Tea Time with Berdine Creedy

By Jill Jackson, Photos by Charlene Fertel

Berdine Creedy’s name is a familiar one to many doll collectors today. Most have heard the fairytale story of how she and her family came to the United States from South Africa 10 years ago after winning a “green card lottery.” Collectors have watched her “little girls” progressively grow in popularity and evolve into the award-winning dolls they are today.

As an artist, Berdine has made herself accessible to her fans. She holds workshops frequently, and her Tea Time events are well known. She participates regularly in her online chat group, personally greeting all new members, answering questions, and simply chatting. 

It would be easy to look at this accessibility as purely a good marketing technique—but there are a few things about this talented artist that you may not know.

Much of the money earned from her Tea Time events goes to a charity for children in Lesotho, South Africa, called Heaven’s Gate. The number of dolls she donates to charitable organizations, both in the doll community and her personal life, runs into the hundreds. Berdine acts as a surrogate mother to an entire community of South African families who have migrated to her adopted city of Gainesville, Fla., often babysitting so a parent can attend work or school. Berdine gives back to the community and to charities in every way she can, and she serves is an inspiration for many. And for Berdine, inspiration and support can be offered in even the smallest ways, perhaps even an anonymous gift at one’s doorstep.

One tale of inspiration can be found in the life of Misty White-Hay, a 32-year-old woman who resides with her mother and stepfather in Illinois. At age 16, Misty lived the life of a typical high school teenager. She played basketball and softball. Misty was voted MVP for her high school basketball team and headed for a scholarship in sports until an automobile accident changed her life forever.

Misty’s car was hit by a construction truck that ran a stop sign. It left her with traumatic brain injury, little memory of her former life, years of physical therapy, and the mental and emotional abilities of a 5- to 12-year-old child.

Two years ago, Misty’s mother, Kathleen, began to collect Berdine Creedy’s dolls, and Misty wanted to know who made them.

Her mother told her about Berdine Creedy. She told Misty how the artist had made the courageous decision to move to the United States, a decision that changed her life completely and irrevocably. She told her how Berdine had come to a country where another language was spoken all around her, and she had to learn to adapt and function.  Misty understood that, as she dealt with the same things every day. And so, Misty developed a fondness for Creedy dolls as well.

Misty spends most of her waking hours in a wheelchair. But every year she makes a supreme effort and participates in the Special Olympics. She competes in the 100-meter race walk, a huge challenge for her. She trains for months to finish this race, and has won the silver medal several times. Last year, she took her favorite Creedy doll, Tea Time Too, with her every day when she practiced. This doll gave her confidence.

On the day of the race, riding in a small fanny pack under Misty’s shirt, Tea Time Too completed the race with her, and together they won the gold medal.  

In April, Misty took another Creedy doll, 8-inch New World for Dien, with her to the Special Olympics. This doll had arrived on her family’s doorstep shortly after Misty’s previous win, a special gift from an anonymous friend.

There was an error in registration that day, and Misty was placed in the wrong race. When the starting pistol sounded her mother could do nothing but watch from the sideline as her child struggled to complete not the usual 100-meter race that already challenged her, but the 400-meter race walk—a race that was four times that distance.

“I was horrified,” says Kathleen.  “I watched my daughter walk as fast as she could. I tried to scream at the officials, but they couldn’t hear me. The last meters were slow and hard. Misty was stumbling. I wanted to climb over the railings and help her.”

Misty, however, did not give up. With the entire crowd on its feet, screaming her name, Misty and Dien not only finished the race but also took home a silver medal. 

“When I took Tee Tee [her name for the doll] with me when I raced, she kept telling me not to give up or quit, that it doesn’t matter if I finish first or not, I am still a winner in her eyes, because I have worked so hard and come so far,” says Misty.

“We seldom know what will inspire or impress someone around us,” says Kathleen. “Berdine’s story and the courage her dolls represent make a difference in my daughter’s life.”  

A few days after the race, another small box mysteriously appeared on the family’s doorstep from her anonymous friend. The box was addressed to Misty. Enclosed was another little bundle of Creedy inspiration. Who knows what Misty will be able to accomplish next year.

But this issue: September 2007