Mary Elizabeth Back

We have wonderful memories of an extraordinary woman. My late parents (dad came over from Scotland to teach at Duke) and we lived in the house opposite Betty and Ed in Hope Valley, Durham, NC before my father made the decision to return to his native land. There began a most lovely and enduring friendship. The Backs visited Scotland and we returned often on holidays to the Carolinas which had forever captured our hearts. In 2018 (myself and family) returned to the United States and Betty...

When I first moved into the neighborhood, Betty lived up the street. She hardly knew me but always greeted me with a smile when she saw me. The little garden in her side yard had a colorful painted sign that said "Episcopal Pansies." I realized that whenever I saw pansies anywhere, I would think of her and her smile. I still do.