credit Dept. and served as a Customer Service Mgr., a District Controller and a Field Administration Operations Mgr. While working for Xerox, she attended Simmons College's Middle Management Program in Boston, MA.
She took an early retirement and started her own Real Estate Management Company with her 2nd husband Jim Small.
She re-entered the work force in 1989 as the Business Manager for Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. She accepted an offer to return to Xerox in 1997 as a Field Services Mgr. in Indianapolis, IN. She established herself in the community as an active member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church, serving as a member of the Pastor's Aide and the foster child care group N.O.A.H. (Neighbor's Organized to Assist Humanity).
In 2016, she became a partner in Allen Family Catering with her son Eric and her nephew, Lance George, which led to the opening of their downtown restaurant (Comida) earlier this year.
She enjoyed church, bowling, theatre, spending time with her grandchildren and the occasional trip to the casino.
She leaves to cherish her beautiful memory her sons Walter Shorts of Frisco, TX; Eric Shorts and his wife Betty Jo of Carmel, IN, 2 brothers, Payton Allen Jr. of East Orange, NJ, Lindsey Allen of Mount Vernon, GA and her sister Joan James of Scotch Plains, NJ; 4 grandchildren, Nicole Scott-Harris, Walter A. Shorts III and his wife Gienel, Jared Shorts, Elise Shorts and great granddaughter Gianna Shorts and a host of other family and friends.