UPDATE: Hundreds bid farewell to teacher Claudia S.R. Lettsome
Sad that the one they loved and cherished is no longer with them in the flesh, but happy that they are sure she is resting safely in the bosom of her Maker, out of all her pain and earthly struggles and tribulations.
The Long Look Methodist Church was filled to capacity from all corners today December 28, 2013 as hundreds turned out for the viewing and funeral ceremony for the late Mrs Lettsome.
Mrs Lettsome passed away at Peebles Hospital on December 14, 2013 after a brief period of illness.
Among them were her children Bertrand ‘Washasha X’ Lettsome, Brenda Lettsome-Tye and Constance Scatliffe and adopted children Debra Amaro and Avery Percival Sr.
There were also many others in attendance who would have known her and benefited in some way or the other from her time on earth, including Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith; Ministers of government; At-large Representatives; Opposition members Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and Hon. Julian Fraser, RA and senior members of the legal fraternity including Dr J. S Archibald Q.C among others.
In acknowledging with gratitude those who regularly sent expressions of encouragement to Ms Lettsome during her period of illness, her children said, “God has been with us all the way. We will continue to trust Him for the future and know that the prayers of His people have undergirded us.”
See previous story posted December 19, 2013:
Former 7th District First Lady Mrs Claudia S. R. Lettsome passes
- Teacher Claudia was the wife of the longest serving 7th District Representative & Late Legislator Terrence B. Lettsome
LONG LOOK, Tortola, VI- The East End/ Long Look community and the entire Virgin Islands are in mourning on the passing of Mrs Claudia Sybil Riene Lettsome. She passed away at Peebles Hospital on December 14, 2013 after a brief period of illness.
Teacher Claudia, as she was affectionately called, devoted 43 years of service to the teaching profession after beginning as a substitute Assistant Teacher at the East End School, now renamed the Willard Wheatley Primary School.
Teacher Claudia had a special interest in early childhood education and most of her teaching service was centered on pre-primary to class one. She later served as the Principal of the Francis Lettsome Primary School for six years before retiring in 1999.
Faithful to her calling, she returned as a class teacher after retirement and served in that capacity for another three years until August, 2003. She worked diligently at various tasks and has been remembered by many as an assertive, outspoken, dedicated, committed, serious and no-nonsense person.
At the controversial hundred thousand dollars dinner hosted by the Education and Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn and held at the end of Education Week this year, the late Mrs Lettsome was recognized by having the Most Outstanding Pre-Primary School Teacher Award named in her honour.
Teacher Claudia is survived by her children: the Acting Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye; the former Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer, Mr Bertrand Lettsome and Mrs Constance “Connie” Scatliffe.
7th District First Lady for 36 years at her husband’s side
Teacher Claudia’s husband, the late Legislator Terrence B. Lettsome, served the people of the 7th District for 36 consecutive years, from 1963-1999.
The late Honourable Lettsome was the longest serving representative of the 7th District and was first elected on November 4, 1963 under the United Party banner.
He broke away around 1966 with late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt and formed the Virgin Islands Party and in 1967 was re-elected to the Legislature under the Ministerial System and appointment the first Minister for Communications and Works, a position he retained when re-elected in 1979.
Re-election also came in 1983 and 1986 saw him in the role of Opposition Member, Deputy Speaker and Government backbencher respectively.
On re-election on November 12, 1990 the late Hon. Lettsome was appointed Minister for Communications and Works, a position he held until 1995.
He served another term as a backbencher and retired in 1999 after 36 years of committed, dedicated and uninterrupted service to the people of the 7th District and the Virgin Islands.
The late Teacher Claudia will be laid to rest on December 28, 2013 at the Long Look Methodist Church, on the Eastern side of Tortola.
The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online extend sincerest condolences to the family, friends and relatives of Mrs Claudia S. R. Lettsome.
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25 Responses to “UPDATE: Hundreds bid farewell to teacher Claudia S.R. Lettsome”
You will be missed.
RIP.