Betsy Tyler, a care worker originally from Buffalo, New York, now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, continuing a legacy of caregiving passed down through generations. Her roots trace back to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where her mother and grandmother lived, making her journey in domestic work deeply personal and grounded in family history.
Betsy began her career at 16 as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), drawn into the work during a time when there was a shortage of caregivers. “It was in my blood,” she says, recognizing that caring for others has always been a natural part of her life. Her mother also worked as a care worker, in addition to balancing multiple different jobs, from making stockings in a factory to cooking in nursing homes, all while caring for family members. Betsy’s grandmother, born in 1910, moved to New York to work as a live-in maid to support her eight children, leaving them behind as she traveled for work as a single mother.
“When you are sincere, you can watch it grow. It happens with people, movements, history, and our legacy.”
Though Betsy never saw her grandmother work, she heard stories about her strength and resilience. Her grandmother, like many Black women of her time, would go to local agencies, unsure where they’d send her for work, knowing most jobs would be as maids, housecleaners, or nannies. Despite these challenges, she provided for her children in the best way she could and maintained a deep connection to her family’s legacy. Betsy recalls how her grandmother would spend time gardening—one of her great joys. “She was always working in the garden,” Betsy remembers fondly. She often helped her grandmother pick peaches, strawberries, and apples, memories that remain close to her heart. This love for nurturing and growing things parallels the care her grandmother gave to her family, and it’s a connection Betsy cherishes.
Just as a tree’s roots deepen to support its branches, Betsy sees her role as continuing to water and tend to the legacy of care passed down from her ancestors.
Betsy’s family is central to her life. She is the proud mother of five children—Doreen (38), Dorian (34), Darien (29), and twin daughters Jaida and Jenai (21). She also has four grandchildren—two girls and two boys. “My children are better than me, better than what I saw,” she says proudly, reflecting on how three of her children went to college, and all of them finished school. The struggles her mother and grandmother faced inspired Betsy to push her children toward success, determined to give them better opportunities.
In her portrait, Betsy stands alone, but her family’s presence is deeply felt. She carries with her pictures of her mother, a flower from her grandmother’s garden, and the memories of a family rooted in care. Betsy’s grandmother, who worked hard to raise her children alone after her husband left, symbolizes the strength and independence Betsy strives to embody. “My grandmother had to do what she could to provide for her children, just like my mother did for us,” she says. Betsy’s mother also balanced care work with raising her children, relying on her sisters to help when she couldn’t be there, a story Betsy knows all too well.
Betsy’s connection to We Dream in Black (WeDiB) began unexpectedly when she followed friends to a meeting in Charlotte. She found a community of women who shared her experiences. “I wasn’t used to people being concerned or open about similar experiences,” she says, explaining how the warmth and empathy she found in WeDiB was different from what she had known before. “I clung to it. I’ll never forget it.”
“My roots come from being a domestic worker. It’s in my blood. My roots come from the history of who I am. It’s a tree. I’m rooted.”
For Betsy, caregiving is more than a profession—it’s a calling deeply tied to her family’s legacy. “My roots come from being a domestic worker. It’s in my blood. My roots come from the history of who I am. It’s a tree. I’m rooted.” Reflecting on her grandmother’s love of gardening, Betsy likens the act of care to planting seeds that grow into something beautiful. “When you are sincere, you can watch it grow. It happens with people, movements, history, and our legacy.”
For Betsy, this connection to her roots goes beyond the physical—it’s spiritual. “I’m a spiritual woman,” she says, speaking about her belief in nurturing the seeds planted by those who came before her. Just as a tree’s roots deepen to support its branches, Betsy sees her role as continuing to water and tend to the legacy of care passed down from her ancestors. “I believe that trees grow and branch off into beautiful leaves, as long as they’re watered.” This spirituality guides her work, reminding her that caring for others is more than just a job—it’s a sacred duty, a reflection of love, faith, and growth.
Through her work and her role in WeDiB, Betsy is committed to nurturing that legacy, ensuring that the seeds her ancestors planted continue to grow strong for future generations.
Through her work and her role in WeDiB, Betsy is committed to nurturing that legacy, ensuring that the seeds her ancestors planted continue to grow strong for future generations. For her, the act of care is both a profession and a spiritual calling—one that will blossom in the lives of those who follow her path.
