EULOGY to Dr Shirley Robertson

by Samantha Robertson

Today we are here to celebrate Mother, our mother, Dr Shirley Robertson – wife of the beloved Emery, mother of Sandra, Samantha and Emery Jr, grandmother of Jada and Shiloh – we could end here and know that mother would be happy and smiling but we will continue.

Mother as she was affectionately called was born on the 30th March, 1938 in Kitty, Guyana. She spent her formative years in Georgetown, and after receiving her primary and secondary education, she began her career as a teacher, because of her stature, she became affectionately known as “teacher finey”.

Being the ambitious type, Mother migrated to the United Kingdom to pursue Bachelor of Science specifically geared towards to Nursing. It was during her tenure in the UK she formed a formidable relationship with Millicent Huggins of St Vincent. Millicent invited her to a Caribbean party, which, she reluctantly attended. It was there that Emery laid eyes on Shirley. He asked Millicent to introduce him to Shirley, the rest was history.

Shirley Robertson

Shirley and Emery got married on the 12th October, 1968. This marriage ceremony was witnessed by Millicent, from what we were told, she was chief cook and bottle washer. Shortly thereafter, Shirley gave birth to a bouncing baby girl, Sandra;she was “Mother”.

As both Emery and Shirley were engaged in studies, it was decided that Sandra would come to St Vincent to live with her paternal grandparents, so at 17 days old, Sandra came to St Vincent to live. Emery and Shirley retuned to the UK to continue their education. In 1971, the couple returned to St Vincent, in tow Baby Samantha, who was born 11 months after they had dropped Sandra off in St Vincent.

Somehow, Mother made Daddy convince her to pursue a career as a Medical Doctor; she went of the UWI, Mona Campus to fulfil Emery’s dream, that was the measure of the woman. Daddy would take Sandra and me to Jamaica to visit with our Mother.

Mother moved back to St Vincent after completing her degree and internship, Mother was employed with the Government, but also did part time duties at the Botanic Hospital as a Junior Doctor, not to be out done by the girls, Mother became pregnant yet again, the girls were closely attached to their father. Mother gave birth to Emery Jr on the 19th December, 1976.

Sandra and I vividly recall the countless times that Mother would be hospitalized due to the pregnancy, that Junior gave mother a run for her money, but she was not out done, she had her son, her pride and joy, her handbag.

Whilst reminiscing, I recall the first time Mother had tri-tri, she was a patient, yes, with the ever troublesome Junior, at the Botanic Hospital. The meal that day was curry tri tri, white rice and salad. Poor Mother was horrified and said she could not eat these worms. Suffice it to say years later Mother not only enjoyed eating tri-tri, but often would call these “curried worms”

In the latter part of the 1970’s, Mother went off the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to specialise and of course, she took her “hand bag” and left the girls with their father. There was no way she was leaving Junior with Daddy and the girls. We would visit every school holiday with our mother. She eventually moved back and became fully settled by 1980.

Mother always wanted the best for her family. She was Daddy’s book keeper in the earlier stages of his practice; she was our primary care giver, she was our accountant, loans officer, teacher, baby sitter and the list goes on, suffice it to say, she was our all.

Mother was always a few steps ahead, she wanted the girls to attend boarding school, she tried, yes tried to convince daddy to send us off after we had completed our primary education.

Daddy was having none of that, they came to a compromise that Sandra will go once she turned 13 and I would follow a year later. Her joy was short lived as Daddy shifted the goal post as the time was fast approaching,. They eventually settled for us leaving after we had completed O’ Levels. Mother set about diligently doing her research for the right fit for her daughters, the primary requisite was it had to be a catholic boarding school. Oh, I forgot to mention that were christened into the Anglican faith, a decision arrived at solely by Daddy as he was Anglican and Mother catholic.

Not to be outdone, as she was at this point out numbered, Mother having been invited to Saturday night mass, embarked on her journey to having us become full-fledged members of the Catholic Church. She would often take us to Saturday night mass, “it’s young people mass and you could wear jeans, you do not have to dress up”. Before we knew it we were attending mass regularly.

Most Saturday evenings, our Mother would shout “Sandra, Samantha and Junior get ready for church” and we would invariably chime “yes Mother” By the time we had caught ourselves, we had first communion and confirmation and were Catholics. Mother set about working on Daddy, soon he too became a member. So much so Mother was able to have daddy participating in ‘Couples for Christ’, where they joined persons Like Uncle Ken and Aunty Pam, and were known as Aunty Shirley and Uncle Emery. Mother got what she wanted, even though it took some time, she was patient.

Mother ensured that we were equipped with the necessary tools to face the world as we became adults, she was always supportive and fiercely protective, she would never allow anyone to take advantage of us. I recall someone had called Sandra “Stupid”, mind you an adult. Sandra came home and complained bitterly. Mother was on the phone chiding that person, and at the end of the conversation she quipped “As stupid as Sandra is she has more sense than you.” No one was getting the upper hand of her children. She was the ultimate Mama bear.

Fast forward to 2005, Mother became a proud grandmother; she loved and doted on Jada, she ensured that Jada became a catholic as the saying goes “early o’clock”. She was instrumental in having Jada secure a space in the Roman Catholic Church, I do not think that her parents were even consulted on this; it was a foregone conclusion.

Mother’s little family was about to be increased yet again, exactly two years and four days later, Shiloh was born. On the day of our release from the hospital, Mother got Shiloh ready and was about to take her home, when I reminded her, that I needed clothes to leave the hospital. She said she will take Shi and Carmel will bring back my clothing. I was not having that and she was not leaving without Shiloh.

Jada and Shiloh were her pride and joy in her later years, they kept her company and made her laugh. Jada was more reserved, Shi was the more talkative one. Mother would often look at her and remark “Her head ain’t good, something wrong with her, that girl her head ain’t good at all.”

Mother was an active member and past President of the Soroptimist International, a member of the Medical Association, a member of the Ladies of Charity and a Eucharist minister; organizations and charities that she held near and dear. As the years progressed and her health declined, her participation became less and eventually stopped. Mother gave of her best to these organizations and in her service to the catholic church.

Over the last five years, we watched our mother become a shadow of herself; her short term memory evading her, but her long term memory was still intact, she remembered her family by name, she knew how to spell our names even after she forgot how to spell her own. Maia fondly reminded me how fiercely protective she was of us even in the height of her dementia when she ably defended her children in a conversation, that was our mother.

Although it hurts that she is no longer here with us physically, Mother you will always be here with us in spirit, thank you for all that you have done for us, we love in life and we will continue to love you in death, Eternal peace grant unto her and let perpetual light shine upon her.