A Time to Be Born
While neighbors and friends were tending their chores on Mangrove Cay, on the hill in Pinders
on October 10th, 1929, at the home of Nathaniel and Martha Greene there were shouts of
excitement and great joy, when eight (8) of ten (10) children entered that home. Because of
her beautiful dark skin and radiant smile this beautiful baby girl was christened and named
Reta Rebecca.
A Time to Find Love and Live
Reta was a very independent and determined woman who loved and trusted in God. With
Gods help she was able to provide the best for herself and her three children. In 1955, she
met and married Lofton Clarke and their union was blessed with two (2) sons, Edward and
Anthony.
This wonder of a woman earthly journey lasted 84 years during which time she was involved
in boat building and she built 2 dingy boats for fishing. She was very crafty with straw from
which she made creative plaits and sold them to the local markets. She supervised and assisted
in the construction of her first house. She bought the old society building, and refurbished
it into a beautiful home for her and her family. Summertime her house became the children
hostel. Reta would host and take care of the children of her nieces and nephews, friends,
cousin and even strangers. Among the children that lived with her, for short or long term,
they became accustomed to the "Reta's Rule. This was the "Reta's Rule". If someone does
something wrong; Reta would call all the children before her and ask the children who is
responsible for the wrong. After, receiving the answer, she would beat the older children for
allowing the younger children to go astray. Then she would beat the younger children for
breaking the rules and not being respectful to the older children. She always disciplined with
love. She was also very instrumental in helping the island of Mangrove Cay, Andros obtain the
road; Queen's Highway, the one in which we currently drive on today, by cracking rocks day in
and out, she also made lime from conch shell to build the roads. She also raise live stock such
as sheep, goats and pigs as well as farmed and crabbed year round. She continued farming in
Swain's on her grand mother Alvera (Tinny Greene) farm that was passed down to her mother
Martha (Celeste Greene) which she was farming from the age of 6 years. She had many farms
growing produce for market and family such as pumpkins, peanuts, bell pepper, hot pepper,
sweet potato, pigeon pease, beans, okra, cassava, banana, you name it she grow it. She had as
her trade mark the famous coconut bread and crab bread which became popular among her
family and friends and was taken to the USA and Canada by visitors who visited Mangrove
Cay, Andros.
When it came to entertainment Reta was the crowd pleaser, her poem, short stories and one of
a kind straw, Crocus sack and Robin Hood flour bag dress with accompanying shoes, hat and
bag, glove and belt decorated with land crab shell and sponge. Reta was instrumental in the
establishment of Miriam Lodge Chapter 25 of the Order of Eastern Star.
The End is near
In the last three months of Reta's life she depended on a group of persons for care and comfort. Evadney Fox, Naomi
Deveaux, Queenie Butler-Barry (God child), Charlene Barry, Martha Jones, Esther Green, Andy Jones, Charles Barry,
Olivia Major, Christine Neely, Antione Jones Dixon, Carlos and Marcus Blatch, Juan Rolle, Khristina Green, Edward and
Anthony Clarke, Mary Lilly Blatch, Nurse Andrea Deveaux and Catherine Clarke. Reta passed quietly and peacefully
to be with her Lord on Thursday, 12th December, 2013 at 11:52 p.m. at the Princess Margaret Hospital. At the time of
her demise, her parents and all of her siblings had predeceased her.
Her loving memory will forever be cherished in the heart of her family and friends. Husband: Lofton Clarke; Sons: Prince
A. Rolle( Junior), Edward and Anthony Clarke; Daughters: Mary (Lilly) Blatch and Leanna Clarke; Grand children:
Valencia McManus (Clarke), Corporal Carlis, Marcus, Darcel and Larita Blatch, Fredrick (Bam) King, Mark, Daniel,
Kevin, Christopher and PC. 2938 Andrew Clarke, Nurse Andrea Clarke-Deveaux, Eldridge, Juan and Prenecia Rolle,
Robyn Lindsey, Khristina Greene, Monique, Lawrence, Elvardo, Shavado and Antania Johnson; Great grand children:
Sonia, Shanice and Jamiyah Lindsey, Jayden, Shanestie and Enihyah, Cory Joseph, Alexandria Williamson, Fredie, Alexis
and Deneisha Miller, Alaysha and Orthal Greene, David Dean Jr., Fredrick King Jr., Malik and Carlis Blatch Jr., Shorne
Thompson Jr., Lawrence King Carleisha, Cassandra and Carlissa Blatch, Michaela Strachan, Alexis Rolle, Angelo, Carlos,
Dante, Christine, Claudia and Conner Clarke, Caleb Clarke, Seth, Jabrie; Great great grand Children: Jaliyah Loreano,
Laylaih Joseph; One adopted sister: Alice Green-Harris of Brownville, Florida; Sisters-in-law: Bernetta Green and
Estella Clarke; Son-in-law: Pastor George Clarke of St. Luke Baptist Church Mangrove Cay, Andros; Daughter-in-law:
Catherine Clarke; Grand daughters-in-law: Janet and Tamara Clarke, Krystal, Ericka Blatch, Keva King, Nikki Rolle;
Grand sons-in-law: Tony Lindsey, Othal Green, PC. 1844 Dwane Deveaux; Nieces: Naomi Deveaux, Martha Jones,
Queenie Butler-Barry, Esther Green, Princess Campbell, Elizabeth McDonald, Eramae Saunders, Annamae Archer,
Diana, Yvonne, Virgina, Firstina Greene, Irene Munning, Laurine Newbold, Roslyn Greene, Sandra Perry; Nephews:
Bennett and William Greene, Cecil, Charles and Philip Major, Granik, Anthony and Nelson Rolle, Fred Greene, Tyrone
and Oscar Dean; (165) one hundred sixty-five Grand nieces and nephews, (88) eighty-eight Great grand nieces
and nephews and (2) Two Great great grand nieces and nephews; God children: Ashley Williams, Christopher
Saunders, Jeffery Miller Jr., Ahmad Bastian, Berckley Nairn Jr., Derick Bastian Sr., William Sturrup; Other family:
Judith Williams, Leona McCartney, Joan Greene-Bowe of Freeport, Annie Gilbert, Hazel and Zelma Rolle, Bishop
La Rodney Rolle, Kathleen Fritz, Geletha Rolle, Rev. Charles Culmer (walking Bible), Bishop Samuel Greene, John
and Charlene Neely, Sandra Gorden, Mark, Cleveland, Elliot Green, Slim Green, Curlene Thompson Forbes, Mary,
Absalom, Hilton, Oscar and Magelena Bullard-Penn, Maxine, Dorothy, Kathleen, Bernadette, Pearline, Shirley, Agatha,
Javarah, Charles, Kesmond and Stephen Farrington, Joycelyn, Inez, Bulah, Robertha Nairn, Cup Nairn and family, Rev.
Moses, Clothie, Thelma and the Pennermen family; Relatives and Friends: Rev. Evadney Fox, Gloria Bain, Beauty
Saunders, Melva Bastian, Rev. Rufus Greene, Mr. Ralph Saunders, Ethlyn Smith, Rita King, Dr. Evenette McPhee,
Brenda Mae McPhee, Dr. Rev. Wilfred Stubbs and family, Rev. Harry Davis and family, Rev. Catherine Nairn and family
Rev. Solomon King and family, Rev. Hubert King and family, Rev. Christopher Smith and family, Rev. David Wallace
and family, Rev. Robinson and family, Rev. Bernard King and family, Rev. Jeffery Francis and family, Mr. R. Whitney
Bastian and family, Pastor Gardiner and family, Mrs. Catherine Madison and family, Mrs. Anna Clarke-Rolle and
family, Mr. Ornald Greene and family, Mrs. Dorothy Green and family, Mrs. Doricka Green and family, Pastor Mike
Thompson and family, Mr. Andy Bowleg and family, Mr. Jeffery Jolly and family, Pastor Curlene Saunders and family,
Mrs. Virginia Jones and family, Mr. Ralph Moxey and family, Mr. Moody Moxey and family, The Doctors and Nurses
of Female Medical and Female Surgical 2, Dr. Darius Bain and the staff of the Family Clinic on Collins Avenue, Ward
of the P.M.H., The McPhee family, The Saunders family, The Bastian family, The William family, The Rolle family, The
Green family, The Miller family, The Sturrup family, The Hepburn family, The Nairn, The Stubbs, The Bullards, The
Bannisters, St. Luke Baptist Church Family, Nurses and staff of the Mangrove Cay Community Clinic, The District
Local Council of Mangrove Cay, His Excellency Mr. Piscwell Forbes, the entire community of Mangrove Cay and many
other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Ma y Her Soul Rest In Peac e And Rise In Glory