Tribute to Cynthia King

“May the work I have done speak for me”

Cynthia Ishbel King nee’ Horne

Sunrise: 9th October, 1931

Sunset: 8th January, 2005

It is a joy to say thanks to Almighty God for his gift to us of a true Christian woman whose life of love, thoughtfulness, concern for others and generosity has been exemplary.

Cynthia Ishbel King nee’ Horne was one of a vanishing breed of old-school types who would never sacrifice high principles on the altar of expediency. She was born in that sleepy little hamlet of Edinboro in the suburbs of Kingstown capital city of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies on the 9th October 1931. Ishbel was the second of eight children born to Reynold Alexander Neville Horne and Amy Robertha nee’ Providence.

Upon completion of her secondary education at the St. Vincent Girls’ High School Ishbel entered the teaching profession with her maiden assignment to the Kingstown Methodist School. Thereafter she taught at the Richmond Hill Government and Kingstown Preparatory Primary Schools and at the post-secondary Teachers’ College.

In 1966, the family migrated to the United States where Ishbel resumed her teaching career. She retired from teaching in 1997 and thereafter had the immense joy of caring for her two granddaughters rather later in life.

Ishbel can truly be described as an all-rounder. She was a participant and usually became completely absorbed in whatever she undertook. Her greatest love was NETBALL and she reached the pinnacle in those days of national player “shooter” representing St. Vincent in regional tournaments. Ishbel was a Girl Guide and a Ranger. She was also a Physical Education Tutor. In 1966 she attended Chelsea College of Physical Education in England and upon graduation, took up the post of Tutor at the St. Vincent Teachers’ College. In the little spare time that she allowed herself she was always baking and icing a cake for someone known or unknown to her.

Ishbel loved her entire family but naturally most of all her two wonderful daughters for whom nothing was too much to do or give. The breadth of her love and enormousness of her heart knew no bounds. She will be sorely missed by husband Arthur, daughters Marcia and Giselle, granddaughters Jennifer and Vanessa, sister Stella, brothers Milton, Bruce, Neville and John, sons-in-law Walter “Chuck” Gamble and Matthew Fay, nephews, nieces, in-laws and numerous other relatives and friends.

Cynthia Ishbel personified love. Sleep on and take your rest. We all love you. Peace.