Some remember the beautiful Christmas wreaths she made for the President’s Home.

Many remember her homemade peanut butter cookies.

Everyone remembers the way she made them feel.

Anne Liles Berte, the wife of President Emeritus Dr. Neal R. Berte, passed away on December 30, 2023. Since then, many members of the BSC family have responded to the announcement with their memories of the woman who served as BSC’s first lady from 1976-2004.

• “I am one of the hundreds, or thousands, of people who have felt a connection with Anne Berte. I admired and appreciated her dedication to her family at home and her BSC family. What a sad loss.” — Thomas J. Gibbs, Jr. ’64, professor emeritus of music

• “Anne was always so gracious and lovely to me and to our Honors students in their yearly Christmas party for us. I have such fond memories of her smile and laughs and presence at campus events. Prayers and love for all of her family.” – Former professor Nancy Davis Johnson

• “Anne was a class act. She will be missed.”– Amy Richard Luther ‘91

Mrs. Berte was born in Waycross, Ga., and grew up in Cincinnati. She met her future husband in the library at the University of Cincinnati. His career took them to Illinois, Kansas, then Tuscaloosa before he was named president of BSC in 1976.

At the memorial service at Canterbury United Methodist Church, where the Bertes have been members for more than 40 years, the many dimensions of her life were outlined with humor and great affection by Rev. Keith D. Thompson ’83; Rev. William B. Morgan ’70; Rev. Stewart A. Jackson, who served as BSC’s chaplain from 1979-2007; and one of her two sons, Scott Berte ‘94.

Jackson recalled the first visit the Bertes paid to him and his wife, Robin, just as they moved onto campus in 1979. When the president and first lady stopped by the house on one of their nightly walks around the Hilltop, they were in turn greeted by the couple’s toddler who was, in Jackson’s terms “wearing only his birthday suit.” Jackson recalls his relief at Mrs. Berte’s reaction, which was to laugh.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Scott Berte offered a warm portrait of his mother’s life – not just as her husband’s partner for nearly 60 years, but also as a mother who expected all four children to show up at the breakfast table at 7 a.m. on school days, and who installed a brass bell at the president’s home to ensure their prompt arrival. “When the fraternities on campus had scavenger hunts, it wasn’t unusual for one of the items to bring back to be a Berte kid,” Scott recalled. “Mom was OK with them taking one of us, but never the dog.”

As Nana to her 12 grandchildren, she created a schedule for weekly after-school pickups that included coffee and/or ice cream and conversation. She loved vacationing with the entire family, and the Bertes established the tradition of taking each grandchild on a special trip when they reached fourth grade.

Her role at BSC included deep involvement with GALA, the College’s annual event highlighting accomplished women from across the country, and attending countless sports events and student gatherings.

Beyond BSC, she was a committed volunteer with the Girl Scouts, the Women’s Committee at UAB’s Spain Rehabilitation Center, Arlington House, P.E.O. Sisterhood, and the American Red Cross. At Canterbury, she founded and chaired a circle for elderly women for more than 20 years; during the pandemic, when the group could not meet in person, she called every circle member on Tuesdays to check in and pray with them.

Mrs. Berte is survived by her husband, Dr. Neal R. Berte; their four children: Becky (Roy) Berte Morton, Julie Berte Tapscott, Mark (Leigh Ann) Berte ‘92, and Scott (Dena) Berte ’94; and grandchildren Annie, Parker, Robby, Maggie (Jacob), Evie, Carolanne, Draper, Julianne, Sara Frances, Liles, Ellie Kate, and Linden. The Bertes’ first great-grandchild is on the way.

The Berte family has generously included Birmingham-Southern on the list for gifts in her memory. Contributions may be mailed to BSC at 900 Arkadelphia Road Birmingham, AL 35254, or made online here.