Betty Lou Meador, a 51-year resident and stable in the Miami Lakes community, dentist and community activist, and the mother of former Miami Lakes Councilmember Robert Meador, passed away on Thursday, November 19 at Hialeah Hospital, where she was surrounded by family members.
She was 82.
Meador was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 3. 1933, one of three children of George W. and Edith Mae Smith.
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Hygiene in 1953, and later obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Florida International University in 1976.
Meador moved to Miami Springs to began her career as a Dental Hygienist working with Dr. Robert Stubbs in Coconut Grove.
In 1958, she married one of her patients and the love of her life, the late Robert Barrowman Meador (1973). They were one of the first 100 families to purchase a home from The Sengra Corporation (now known as The Graham Companies). They moved their family from Miami Springs to Miami Lakes in June, 1964, in the Lake Patricia neighborhood on N.W. .62 Court, now known as Lake Candlewood Court.
Meador was a founding and charter member of Miami Lakes Congregational Church, which first met and held services in the Lake Patricia Shopping Center. She remained an active member in the Florida Dental Hygiene Association, Sputh Florida Dental Hygiene Association, Bible Study Fellowship, Church and her Miami Lakes community serving on the boards of the Zonta Club, Town of Miami Lakes Cultural Affairs Committee, and the Lake Cynthia HOA.
She was a faithful servant of the Lord touching the lives of others in so many ways through her generosity of spirit, friendship and service. She was compassionate, charitable, engaging, a dear friend, gentle, loving, a role model as a mother, wife, mother-in-law and educator, a person of great grace and humility. She truly loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Meador had a successful and rewarding career both in private practice as a Dental Hygienist, and a 30-year career (1976-2006) as an associate professor of Dental Hygiene at Miami Dade College. Upon her retirement, the College honored her with the “Betty Meador Scholarship Endowment” to recognize her years of dedicated and distinguished service to her patients, students, colleagues, associations and profession.
She is survived by her two children, Robert Meador II (Dotti) of Miami Lakes, and Pamela Meador Calabrese (Glenn) of Boca Raton; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 28, at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in the main sanctuary, 2401 West Cypress Road in Fort Lauderdale.
In lieu of flowers, it was Meador’s desire that monetary donations be made payable to Miami-Dade College Foundation: “Betty Meador Scholarship Endowment,” and mailed to Miami-Dade Hygiene Program, Attention: Susan Kass, 950 N.W. 20 Street, Miami, Florida 33127.