“A mother’s heart is big – there is always room for one more,” someone once said. These words are deeply etched into Carmen Smith, Badisa’s receptionist’s memory, because they perfectly describe Annemarie Bezuidenhout, Director of Fundraising and Marketing. Carmen called her “my work mom” – a stylish, gentle, and humble-yet-confident woman who, in just 17 short months, left an indelible mark on her.
And that’s how many remember her: as someone whose impact was far greater than the time she had with you.
Nothing was impossible
From Durbanville Children’s Home to Badisa’s Management Program, Annemarie walked the journey with vision, integrity, and an infectious passion for people. She led her department without bravado and truly believed in people’s ability to build something great together. For Linda Awerbuch, Manager: Social Services, it was precisely that belief that proved so contagious. She recalls, “In the beginning, Annemarie was the only one who truly believed we could raise R300 million. But with her, no dream ever felt too big.”
Basie van Wyk, Badisa’s Chief Executive Officer, remembers her as someone who always remained calm, no matter the pressure or complexity of a situation. “She always came up with a plan,” he says. “She sought solutions with empathy and a smile.”
A leader who truly listened
What set Annemarie apart wasn’t just her strategic insight or her knowledge of fundraising, but her ability to listen with care. Linda says, “She welcomed creativity and saw potential in every person.” It was this combination of humanity and vision that shaped her marketing team in 2024 – a dream that was realised, even if her time with them was short.
For Leroy Jooste, her “new fundraiser,” she lives on in every email that begins with “Hi Mevrou,” every late night WhatsApp exchanging ideas, and every pep talk around the little white table that helped him find direction. Leroy says, “She didn’t just prepare me for the technical challenges of fundraising, but also for the road signs and potholes of the industry.”
“She knew how to celebrate others”
Annemarie’s laugh – that mischievous, genuine laugh – will be sorely missed. Her hurried footsteps in the corridor, the open door to quickly share a thought or have a deep conversation, leaves a gap in many colleagues’ workday. And she truly knew how to celebrate others. “She was so excited about all my ‘firsts’,” Carmen recalls. “Her pride radiated through her voice and her eyes.”
She made people feel seen and heard. And when things were difficult – personally or professionally – she was there to support with dignity and wisdom.
“She laid the foundation. Now we build further.”
Annemarie’s legacy at Badisa lives on in every new relationship that’s built, every rand raised, and in every colleague who chooses to do their work with hope and integrity. It lives on in Badisa’s growing brand, and in the way programmes are starting to recognise and support one another, which was another one of Annemarie’s dreams.
What remains is love
To everyone who knew her, Annemarie was a colleague, a mentor, a leader, a friend, and sometimes just simply “Mom.”
“May things now be gentler for you,” Leroy writes in his farewell poem. “In time, we will find peace in all the places where love connects us.”
And perhaps that’s how she touched the world most deeply: by demonstrating love through her work, her words, her laughter, her belief in people, and her hope for a world where everyone is seen, heard and cared for.
