Elizabeth Naismith was the mother of Cordelia Naismith. She was married to Miles Mark Naismith until his death in a shuttle accident when Cordelia was young. She worked as a research engineer for uterine replicator technology at Silica University Hospital. Over the years, she sponsored several Barrayaran expatriates who came to Beta Colony to get a year of galactic schooling, including her grandsons Miles Vorkosigan and Mark Vorkosigan, as well as Kareen Koudelka. She also put Arde Mayhew up in her home for a few days and Elli Quinn as well.