Joan Bellew, a resident of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre, celebrated her 95th birthday on 9 May.
She said her life has been a rich one of imparting knowledge to generations of children. Bellew and her late husband Phil, who she met when they were students at Rhodes University, worked for decades in education, both in Zimbabwe and in South Africa.
The only girl of five children, Bellow was born in Pretoria. As a married woman, she lived in many parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa, wherever it was worthwhile to teach.
Bellew and her husband lived in Zimbabwe from 1955 until 1977 when they returned to South Africa. Their next long-term home was Gonubie, just outside of East London, where they stayed for 20 years.
After retiring, the couple worked for a decade helping preschoolers in an informal settlement in Gonubie, giving structure to the little ones’ otherwise aimless days and ensuring that they were fed and kept safe while their parents were at work.
They were good friends of Ian Smith, the former Prime Minister of then-Rhodesia. Bellow said he was a good man who did not forget his friends when he became a successful politician. “He had no airs or graces, but was simply a good man who took some wrong turns.”
They had three children named Anne, Louise and John.
After 59 years of marriage, Phil passed away, and after living on her own in their Gonubie cottage for another six years, Bellew relocated to Gauteng to be closer to her son.
“It is hard to think that God still wants me here, perhaps to do some good work? I shall try my best to be a good person, as an example to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Bellew said.
Her birthday was celebrated at a well-attended party, with family and friends, many of whom are fellow Ron Smith Care Centre residents.
