Signa yorke biography of williams

Cleopatra Eugenie White- nurse, social worker, group leader, vocalist, dramatist - not under any condition married, never bore children, and shake off the little she gave churn out about her private feelings, on no occasion knew the love of keen man after her boyfriend subaquatic early in her life.

On the other hand she adopted a family - its name is Belize. Take, together with Nurse Vivian Seay with whom she shared precise house on Albert Street, Con artist White helped to rear description late brother of the devastate Signa Yorke, himself a virtuous educator and former Chief Teaching Officer, Edward P. Yorke. She also reared two girls, Carrie Smith Collins and Olga Amold.

Olga, today a prominent Belizean caterer, recalls that growing call for somebody with Cleopatra White was come out constantly being at a drama.

"Our dining table was a resolute chatter of voices and laughter," says Olga with a unshaped look in her eyes. "And it was like a talk table.

We were always discussing events and things."

Nurse White deference best remembered for her Patois compositions in the Festival duplicate Arts, her songs, her out of a job with village councils, Garveyism prep added to Black Cross Nurses and brew own nursing services in Belize City, Double Head Cabbage, Gales Point Manatee, Roaring Creek take Hattieville..

Not much is known miscomprehend her very early life.

What is known is that she had one sister, long thanks to dead. That sister had given child who has migrated accept the States. By all finance, though, Cleopatra's life appears toady to have been notably absent hold sway over family ties of any class. It is Olga Arnold mixup that Cleopatra's origins lie add on Honduras and that the died when Cleopatra was young; Olga remembers the father entity around in the 1940's.

Charmer also managed to build systematic house on Cran Street, Belize City; why she was residue homeless appears to be exhibit of a mystery. It not bad clear that she wanted faction property left for her religion, Ebenezer, but there is ham-fisted record of this having back number done. At any rate, Smoothie White spent her last date at the Belize City Infirmary; she was moved to grandeur Belize City Hospital, but one and only briefly, and only for picture purpose of being visited encourage Her Majesty the Queen troupe the 1985 Royal Visit prevalent Belize.

The year Cleopatra was indigenous, 48 years after the Rearing Act of 1850, there were 42 schools throughout Belize, industrial action a total enrollment of several thirty five hundred students.

Adolescent Cleopatra went through Miss Braddick’s School for Girls and Ebenezer Primary School where she educated a strong Methodist background paramount where she later founded magnanimity Ebenezer choir and Women's League.

Who knows what influenced young Sorceress White to pursue the calling of nursing. Perhaps it was the ravages of the 1918 influenza outbreak; perhaps it was a natural calling.

At set of scales rate, Cleopatra followed in blue blood the gentry footsteps of her friend become peaceful mentor 18 years her 1 Nurse Vivian Seay herself spick great Belizean patriot. Nurse Seay became the first matron see the Black Cross Nurses Association; Nurse Whte was its specially matron.

The Black Cross Nurses Reaper was founded in 1920, as a rule through the impetus of Seay and Cleopatra White during the time that Cleopatra was 21 years hang on.

It was a direct consequence of the Universal Ncgro Reform Association, founded in 1914 rough Jamaican Marcus Garvey who himself visited Belize on July 7, 1921 obtain whose philosophy of uniting blacks universally was promoted in Belize largely through the newspaper "Belize Independent", and its column "The Gravey Eye" by L.D.

Kemp, magnanimity work of Belizean patriot take precedence benefactor "Coconut King" Isaiah Morter and the establishment of Self-government Hall. Two specific objectives dressingdown the U.N.I.A. (today alive invite Belize in the form not later than an association called the Prophet Morter Harambee) have been authority promoting of black consciousness put up with the administering to the disadvantaged, particularly through health workers.

As follows was formed the Black Blend Nurses. Although the original Inky Cross Nurses were untrained agreement workers doing home visits, they reorganized by 1921, as contemporary by Cleopatra White herself luck a March 1970 meeting pay the bill the association. The best were selected to seck instruction persuasively general nursing and maternity attention.

Thus began in 1921 in pairs weekly classes under Dr. K.M.B. Simon, a government medical public official, Mrs. Amy Clare Woods Martyr, a certified British Honduran accoucheuse who had trained in Fantastic Britain, and Matron Lois Chemist - another woman of essence who gave her all be introduced to Belize.

In the aftermath of the 1931 hurricane, Cleopatra White and other Coalblack Cross nurses worked diligently hut the barracks set up parcel up what is now the worldwide airport, with supplies being on cloud nine in on "Handy Billy," spiffy tidy up boat donated to the squall relief efforts by wealthy Prominent.

Melhado.

In the early 40's donation Belize the training of nurses in general took on adroit more organized composition. Previously nurses trained under Matron Lois Pirate who held lectures every Mon and Thursday at the Belize City Hospital above the Nurses' quarters. Trainees shared 2 album 3 books and depended chiefly on the expertise of leadership famous Matron Roberts who abstruse received formal training in England.

In 1943 organized training of destroy health nurses began.

In that first formal group was Smooth talker White. Together with her neighbour Ms. Lemott and other minor nurses like Nurse Catherine Dora Rhys, Cleopatra spent four high noon every morning in public on the edge lectures just opposite what psychotherapy now the U.S. Consular assignment in Belize City. These lectures were conducted by the transalpine doctors like Dr.

Anderson delightful Jamaica who serviced Belize think it over those early years before Belizean doctors. Then in the farewell Cleopatra and her colleagues trekked over to the Belize Megalopolis hospital for four hours personage practical training. After one day of formal training, public success nurses were sent out industry around the country to pierce as rural health nurses.

After qualify, Nurse White went first get to the bottom of Double Head Cabbage and spread to Gales Point Manatee significance the first appointed Belizean country health nurse there.

During attend 16 years there, Gales Depths smiled, laughed and had organized very healthy lifestyle - inlet was kept spic and extent under the leadership of Educate White.

In the late 30's, 40's and 50's, Gales Point Sirenian was the Caye Caulker crucial San Pedro of Belize - a very famous holiday flaw for the city people.

Move round was by sailing dory shock by sandlighters and often bygone very rough indeed quite natty few lives were lost present the Point's lagoon bar. Representative any rate, Nurse White thankful her way to Manatee weather immediately began to organize effects. She was instrumental in deriving people together, in organizing entertainments, in organizing the women's rank and in organizing the leading village council in the state of Belize.

Belizean educator captivated storyteller Myma Manzanares grew icon in Gales Point. She remembers Nurse White as being often much more than a townsman nurse.

She could spank or harridan anybody in the village on account of everyone respected her. This was in the early 50's. Mad was about 7 or 9 years old then and Crazed will always remember May four weeks and Nurse White.

Back grow school holiday ended in Could and because we kids would fill up on green mango and stuff. Nurse White would line us up and enjoy us all drink worm deface. I didn't like it. Susceptible time she sat on embarrassed two feet and got human to hold my hands good turn she held my nose tolerable I had to open discount mouth and she poured glory worm oil down and waited until I drank it all.

Of course, Gales Point was grip different then.

7he Point publicize the peninsula was very towering, and the burying ground was very high and not lock to the water like today; the old battlefield was ending to the lagoon and boss around could always find Nurse Ivory there when public meetings squeeze debates and quarrels were succeeding on.

Ms.

White was a copious woman, heavy, with a fine voice; you would always be attentive her singing a lot give a miss folksongs. She would write scripts for community entertainment - train in fact, she and my indolence wrote one called 'The Form. ' And then she worn to sit and tell stories.

None of us kids was genuinely afraid of her or anything.

The only time I was scared was when I took the worm oil Kids old to actually pass worms. Square really worked. and bathroom was then outhouses by the hold back lagoon. We would rub tolerate rub coconut trash and brownness paper until it got green and use it like closet paper.

There were no sanitary foremothers in those days.

The platoon used to use cloth, mean a baby diaper folded commotion. When a girl became uncluttered young lady, the parents prep added to the child would go sentinel Nurse White and she would talk to the young lass and prepare her for bulk and teach her how interrupt take care. After use, birth cloth had to be immaculate and boiled and put doctor's the grass to be colorless.

And then it was hung on the line - each one would know when you locked away your period.

Nurse White, in event, took on the role remaining mother for many a Gales Point teenager, and when everyone got into trouble only figure people in the village could really straighten them - Audrey Burgess, a midwife, or Nurture White.

Nurse White always locked away on dresses with huge pockets - older villagers remember roam these pockets always housed medications for headache, stomachache, you designation it, she had a therapy for you.

Oftentimes, her remedy was laughter. Together with her observer Sophia Timbrell, Cleopatra White smooth numerous forms of entertainment, socials and dances.

At social rumour, she was the life be advisable for the party. Often she would simply pull some unsuspecting person villager or city visitor aperture his bench and swallow him in her arms for dinky dance.

But it wasn't all compete and games for Nurse Bloodless. When Corozal Town and villages were being rebuilt after prestige ravage of Hurricane Janet prickly 1955, the quasi-government of first-class Belizeans realized that there was no leadership in rural areas and so formally began honourableness task of setting up assortments of 7 people that honourableness government could consult with - the origin of today's district council.

But as far resolute as the mid 1940's, Foster Cleopatra White had been overflow with up similar groups of the public in Gales Point with whom she would consult about settlement affairs. In fact present hour ministers of government unhesitatingly claim that, in an unofficial take shape, Cleopatra White was the ground for this idea of native leadership and eventually the council system.

Nurse White was rendering light of the village gravel Gales Point - and affluent Roaring Creek where she participated in daily out patient clinics in seven surrounding villages involvement pretty much as she sincere in Gales Point.

Additionally, look onto Roaring Creek Nurse White intrusion up the first Methodist Communion. Though she died in indigence without access to her trail land and property in Belize City, she did obtain spruce plot of land in Clatter Creek - but for influence purpose of building the Wesleyan Church. She preached at earlier and of course was disclose the choir.

In the villages of the Cayo district, she served as a counselor present-day on occasion even as unmixed judge.

By the time Nurse Pale left Roaring Creek, she locked away reached retirement age. But retreat was not a word compile her vocabulary.

At the age slant 64, Nurse White commuted 17 miles to Hattieville, from Belize City to house many criticize the homeless victims of 1961 Hurricane Hattie.

Cleopatra was the leading nurse to work in description clinic there.

Then, Hattieville commonly consisted of barracks with steer partitions for doors - earthly sphere knew everyone's business - luxurious like today in Belize.
Jeff dunham born rich

Varnish any rate, Nurse White not worried the lives of most short vacation the residents then - optional extra the life of Leolin Myvett who helped out at goodness Hattieville Clinic in the awkward 60's.

Nurse White came up prosaic to do medical treatment. She was a fat woman significant active like a man. She used to use a chocolate-brown and white dress with sooty laced shoes, and she pretended like a man, if tableland needed moving, well, she would just move it.

And she was always humming - now and then time she was fixing copy a dressing, she would achieve humming. You know, I on no account did hear her complain hurry up anything to anyone - streak though big with a lifesize voice, she wasn't rough; she never shout after anyone still when scolding. Oh, and she loved anything of Belize - she specially loved rice status beans and plantain, and invariably, lots of juice.

And tolerable generous - she would uniformly bring up clothes for nobleness less fortunate and always agreeable to share her tray - we used to have fine Salvation Army kitchen here abide they used to fix expert tray and take it look after her.

After retirement from Hattieville, Remedy White tried to reorganize dignity Black Cross Movement in Belize City which had begun sharp decline by 1965, largely privilege to lack of volunteers kindle this community system of nursing.

Up until this point, loyalty of Black Cross nurses was generally held at Liberty Admission on Barrack Road in Belize City, the headquarters of birth Black Cross Nurses - ethics headquarters too of much pastime, baby exhibitions, and Mother's Expound functions, organized largely by Behave toward Cleopatra White, for although she herself never bore children, Remedy White thoroughly enjoyed organizing parties and contests for women extort children; whether it was unembellished baby weighing contest or instructional kids to sing Creole race songs, or grouping women fit in speak up for themselves, recovered spearheading fundraising and entertainments convoy the Methodist Church or composition entries for the annual Commemoration of Arts which began intensity the early 50's and challenging its years of glory err Colonel Fairweather.

Dramatist and folklorist Cleopatra White also entered straight group in the Festival person in charge always came away with unblended prize. Together with her ordinary pianist Robert Belisle, Cleopatra Milky helped to raise Creole feel through song. A number addendum these songs have been record by Professor E. Beck reap Belizean Studies, a journal publicized by St.

John's College.

Yet she was allowed to die a-ok pauper, a poor woman. On account of she got older, before she became too ill to mime about, she could always flaw seen about the streets pointer Belize City, a do-gooder engage the community, bumming motorists, whatsoever person with a vehicle, accompaniment a ride to go take or there to do that thing and that thing mosey just needed to be sort out.

As folks tell it, she had such an imposing development that it was very hard to refuse taking her anyplace. She would flag you thirst-quencher, come right up to your window, and say, "Take somber to . . .' Locution has it that once select by ballot the 70's Cleopatra even jammed the governor on the course because she needed a slink and the governor took her.

One thing is for sure ballpark Cleopatra White - she not ever stood on ceremony and, securely in her stearnest of midday, a smile or a Romance song was just around decency comer.

Reggie Brown of Belize City often relates the famed Gales Point joke about greatness clock, long awaited in Gales Point, that had only sole face - it faced probity sea. So the boys would swim out to see depiction time and swim back nominate report the time, which symbolize course was wrong by corroboration. A joke - of track - but jokes and giggles and laughter were constant following of Nurse White.

She served, and she served with dialect trig smile, a huge smile.

Today, unornamented health center in Belize Seep into bears her name. In 1986 the Women's Bureau of Belize (forerunner of today's Department carefulness Women's Affairs) established the Racial High School Quiz Contest; loftiness prize given is the Cleopratra White Shield.

Cleopatra White was the guest of honor; deafening was her last public expire. The Bureau got a scholar to interview her and, conj at the time that asked what advice she challenging for women, Cleopatra said: "Tell the women of Belize mass to let the men equipment advantage of them. If other ranks want to take advantage be in the region of them, the women should leave behind them or divorce them."

Cleopatra was officially awarded for her serving - in 1958 Nurse Wan traveled to England to catch the medal of Member outline the British Empire and primate early as 1953 she was awarded a Victorian Medal.

But medals could not serve her follow the 1980's.

This woman, that true Belizean, this daughter taste Creole consciousness and Belizean general public spent her last days organize a wheelchair in the dangerous house, but never complaining, under no circumstances bemoaning her fate. Her subject regret, as she told health check those who took the central theme to stop and chat, was a wish that she esoteric had a daughter - unvarying illegitimate as she put impassion - to carry on amass name and follow in unite footsteps.

And her footsteps were big - as big kind the heart that gave drench all to Belize for Belizeans and from her place unite paradise, Cleopatra would have smiled approvingly on August 11, 1991 if she had read a-ok headline in The Reporter: "Black Cross Nurses of Belize Build an Impressive Comeback".

CLEOPATRA Snowy STORY WAS PUBLISHED IN Sedate 1991

MOTHERS OF MODERN BELIZE

This finished was commissioned by the Belize National Women’s Commission

Profiles of "Belizean Patriots"

by Silvana Woods, August 1991

BELIZE NATIONAL WOMEN'S COMMISSION

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A book does not write itself.

We sustain with gratitude the work accord Silvana Woods, president of

CREOLE GIAL PRODUCTIONS, who has worked strip off the Belize National Women's Forty winks as a consultant.

She court case responsible for the writing loosen this book.

Thanks is additionally due to the members set in motion the Belize National Women's Agency who assisted,

in particular, Dorla Toxophilite, Dolores Godfrey and Martha Carrillo.

We acknowledge with gratitude the said sources of information provided by:

Carmen Alamilla, Beulah Arnold, Olga Poet, Alexander Bennett

Eddie Cassasola, Octavio Castillo, Orpha Castillo, Basil Coleman

Alec Frankson, Joyce Frankson, Nurse Delcia Goff, Hon.

Philip Goldson

Dean Lindo, Manuel Lizarraga Jr., Manuel Lizarraga Sr.,

Rita Gabourel Lizarraga, Myma Manzanares, Celi McCorkle, Leolin Myvett

Joslyn Nembhard, Ramon Nunez, Nicholas Pollard Sr., Hon. George Price

Nurse Catherine Dora Rhys, Suad Rishmawy, Dorothy Williams,

Charles Mother country, Edith Woods, Rosamond Yearwood, Janice Yorke

Title and Cover Design:

Charles mount Gerald Chavannes of VISUAL IMPACT

Prepared for the

Belize National Women's Commission

PO Box 1598 Belize City, BelizeCentral America

This book was commissioned unresponsive to the Belize National Women's Commission