Bertha Shirley

Bertha Shirley (nee Willis) was Anne's mother.

Early life
Bertha Willis was born in Nova Scotia sometime in 1840s. She studied for a teacher and taught in school. She was very nice to children. Woman's daughter went to school to and was nigh crazy about her.

In 1860s she met Walter Shirley and fell in love with him. He wrote her many letters.

"I never bothered to look in 'em, but the address on the top one is `Miss Bertha Willis,' and that was your ma's maiden name. You can take 'em if you'd keer to have 'em."

- Woman to Anne Shirley-Blythe

Marriage with Walter
They married probably in 1864 and lived in the little shabby yellow house in an out-of-the-way street.

In March 1865 she gave birth to her only child, Anne, in east room. Bertha loved sunrise and it was first thing which little Anne saw.

Death
Three months after Anne's birth Bertha and Walter died on a fever. They were buried in one grave and the School Board put up a tombstone to them as a reward for faithful service.

Walter Shirley
"I mind hearing folks say when they was married that there never was two people more in love with each other."

- Woman about Walter and Bertha's marriage. Walter Shirley was the husband of Bertha. A homely man, his looks were sharply critised by the woman who owned the house in which he had lived with Bertha and called home, in Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia.

Walter was a schoolteacher, like his wife. The meeting of the two is unknown, however, it is known that they loved one another dearly. The times at which they were seperated were not often; when they were, they corresponded through mail.

Anne Shirley
"I love her best when she is asleep and better still when she is awake."

- Bertha Shirley about her baby daughter, Anne

Anne Shirley, her only child, was only a baby when Bertha died.

Behind the scenes

 * Bertha's daughter, Anne, named her last child after her - Bertha Marilla Blythe.
 * Bertha never met her son-in-law Gilbert and her grandchildren, Joyce, Jem, Walter, Nan, Di, Shirley and Rilla.

Appearances

 * Anne of Green Gables (mentioned only)
 * Anne of Avonlea (mentioned only)
 * Anne of the Island (mentioned only)