“Ta Bêkie” 1906 - 2007

- Samie Luttig en Ailsa Tudhope -

Op Woendag 8 Augustus het familelede en vriende afskeid geneem van Anna Elizabeth Weatherhead, gebore Luttig, ons geliefde Ouma, Moeder, Tante en vriendin - Ta Bêkie soos sy alom bekend was onder familie en vriende.

Sy was die dogter van Samie en Bessie Luttig, gebore op 26 November 1906. Sy het in ’n Christelike ouerhuis groot geword en het ook daardie beginsels in haar lewe uitgeleef. Haar laaste skooljare was sy in Gill Kollege, Somerset Oos en vandaar is sy na die destydse Rhodesië, waar sy met Tim Weatherhead getroud is.

Sy was ’n omgeemens wat geleef het vir haar gesin, familie en medemens. Wat ons van Ta Bêkie geleer het en sal onthou, is om altyd positief vorentoe te leef. Sy het altyd gesê “Bêkie, you can do it!” Sy laat agter haar drie seuns John, Geoff en Andy en kleinkinders. Ons sal jou mis Ta Bêkie en jou plek sal leeg wees. Rus in Vrede.

Betty’s youngest son, Andy and his family had spent the previous ten days in Prince Albert, during which time Betty had rallied a little. Andy was able to delay his flight home to Australia to be present at her memorial service, where he spoke with deep emotion. Betty’s grandson’s Paul and great-grandson Matthew had driven up from Cape Town, so all three generations of her immediate family were represented at the service, conducted by Dr Chris Briers. Her godson, Carl Luttig had flown in from Melbourne and with Maralize, Samie, Johanna and their children, bade farewell to the oldest, and dearest, member of the Luttig family.

Betty returned to Prince Albert from Zimbabwe in 1999, taking up residence at Huis Kweekvallei. She was soon attending Thursday Group meetings and the Anglican Fellowship group, where her straightforward, intimate chats with God enhanced their time of prayer. Reinie made sure she received stimulating reading matter on Library days. At the age of 95 Betty asked Reinie to bring her a Harry Potter book, since everyone seemed to be talking about them. Harry didn’t really suit her though, a good mystery story or a biography were more her style. Her own stories were fascinating and she was more than happy to share memories of her younger days in Prince Albert, with many a laugh and a naughty twinkle.

At her hundredth birthday in November last year Betty was in fine form and relished the grand family gathering in her honour. We give thanks for Betty, who enriched our lives and we will remember her with joy.