Imagine leaving everything familiar and traveling to another country to learn new things without family, close friends or emotional comforts of any kind. Some of us have done this, and some of us can recall that first person who welcomed us in our new, unfamiliar environment. For decades, a Birminghamian by the name of Betty Morrison, known to many who loved her as “Granny Betty,” welcomed newcomers from all corners of the world to the Magic City — and into her boundless heart. With her superpower of connecting others and as the long-time executive director of Birmingham’s Rotary Club, Betty served as a gold standard of truly loving our neighbors – that is, our neighbors of the globe.
When Isabel Scarinci arrived in Birmingham as a student more than 30 years ago, she’d been involved in Rotary in her native country of Brazil — specifically Rotaract Club, designed for young leaders — so she reached out to her new local chapter and soon met Betty Morrison. “Betty took me in, took me to lunch and took me under her wing. She had a heart for international students,” Isabel recalled. “She was great at helping with international housing at the University of Alabama Birmingham. She would host coffees or have other reasons to invite students to her home.”
Dr. Gonzalo Gurmendi and his wife, Raquel Mazer, share similar memories of being introduced to Betty through the Rotary Club many years ago. Raquel, hailing from Brazil, was a Rotary scholar and invited Gonzalo, from Peru, to attend a meeting of international students. The couple has fond memories of growing closer to Betty during their early years in Birmingham, eventually considering her part of their family. “She was like our American mother — and then we got married and had children of our own, so she became our Granny Betty,” said Gonzalo.
Shegun Otulana met Betty at a UAB awards ceremony, and he, too, immediately developed a close relationship with her, resulting in numerous dinners, lunches and introducing Betty to his family from Nigeria as well as to his wife, Mary. “In many ways, during my adulthood, a lot of traditions were thanks to Betty,” he mused.
Though all have personal tales of their wonderful experiences with Betty, one collective experience stands out to everyone she knew: the “baby Jesus birthday parties,” which took place annually on the afternoon of Christmas day at her home on Hollywood Boulevard. Known throughout Birmingham not only for festive cheer but for diversity in the guest list, food and decorations, these parties every Dec. 25 were a warm beacon of belonging for those far-flung from their own countries, families and traditions.
“Anyone could come to these parties; she loved for people to share their stories and tell about how Christmas was, or wasn't, celebrated in their own culture,” Isabel remembered. “She had a beautiful book we all signed with our names and countries.”
Food was consistently a focal point for the birthday parties; even now, former guests look back fondly on the yearly “birthday cake” with a baby Jesus figurine on top, among many other delicious main courses, sides and desserts — Shegun’s wife Mary praised one cake in particular, made with white wine. Attending guests would gather around the piano to sing songs and carols — Betty loved the classics most — as well as exchange gifts. Yet, even with the exceptional meal, gift-giving and singing, what everyone treasured most was encountering old and new friends each year.
“You had no clue who was going to show up,” Shegun chuckled. “That was always something to look forward to. We would hang out and sing and talk to each other and get to know each other. It was a lot of fun. I don’t think, after the first one I attended, that I ever missed a party.”
“Her favorite sport — getting to know people — was prominent for the celebration,” Gonzalo added. “And she would introduce people she thought would get along; she built and organized community. She was an extrovert, but not the way most people think of the term. She was a classy, proper and welcoming Southern lady who reminded us we have so much in common.”
Betty passed away in 2013, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy of caring for others and lending a helping hand. She persuaded many of her close connections — Shegun and Gonzalo included — to become involved in Birmingham's Rotary Club. Today, many locals remember her fondly and continue to keep in touch with her children, grandchildren and the countless others who were fortunate enough to witness her rare compassion.
“I miss her. She was really a mother figure,” mused Isabel. “She took us in and made sure that we had a home. Even when I moved away — to Louisiana, to Boston — she was always there, no matter what, no matter where I was. She would send me cards, asking if I was OK.”
“She was at our wedding — she walked down the aisle — and I gave a eulogy at her funeral. I can’t remember what I said, since I was holding back the tears,” Shegun said. “She was always helping strangers — we knew her from nowhere. And she left an indelible mark on our lives. We think about her all the time.”
Still, the baby Jesus birthday parties — perhaps more so than anything else Betty Morrison did — were the true culmination of her vision for unity and love among all people and cultures.
“Before we ate, we would gather around the table in the dining room, and she would bless the food and pray for unity throughout the world and peace in our hearts,” Gonzalo shared. “You would have all these people from all over the world — all colors of skin, all shapes of eyes — taking part in this prayer together, taking part in the same food. It was very touching.”