Beryl May Spence

On January 20th, 1929 Beryl May Woodbine was born in Petersfield, Westmoreland, Jamaica to parents John Leonard Woodbine and Catherine Elizabeth Woodbine. Beryl or 'Aunt Beryl" as she is affectionately called, grew up in a spiritual and loving home. She was the 13th of 14 kids for John and Catherine Woodbine. Beryl attended various schools in Westmoreland and excelled in her favorite subjects English, Mathematics and geography. She met the love of her life, a charming and handsome young man from the community - George Henry Spence. The Spence and Woodbine were two large families that lived across from each other. The two were joined in holy matrimony in Petersfield on June 21, 1950. Beryl and George had five children - Delroy (Del), Hillary, Georgea, Henry, and Althea. Beryl was a loving wife and a passionate mother who was dedicated to her children. Aside from her family, Beryl's career goal was to become a nurse but she also loved teaching. She attended Caledonia Teachers College and Moneague Teachers College. After graduating from Moneague Teachers College in 1960, she returned to her home town to became a school teacher at Petersfield Primary School. After working at Frome Sugar Company for a number of years, in 1969, George was offered a position as a master distiller with Duncan Gilbey and Kenedy in Kingston and so the family moved to the corporate area. Beryl, a lover of people and service, continued her teaching career at Mountain View Primary in Kingston. After Mountain View Primary, she was offered a senior teaching position at August Town Primary School, where she helped to prepare students for the common entrance examination. Beryl's passion was teaching and helping her students achieve the best in themselves. She was also dedicated to empowering her students through education. After many years of dedicated service to teaching, Beryl eventually retired in 1997. At her retirement party, she was given a well deserved Citation for dedicated and invaluable service to the wider community and the schools she taught which included Ruseas Primary, Sav La Mar Primary and St Patrick Primary. She was described in the citation as a "special gift from God endowed with talents that you shared and continue to share unreservedly with mankind in the many and varied roles you play." After retiring, she migrated to the USA where she maintained residence in New York and West Palm Beach. She pursued her other passion which was to travel the world which she did with fervor and glee. She visited numerous countries around the world including Alaska, Hawaii, Cuba, France, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and other parts of Europe where she learned about foreign lands, cultural traditions and their people. She travelled cross county across the USA and Canada and visited one of her favorite places, the Canadian Rockies which span the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. She also loved to escape on a relaxing cruise which she did from time to time with her friends. On some of these exciting expeditions, she was accompanied by kids Georgea and Althea. Beryl was also a fashionista who had an eye for fashion. She loved to dress in elegant attire. She also enjoyed gardening and the peace of mind and solice it gave her. Beryl was easy to speak with. Her friends will tell you she was a great motivator who encouraged them to aspire for greatness. She also loved to invest and at times owned as many as three apartment buildings which she leased to tenants for rent. Beryl was very spiritual and was full of God's grace. Through her humility and kindness, she would always bring love, laughter, and priceless memories to each person or event she attended. Beryl was a lover of life, but once it was clear her time on earth was ending, she put her trust into God and openly expressed that she was ready to go to her Heavenly home to join her creator. Beryl is preceded in death by her parents and husband George Spence. While today we mourn the death of her flesh and bones, we will always celebrate her life knowing confidently that she was a woman of faith who is in heaven. Beryl and George's beautiful and loving union, created a large family that today consist of their five children, eight grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She is survived by her two sisters - Mildred Hughes (Aunt Mil - 105 yrs) Myrtle Smith (Aunt Myrtle -100 yrs), five children, Delroy Spence, Hillary Lawson, Georgea Spence- Pessoa, Henry Spence and Althea Spence-Turner. She is survived by eight grandchildren - Antoinette Spence, Douglas Lawson, Kevin Lawson, D'Andre Turner, Sydnie Spence, Aaliyah Turner, Dwyane Turner, Shane Spence, Great great-grand child Madison Lawson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends. Beryl May Spence, forever loved by her kids, family and friends. May her sweet soul rest in peace.