When Berrien County lost “a brilliant, skilled and dedicated leader” nearly a year ago as an early morning crash claimed the life of the Berrien County Register of Deeds, Lori Jarvis, they did not lose the memory or the legacy left behind by her presence as a clear leader across the region. In fact, the Coloma Band Boosters are making sure that the memory of Lori Jarvis stays alive for years to come through a new Memorial Scholarship presented in her name.
Betty Plitt is Treasurer for the Coloma Band Boosters and she says that the first ever “Live Like Lori” Lori Jarvis Memorial Scholarship of $500 was presented recently to Coloma High School Senior Caitlyn Lemoine during the school’s Senior Awards Night celebrations.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey was the one who described Jarvis as “a brilliant, skilled and dedicated leader” while he was traveling to a national conference in New Orleans. He responded in that way after learning that his long time, close friend Lori had been involved in a fatal crash on M-63 near Eaman Road, north of the city.
She was originally from Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and was elected to the Berrien County Register of Deeds position in 2000 and started the job in January of 2001. Her tragic and untimely death on June 14th of 2018 saddened colleagues, family and friends deeply because of her skilled leadership and verve for life.
Plitt and the Coloma Band Boosters treasured Jarvis as a dear friend and elected to create the new Memorial Scholarship encouraging young people in the region to “Live Like Lori,” with the annual scholarship program. Graduating seniors and their families learned of the award at the recent ceremonies, but the committee wanted others in the community who also mourn the loss of Jarvis to know of the existence of the award and the extension of her legacy in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Last September, Berrien County named a new Register of Deeds to replace Lori Jarvis. Lora Freehling of Stevensville was selected from a field of 23 candidates who had applied to a special committee, and began her duties on October 15th of 2018. She will serve for the remainder of Jarvis’ term which concludes at the end of 2020 when Freehling will have to run for re-election if she wishes to continue in that role.
