Lizetta. Misspelled and mispronounced most of her life, this unusual name never became endeared by its owner–but hundreds of us love it because of the person who bore it.
Not stopping with Lizetta, Grandma gave her two more names giving her daughter quite a handle: Lizetta Ida Henrietta! The name “Lizetta” came from a grandmother: Lizette Waltersdorf Gerhardt and an aunt: Etta Dahling. Etta died in her youth, so Grandma Gerhardt (later Pool) honored her sister and her mother-in-law by the combination which formed Lizetta.
No one dared call her “Lizzie.” At least they never did it twice. Born into the era of the Model T Ford known as the “tin lizzie,” she in no way wanted to associate herself with it.
When it came to naming her children then, she didn’t want us to have to explain or defend them. She did all right:
Judith Luanne, David Alan, Rebecca Sue, Barbara Ann, Daniel Lee, Mary Elizabeth, and Mark Andrew. Thanks, Mom!
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What is in a name? Reputation rules over any unusual spelling or interesting nomenclature. A life lived in faith, integrity, and love makes any name beautiful. “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver” (Proverbs 22:1).
She’s in heaven now. Maybe after hearing Jesus say her name, she loves that name “Lizetta” as much as we all do!
What’s in a Name?
