Becky Elson made very significant advances in the empirical mapping and modeling of the surface brightness distributions in rich globular star clusters. This underpins dynamical modeling of these systems and defines and depends on the system dynamical state, the mass distribution of stars, stellar evolution, and the fates of stellar remnants. Becky’s work in this field, especially as applied to the range of ages available in the Large and Small Magellanic Galaxies, was very influential. She was one of the first to exploit the spatial resolution delivered by the Hubble Space Telescope in this field. Becky was also highly successful as a poet, focusing on the science-literature connection. Her posthumous collected work “A Responsibility to Awe” (Elson, “From stones to stars” in Rebecca Elson “a responsibility to awe” 2001 Oxford poets. Carcanet, 2001) relaunched the “Oxford Poets” series published by Carcanet Press.