Bette Tebbe Davis Pease, 94, of Milton, Ga., formerly of Cheshire, Conn, died on Nov. 16 the same way she lived her remarkable life, on her own terms. She waited until her family gathered by her side to bid her goodbye on that Friday evening with prayers, songs, laughter and tears. On Saturday morning she died peacefully in her sleep.

Bette was born on April 9, 1930, in Brooklyn, N.Y. to the late Henry and Liberta Tebbe, where she had early success as a fashion model in her teens. There she met the love of her life, George W. Davis, and married in May of 1953.

George and Bette raised their family of six with stops in New York, California, Illinois, Delaware, Massachusetts and finally Connecticut. After 31 years of marriage, George died in 1984.

As time passed, Bette found companionship and marriage again with Larry Pease and enjoyed friends, family and travels in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and Martha’s Vineyard. Larry died in 2003.

Bette spent the last 18 years living in the suburbs of Atlanta, Ga (Cumming, Alpharetta and Milton) near several of her children where the family found many occasions for celebrating her large family.

She is survived by her children Michael Davis (Mary Pat) of Dunwoody, Ga.; Tebbe Davis (Suzannah) of Asheville, N.C.; Meryl McKenna (Kevin) of Milton, Ga.;Kathleen Moran (William) of Clinton, Conn.; Jeffrey Davis (Karen) of South Kingstown, R.I.; and Timothy Davis (Lee) of Tucson, Ariz.

She is also survived by her nephew Geoffrey Cunliffe of Weatogue, Conn.

Bette was predeceased by her loving sister Meryl Joan Cunliffe.

The legacy of “Lady Bette” is her 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren who remember her as the beautiful, fun loving, sometimes silly, role model who shared her time and love with them. “Lady Bette’s” 90th birthday was an amazing gathering of the family that is ingrained in the memory of all for the touching words of love from a very overwhelmed Bette.

A funeral mass will be held on Dec. 16, at 10 a.m., at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Drive, Sandy Springs, Ga.

Internment will take place next Spring in Meriden, Conn. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Bette to the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia (EpilepsyGA.org).