Layou students receive bursaries in memory of educator Verna Douglas

The daughter of the late former principal of the Barrouallie Secondary School Verna Douglas was “almost brought to tears” at a bursary handing over ceremony in memory of her mother.

On Monday, August 14 at Nature Care SVG in Layou, five students who graduated from the Layou Government School and will be entering the Barrouallie Secondary School in September each received $500 to assist with their educational endeavours.

The ceremony, which was organized by Gideon Nash, Stella Quow and Vernon Cooper McDowall was held in the celebration of the life of educator Verna Douglas who passed away on December 3, 2021 in the United States at the age of 87 years.

The recipients: Tristan Providence, Andralique Lynch, Summer Velox, Phoebe Miller and Keida Matthias are all past students of the Layou Government School where Verna resided.

Nash said that Verna was like a mother to many people including himself. He said that he knew he could have turned to her in tough moments in his life.

He said that her willingness to help others gave him the energy and the spirit to help people rather than live for himself.

He added that the bursaries would only be presented to the students who are entering the Barrouallie Secondary School because it was at that school that Verna influenced many minds.

“By the time I announced that I was giving $500, it didn’t stop there. By the time I came down from reading the eulogy, there was one that said, ‘I giving too…’, before you know it…[someone] called from the States to say ‘I giving too’ and not to be left off, her granddaughter…her first granddaughter, she has made her contribution also to this bursary.”

Verna’s daughter Fraulein Douglas who attended the ceremony virtually said that she and her siblings are very happy and those who were able to contribute to these bursaries will continue to do so as long as they can.

“I’m really, really happy. What I’m hoping too, is that I’m retired now so I’m home and I’m hoping to come to St Vincent…and I’m hoping when I come next year, my daughter and I, we would be able to meet with the kids…”

Fraulein told SEARCHLIGHT that her mother was someone who always looked out for the weak. She said that her mother grew up not having much but when she was able to work and provide for herself and saw that someone was in need, she would assist that person without looking for a reward.

She said her mother’s legacy lives on in her children, especially her granddaughter who is a teacher in the United States.

“So her legacy of teaching and helping continues in her children. My other sister does a lot of voluntary work…in churches and community work so that’s where her legacy plays on.

Fraulein advised the children that they are not going to school to be friends with everybody and to keep education at the forefront of their minds.

The recipients said they are grateful for the donations and hope the project will continue to assist those who are in need.

Contributions towards the bursaries were made by Esther Burke, Ulric McDowall, Idris Williams, Shana Douglas and Gideon Nash.