Becoming Thelma Lou: My Journey to Hollywood, Mayberry, and Beyond

by Betty Lynn, Jim Clark (ghostwriter), Tim McAbee (ghostwriter)

Long before becoming beloved by generations of Mayberry fans for her portrayal of Thelma Lou, the ever-patient sweetheart of Barney Fife, Kansas City native Betty Lynn lived a life filled with interesting adventures and fascinating people.

In her own words, augmented by 140 rare photos, Betty shares the sometimes bittersweet, often surprising, and always inspiring story of her remarkable life. From her wartime service in India and Burma to sharing the spotlight with entertainment royalty from New York to Hollywood, Betty always remained grounded in her Midwestern values and strong faith.

Yes, Betty Lynn will forever be Thelma Lou to millions of us, but, as you will discover in these pages, there is also much more to learn and love about this truly extraordinary woman. Enjoy her incredible journey!

Genres: Nonfiction

324 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2022

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to think of Betty Lynn as someone other than her Thelma Lou character on The Andy Griffith Show, but she led a very interesting and full life before playing the adorable girlfriend of Barney Fife. In Betty Lynn’s autobiography Becoming Thelma Lou: My Journey to Hollywood, Mayberry, and Beyond, we learn about her time as a young woman performing for the troops as a singer during WWII. Even while going through difficult times trying to get a job in the entertainment industry,before and after the Griffith show, Betty Lynn kept her faith and Midwestern values to keep herself grounded. There are tons of photos and also behind the scenes info on the cast of her time as Thelma Lou. I think fans of The Andy Griffith Show would enjoy reading this book. I know I did.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some autobiographies can leave you feeling saddened due to the circumstances of that person’s life or disheartened that they weren’t the sort of person you had thought/hoped they were. In the case of Betty Lynn’s book, this is nowhere to be found.
For anyone who has watched her for years as Thelma Lou in TAGS, Betty is exactly as you would expect her to be: sweet, humble, funny, and a wonderful storyteller. As a Christian, I was especially touched by her beautiful faith.
This is an autobiography that leaves you feeling better than when you first picked it up. Betty’s life is incredibly fascinating and full of so many stories that one would never have guessed! Whether you are a TAGS fan, a casual watcher, or just enjoy autobiographies, I would highly recommend this wonderful book

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I read this! There is much more to Betty Lynn than I ever imagined. A must-read for fans of TAGS.

[Chip Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming Thelma Lou
by Betty Lynn

I really enjoyed reading yet another book about The Andy Griffith Show.
Betty Lynn lived an interesting life. Like Don Knotts, she served in World War Two on the front lines with the USU Camp Tours - sleeping with a loaded pistol under her pillow. After the war, she established herself as an actress in New York and Hollywood, appearing in movies with Bette Davis and many other big name. Next she established herself in television. She appeared in many series before and after The Andy Griffith Show. She moved to Mount Airy, NC, after an earthquake and multiple breaking and robberies in her Los Angeles home.
In Mount Airy she was a mainstay at “Mayberry Days” for years.
This book is a memoir as, in her 90s, she shared her lifetime of memories with two local writers. They organized her reminiscences into this very enjoyable book.

[Jackie Hepburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very fun and enjoyable book! Betty Lynn sounded like a very sweet and down-to-earth person. My only complaint is that the book could have been organized better. There were some parts, for instance, where Betty would be talking about her time in a World War II and jump over to something twenty years later, then come back to what she was talking about before. These time jumps were a bit jarring at times. I also wish that there had been more behind-the-scenes information about The Andy Griffith Show rather than a single chapter. However, I found Betty’s stories about her time served in WWII and her early years in Hollywood to be quite interesting. It was most fascinating that Betty entertained overseas troops during the war.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook and it was delightful. What a lovely woman. Betty Lynn was truly one and the same with her alter ego Thelma Lou! A good soul, generosity of spirit and a love of life, made this a very good read. All good dish about Mayberry, the people and the show, as well and all the other work she did throughout her career. Of course, to the world, which was fine with her, she'll always be Thelma Lou. The cats!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

She seems like she was a delightful person who led a fascinating life. I had never known of her tragic entrance into the world or her time spent overseas doing USO Shows "in the trenches." It makes me like her even more.