My mother's funeral took place yesterday (in Scotland). I was not in a position to attend and the responsibility to make plans, prepare for and organise the sad moment, celebrating the long and full life of this good human, fell to my brother Joe (Betty's youngest son of three) and his wife, Stephanie. They did our mother proud. As Betty deserved.
I was asked to provide a few words for the Minister (of Betty's Church of Scotland Parish) to pass on to assembled mourners. What could one say?
This was all I could think to contribute. There's more of a reflection in my previous post from the day my mother died. There's a link below. Joe tells me the Minister used it by way of an introduction to my brother's reflections, which follow.
We are sorry that we cannot be with everyone today. I miss my mother. I cherish my memories of her and the love she gave us through good times and bad. Betty lives on in our hearts. She was bonkers at times but always in a good way. Strong, resilient, loving and kind. Everything good within me begins with Betty and my father. Love always. The greatest of the three. Dougie.
My brother wrote the eulogy that comes next, He asked the Minister to use it (which he did well, I believe). I think my brother just wanted to sit and reflect -- like everyone else -- in the midst of carrying, alongside Steph, all the responsibility for Betty's best interests and wellbeing over years. No two people could have done more.
Elizabeth Davidson -- Betty as we all knew her -- was born on Friday 16 January 1931, Elizabeth Green, in the east end of Glasgow, into a working-class family in the Bridgeton area of the city. She was the fourth daughter of Johnston Love Green (a carter by trade with his trusty horse and cart) and Margaret Norton, who before starting her family was a pottery worker in one of the many industrial potteries in Glasgow; probably in the same street where she lived and where Betty was born.
Betty was the youngest of four sisters and alongside Nan, Ellen and Margaret the family was completed when their younger brother Joe was born: Big Joe, as he was known.
Betty attended Barrowfield Primary School before going up to Bernard Street Junior Secondary in Bridgeton. The Junior Secondary school was located four closes along the street from where she lived in a Glasgow tenement with her parents, sisters and brother. This was a small, tight Glasgow community.
Like many others of her generation, Betty was evacuated to Aberdeenshire during the second world war and was hosted on a farm in the Alford area at Mountgarrie, an experience that left a lasting impression on the young Glasgow girl. Her sister, Ellen, was also evacuated close by where she was put to work in the Tullynessle sawmill. Meanwhile, back in wartime Glasgow, Betty’s father, Johnston, acted as an enemy plane spotter on the River Clyde.
Betty began courting her childhood sweetheart, the boy next door, James Herd, when she was 15 years old. They married in 1952 when Jim’s national service in the army was completed.
Over the next 22 years the couple lived in the east end and south of Glasgow but always near the river Clyde. They lived in Aberdeen for a few years, where their third son Joe was born, then Bearsden from 1963 after Jim took on an editorial role with BBC Scotland's 'news room'. During this happy time the couple had three sons, Jim, Douglas – who is in Australia - and Joe.
Before starting her family Betty worked in a factory making envelopes, something she always claimed developed her amazing card shuffling skills.
Betty's life with husband Jim revolved around their children, their parents, siblings and partners and kids. They were not only a close family but very much the best of friends…spending weekends and holidays together in and around Glasgow, in Bearsden, Castlemilk and Coventry where eventually all three of Betty’s sisters and her brother moved for work. Their heyday was a time of national service, dancehalls, making your own entertainment and trips 'doon the watter' in the 50s and 60s of swinging Glasgow.
Throughout much of the 70s Betty enjoyed working as a shop assistant in one of the city centre's fanciest 'fancy goods' shops, department stores and well-known jewellers.
Sadly, Betty’s first husband, James Herd, died suddenly in 1974 at the age of 44, leaving her and all the family shocked and distraught.
Betty moved from Bearsden to Milngavie 1976 with son Joe while sons Jim and Douglas moved on to start their own adult lives. Betty moved again, in 1980, to Ayr, with Joe staying behind in Glasgow to complete his studies.
While in Ayr Betty met Jim Davidson in the mid 1980s. She moved to Dalry with Jim after the couple married in 1990. They ran a small grocery business in Dalry before retiring to their new home in Prestwick where they lived happily together; looking after and caring for each other until Jim died following a short illness in 2010.
Betty and Jim enjoyed life in Prestwick: in the garden, bowling at the Howie, as active members of St Nicholas Parish Church, visiting family and travelling to see Jim’s extended family in Australia and Betty’s son, Douglas, who by then lived in Sydney.
Betty’s 50 years of service to the Women’s Guild was recognised. She had many interests including church groups, bowling, photography, drawing, painting and a variety of other arts and crafts, always willing to try something new.
Jim’s daughters May (Hobson) and Anne (Dickie) both have two children and along with her own grandchildren Betty enjoyed being a loving and generous grandmother to Nicola and Natalie, Matthew and Christopher, Victoria and Rachel and Gregor and Jamie. Christmas gifts were always a surprise and Betty loved to join in the fun. Betty was also a great grandmother.
Betty continued to live in Prestwick after Jim’s death. As her own health eventually deteriorated, she required increasing assistance at home and at the age 90 she moved to the Grange Nursing Home in Kilmarnock. Son Joe and his wife Stephanie made sure Betty was well cared for and looked after over several years while she remained in Prestwick and during her time at home in the Grange.
Betty’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the health and care professionals that supported Betty in her later years. They are all stars.
Betty’s health took a turn for the worse just before Christmas 2024. Following a couple of short stays in hospital it was decided that she should remain at home in the Grange where Betty saw out her days, dying peacefully on Tuesday 4 February with Joe at her side.
A few well-chosen words cannot convey the essence of any life stretching towards one hundred years.
A child growing up in Bridgeton, Glasgow as the second world war loomed. Not yet a teenager wrenched from her mother and father as war time evacuations were introduced. Food rationing. As a young woman, wife and mother in post war Scotland, thriving in the 50s and 60s with social and cultural revolutions challenging old orders. Coping with tragedy just when her family life was going well. Coming to terms with the sudden death of her childhood sweetheart for the sake of her sons ... and her own future. Moving on. Finding companionship again and enjoying everything that retirement can offer; growing families, travel, friendships and pursuing interests together.
Finally, facing the challenges of the closing chapters of life with grace, determination, humour. And a nice wee bit of Glasgow attitude. That was Betty.
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