September 28th, 1929, not jus a date to remember the "Great Andros Hurricane." it's the day Grandmother Ms. Eulin and my grandfather William Deveaux announced the birth of thier first child. She looked so much like her father who of course wanted a boy anyway, he nicked-named her 'Bill'.
She told us many stories of how she "tote rocks" as a student of the St. Joseph Catholic School to build the St.Joseph Catholic Church where she spent her early years worshiping.
Ms.Bill, as i often called her when I wanted to get her attention, became a strong, distinguished independent woman.
She met and married Octavious Munnings who pre-deceased her in January 17th, 1997.
" Every time i look out the window as see the dog pregnant, i knew I was pregnant! I had ten children, four died, so i had four boys, Leon (Deceased), Arthur (Deceased), Harcourt and Alfred and two girls, Debbie.........." And then you would have to listen to the story of how Debbie's two brothers, Hacourt and Arthur prayed for a sister and she was born, then Linda. This would be her response to, "How many children you have?"
Mummy loved her children. Each one played a special role in her life. So each one would feel they had all rights to her when they visited her and she made many sacrifices for them. She would do whatever she could to help them. For my sister Linda in particular, She adopted her daughter Danisha from six weeks old and Danisha became her constant companion and friend.
Ms. Bill had a quiet spirit, but her words could be as sharp as a new razor and a quick comment to any response. She was witty and could find a joke for any occasion. Everyone who came in contact with her knew her love for them, so behind the complaints, behind the strong words, everyone shared her.
There was never a birthday, Anniversary or just haven't seen you since yesterday phone call from her. She never forgot a birthday. When you became a part of her life, you became a part of her Birthday Club so you got a phone call as early as she got up to wish you Happy Birthday.
Mummy spent more than 17years of her life in the then Sheraton British Colonial Hotel as a Linen Room supervisor before becoming a Private Cook for many including the late Bishop Michael Eldon.
Her Cheese Spread and Tuna Salad were marketable and many can attest to their great taste. The profession afforded her many opportunities to travel, and live in the US for short periods.
She enjoyed travelling and meeting people. Every summer she would pack her grandchildren and travel to the US to see family and spend time. They enjoyed these times with "Grammy, Mummy!"
As she traveled and work in Private Homes she met, her friend Ms. Sarah Strachan, who at the time attended the St. Paul Baptist Church, Pastored by the late A.S. Colebrook. Ms. Sarah invited her to church and in a short time she became an active member and took her baby sister Thelma with her to join also. She attended Bible Study and Prayer Meeting. She was faithful to her church and embraced the new pastor, Rev. Robert Colebrook with the same love that she had for his father. She was name a Deacon in the Church.
There was never an occasion when Sis. Munnings would not be at church especially Prayer meetings, that were held on Wednesdays midday, under the leadership of Dec. Neilor Johnson. She was an intercessor. She was faithful to the call and joined on the prayer line every morning at 5 am to prayer for the nation, family and friends.
Mummy enjoyed reading her Bible and listening to the Gospel stations. There was never a Saturday morning when her radio would not be tuned in to Rev. Phillip McPhee and the Mt. Calvary Baptist Cathedral's, "Thirty Good Moments", and Bishop's Hall's Speaking to the Nation. And if there was ever a time when the programs were not aired she wanted an explanation.
She loved listening to good preaching so whenever there was an occasion for her to be with these preachers she would be at their services until her health prevented her from travelling too far, or sit for too long, so she went many Sundays to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church just around the corner for her convenience.
Ms. Bill, a strong arm in her community especially the Eneas, Finlayson and Hutcheson Streets with many others who have passed on, Nathalie Hutcheson, Mr. & Mrs Gordon, and Kathlene Coakley. Ms. Bill was a stable rock which many climbed on her porch as a resting place. In fact all the members of Parliament who represented The Bain Town Community were er sons,including: Hon Valentine Grimes, Dr. Norman Gay, Dr.B.J. Nottage they all sat, ate and got motherly advice from their Ms.Bill. Whose gonna fill her shoes...... living there will never be he same for many!
Mummy did not take the death of her sister who passed only a short year ago, in 2012, well, and missed their daily talks desperately, so much so that she would always say to my anguish, " I wish i could go". Go where, Ms Bill?" I would ask and she would just stare at me as if to say away from this world.
On Saturday, August 10th, I stopped by to check on her. She was lying down breathing very abnormal, Danesha said, " Auntie Debbie, i asked her if she wants to go to the doctor and she said no." She said, " I called Rev. C.B. Moss and he prayed with me."
I sat for a while. After about ten minutes she called out to me," Debbie, come take me." We got her dressed and took her to the clinic on Poinciana Drive, she saw the doctor who advised us to take her urgently to the ER. Her heart rate was uncontrolled, She was seen and medicated and sent home the same night.
I check on her on Sunday, Monday her condition was unchanged. I am told that she gave her caregiver a $10 note and said to her thank you for helping me, she then got on the phone and called her son, Alfred, she told him to come and see her because she might not be here much longer.
On Tuesday evening i stopped by, she lied in her bed, her breathing had not changed. I gave her a bath but her behavior was abnormal. I called to my cousin S.Brown who had just pulled up and asked him to assist me with her. It was a warfare!
S.Brown began warring in the spirit with her, and in a few moments she was leading the chorus; Come in to my hear Lord Jesus, Come into my heart today, Come into my heart to stay".
She had made peace with her Lord and Savior and had said goodbye to this mean old world. So when i left and told her mummy go sleep now, she did, safe in the arms of Jesus. So when i returned on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock and found her gate still locked I knew that something strange had happened. Little did i know she had passed from this world into the next. I received a call about half hour later which confirmed this..... When i reached the homestead Ms. Bill, My Mummy was gone!!
As i sat in her home after Wednesday, I could still hear passersby shouting, "Ms.Bill!! Aunty Bill!!" But sadly there was no response....She was their mother, their friend, their confident. No more getting advice or words of encouragement or even words of rebuke for something they should not be doing from the old screen door. The smallest child in the neighborhood knew "Aunty Bill" as friend.
Mummy wanted Love; she wanted companionship beyond what an of us could give. However, on that fateful Wednesday, August 17th, in the year of our Lord Two thousand and thirteen, she had found it. As I looked on I saw the look of glory on her face.....such a peace.....this assured me that all is well she was safe in the arms of her savior.