Remarks at Memorial Service for
Kathleen Lindsey-Byers
by
Rev Jim Bell, Minister of Music at Peachtree Christian Church
Feb 17, 2012
Remembrances of Kathleen
On behalf of Kathleen’s daughter, Ann and her son-in law, Martin Weiss and her grandchildren George and Beth, I would like to thank you for attending today’s service.Dr. Kathleen Byers Lindsey was three things to me; she was my surrogate mother, my borrowed grandmother and my Auntie Mame. I first met Kathleen 25 years ago when I walked into the choir room at Peachtree Christian Church. Kathleen was a member of our Sanctuary Choir; she sang in the soprano section. Kathleen was not a loud dramatic soprano who constantly needed to be stifled, on the contrary, Kathleen was a quiet and retiring presence in our choir. In fact, I barely heard a note out of her the whole time she sang in the choir. She was a good musician though and later I learned that she had initially set her sights on majoring in music.Over the years Kathleen became an extended part of the Bell family. She was always there for Martha and me and our children. When Beth and George were children and came to visit Kathleen and her husband, Jay, Kathleen would often invite my children, Elisabeth and Jamie, who were roughly the same age as Beth and George, to tag along. Beth and George, your grandmother loved you so much and was so very proud of you and your accomplishments. When you grew into adulthood and visited her, we would often go to the Broadway Café on Briarcliff Road and enjoy their Kosher food. We always enjoyed our times together at the Broadway. Beth, I know you cherish the trip you took with your grandmother to the Holy Land. I think that trip made a great impression on you and perhaps influenced your decision to move to Israel. Several years ago, I had the good fortune to travel to the Holy land and while in Jerusalem, Beth was able to join us for dinner one evening. Kathleen was so proud George and his law school experience. George was able to pass the bar on his very first attempt, quite an accomplishment. The last time George was in Atlanta, we went by to pick up Kathleen at Mario’s Beauty Salon on Briarcliff. Tony, Kathleen’s hair dresser for decades, had been in treatment for cancer and had just returned to work. George was so thoughtful to go into the beauty parlor to greet Tony. I’m sure Kathleen insisted though.Kathleen had a very active mind, was interested in many things and especially loved dancing, travel, reading and collecting exotic friends. Dr. Lindsey was a member of the Atlanta Writer’s Club and the DAR. Once I attended a meeting of the Atlanta Writer’s Club with Kathleen, she was an officer. At the meeting which was at the Wimbish House, there were gentlemen who wore monocles and ladies who smoked little cigars in long cigarettes holders. It made quite an impression on me. It was at the DAR that Kathleen met Frances Martin, a Wagnerian soprano who sang at the Bayreuth Festival in German. Frances was a legendary beauty in her day and she was courted by the Wagner heirs and sang with the likes of James King and Birgit Nielsen. I remember the time when Kathleen scheduled a luncheon for the three of us. I was summoned to appear at Kathleen’s house at 10:00 in the morning at which time we were served Bloody Marys. After an hour of Bloody Marys and conversation, we piled into Frances’ 1950 something Chrysler and drove the Swan Coach House for lunch. It was like a scene out of “Driving Miss Daisy” . After retiring from Piedmont Hospital and moving to Lenbrook, Kathleen got bored and renewed her medical license at the age of 86. Can you imagine renewing your medical license at 86 years of age. She then took a part-time job reviewing Medicare claims. It was there that she met and became friends with Martha Mitchell, her retirement buddy. Several years ago, Kathleen attended a retired Physician’s reception at the Academy of Medicine. She came back and reported that it was sort of depressing because some of the Doctors were on walkers and others were in wheel chairs. I reminded her that she had arrived, glamorously attired, and driving a red convertible [note by MHW: the images above show Kathleen at about 86 with her red convertible and the driver's license she renewed at age 90] . Special mention should be made of Kathleen’s lifetime neighbors on Wimbledon, Bobby and Susan and their lovely mother, Dorothy. They were such loving and supportive neighbors. After moving from her home, Lenbrook became a vital part of Kathleen’s life. Kathleen lived at Lenbrook for 11 years and those were some of the best years of her life. When she first moved to Lenbrook, there were two other ladies who arrived at the very same time, Marie Lanham and Ellen Ritz. Kathleen, Marie and Ellen became fast friends and lived life to the fullest. They would pile into the red convertible and off they would go. They often came to the church for our Senior Adult events and for our worship services. Marie and Ellen died some time ago but their families have remained loyal and faithful friends to Kathleen. I want to express my sincere thanks to Bill and Jackye Lanham, Gayle and Frank Mitchell and Stephanie and Bill Reeves who always remembered Kathleen during the holidays and at other times as well.Kathleen loved the Halloween Costume Party at Lenbrook and was overjoyed the year she won wearing her shinny green wig. This year Kathleen wanted to go as Lady GaGa. I did not know who Lady GaGa was but Kathleen did and she coached me on what props I would need to gather for her. Several years ago Peachtree members, Estelle Wisdom and Elizabeth Holcombe moved to Lenbrook and they became Kathleen’s special Lenbrook friends. Special mention should be made of Kathleen’s other life-long church friends, to include Frances Carlton, Kathleen Mainland and Ida McKnight. I would also like to thank Eric Duke, Lenbrook’s Activities Director, for putting up with Kathleen and all her requests and suggestions. Kathleen was a typical stage mother and she was always promoting my wife, Martha and me to sing programs at Lenbrook. She could be a tough customer and a hard sell. Thanks Eric for always entertaining Kathleen’s requests and acquiescing to her demands whenever possible. Again, I wish to thank Lenbrook and her residents for providing a beautiful and safe home for Kathleen. Her time there was filled with many activities, many friends and much joy.
Jim Bell also led the choir during the memorial service.
Music during the service included Beethoven's Hymn to Joy (sung by whole congregation), the Lord's Prayer (Malotte arrangement sung by the Choir), Psalm 23 (sung by whole congregation) and The Lord Bless You and Keep You (John Rutter arrangement sung by the Choir).
Scriptural readings were Isaiah 40:28-31, John 14:1-6; Revelations 21: 1-4, Proverbs 31 (abridged- aka the 'woman of valor', Aches Hayil) and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ('there is a season...)
Jim Bell not only led the choir and gave the remarks. He also loaned us a car for us to use subsequent to Kathleen's death (so we could drive to the memorial service, etc.).
