Known as ‘Ma’ or ‘Jean’, she was blind from her youth. Born at 64 Hilltown, she was the daughter of James Gall, shipyard labourer, and Mary Whitton, jute spinner, who married in 1894 in the Gilfillan Memorial Church. At the time of the 1901 census the family had moved to 66 Douglas Street with another three young children. In her youth she received voice training, and was an accomplished pianist and organist.

Much of her life was devoted to street missionary work. She was a familiar figure in her pilgrim’s bonnet playing the organ at open air services in places including the foot of the Hilltown, the corner of Dock Street and Castle Street, and the West Port. At the beginning of the war she took over a hall at West Port and led an independent mission there. She also worked for the poor, the homeless and the alcoholic; she helped any who came to her home, by day or night. Chronic arthritis forced her to give up work in 1977, but she remained popular, with many visitors including pupils from Dundee High School.