Bette Davis’s relationship with her daughter B.D Hyman deteriorated long after she made her debut in films. It was affected more after she published a deceitful story in her book, “My Mother’s Keeper,” in 1985.
She is currently the pastor of her church in Charlottesville, Virginia.
| Name | Barbara Davis Sherry |
| Age | 75 |
| Born | May 1, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Santa Ana, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, minister |
| Spouse | Jeremy Hyman (m. 1963; died 2017) |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Mother | Bette Davis |
| Biological Father | William Grant Sherry |
| Adopted father | Gary Merrill |
What Happened To Bette Davis’ Daughter B. D. Hyman?
Bette Davis’ Daughter B.D. Hyman was let out of the mother’s property after she died of cancer at the age of 81. All the feud began after Hyman published a defamatory story, “My Mother’s Keeper,” in 1985.
It portrayed the actress as a cruel bully who made up suicide attempts to gain sympathy.
B.D’s mother was already in poor health when the book was published. She had undergone a mastectomy and suffered a stroke that nearly killed her.
B.D. had received numerous requests to postpone the book’s release until her mother’s recovery.
The requests were ignored, though, as B.D insisted that her mother would eventually understand and went ahead with the publication.
Additionally, she released the book on Mother’s day. B.D. revealed that her mother was ruthless, cruel, and occasionally tormented the young B.D. by pretending to commit suicide in order to gain sympathy.
Fans had a hard time accepting and resolving the contrast between the image of a beloved actress and a cruel mother.
B.D received numerous criticisms for her poor judgment and lack of compassion.
Kathryn Sermak who worked as Bette Davis’ personal assistant told Fox News, that after reading the article, Davis felt so humiliated that she no longer wanted to live.
Sermak declared, “It was a huge betrayal.” “Miss D never recovered from it. Never. You can’t simply move on from something like that.”
“Even so, it doesn’t mean you no longer love that person. It was so awful. She’s still my daughter,” Miss D declared despite everything. “But it left her heart broken for good. You never move past that.”
Davis and B.D remained estranged following the big revelation until 1989 when the former learned heartbreaking news. After five years of being in remission, Davis was informed that her cancer had returned and she only had a few days to live.
The actress took the news in stride and dialed her son Michael and attorney Harold, but she never forgave B.D. or tried to get in touch with her.
Davis passed away, leaving her son Michael and a close friend her estate, which was almost worth a million dollars. B.D., her sister Margot, and Davis’ grandsons Justin and Ashley were left out.
Where Is B. D. Hyman Now?
B.D. Hyman, a born-again Christian, is the pastor of her church in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as the director of her own ministry.
She has authored three books, all of which have been released by her ministry. The Rapture, the Tribulation, and Beyond (2002), The Church is Not the Bride (2000), and Oppressive Parents: How to Leave Them and Love Them (1992).
She was born in Santa Ana, California, the daughter of actress Bette Davis (1908-1989) and artist William Grant Sherry (1914-1995). Davis’s fourth husband, actor Gary Merrill, adopted her in 1950.
When she turned 16, she changed her last name back to Sherry, claiming that she wanted to separate herself from Merrill because he was abusive.
On a blind date for the movie’s screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 1963, B. D. met Jeremy Hyman, the British nephew of Seven Arts Productions owner Eliot Hyman.
The two later got married when B. D. was 16 and Jeremy was 29. Her mother Bette Davis granted her permission and openly endorsed their union.
When Jeremy passed away in November 2017, the couple had been wed for more than 50 years. His two sons, Ashley and Justin survived him.
B.D. Hyman Net Worth
B.D Hyman has an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2022. She is an American author and a pastor of her church in Charlottesville, Virginia.
My Mother’s Keeper (1985) and Narrow Is the Way (1987) are two books by Hyman that are extremely critical of her mother.
Hyman received a lot of criticism for the timing of the publication of My Mother’s Keeper because Davis was ill after having a stroke while the book was being published.
The writing of the book had been finished long before the stroke.
In the book My Mother’s Keeper, the author chronicled her difficult mother-daughter relationship and showed scenes of her controlling alcoholic mother.
The accounts of the events were deemed inaccurate by several of Davis’s friends, and those with first-hand knowledge vehemently refuted the claims.
Davis claimed inaccuracies in Hyman’s book in a “letter” to her daughter that was included in her 1987 autobiography This ‘N That.
B.D. Hyman Family
B.D Hyman was born to Bette Davis and William Grant Sherry on born May 1, 1947. Later in 1950, she was adopted by Devis’ fourth husband Gary Merrill.
However, she changed her surname to Sherry when she reached 16. Hyman had two step-siblings, Margot Mosher Merrill and Michael.
Mosher Merrill and Michael were Devis and Merrill’s adopted children. Merrill died on May 5, 2022.
B.D.’s communication with Michael Merrill was cut off, and he declined to contact her again after she published her book criticizing their mother.