A sad end to 2021: goodbye, Betty White

The 99 year old actress passed Friday, within 3 weeks of her 100th birthday

Adding some much-needed levity to stressful times, a cutout of Betty White greets drivers as they arrive to pick up takeout and groceries from Fine & Dandy and Sophomore Spanish Club in The District in Jackson on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. After closing briefly, the two restaurants reopened with new business models that allow them to pay employees while offering a needed service to the community.Coronavirus Covid 19

While 2021 hasn’t been the best year on record, we’re hoping to leave a little sadness at the gate tonight, as one of America’s TRUE comic icons has made her way to the pearly gates.

TMZ first reported this morning that actress Betty White passed away at the age of 99 this morning. Friends reported she was in good health, and they believe she died from natural causes.

While we could look at this as a real kick in the teeth to end the year, Betty’s iconic Rose Nylund from “The Golden Girls” wouldn’t want us to look at it this way. The ever-optimistic Rose, who was a professional grief counselor, always looked at the sunny side of life. Her character’s tales of growing up in St. Olaf, Minnesota, and positive energy wherever she could harness it, became intertwined with White’s persona as well.

Betty, this may be goodbye to your career on the TV and movie screen, but know you have touched SO many of us through the years. If we threw a New Years Eve party tonight and invited everyone we knew, we wouldn’t need a gift from you: your energy, your talent, and your humor have made ALL of our lives a better place.

Godspeed. Thank YOU for being OUR friend.