Page 3 - Inez Gwendoline Ellis

- OBITUARY -
Her strength is found in fearing the Lord! Proverbs 31:30
The scorching sun shone directly on the heaps of white, glittering salt crystals, as the high mills spun in the direction of the winds and the ponds scented the town with their aroma. On the tiny island of East Harbour/Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos, the fourth baby of Annalita Hall-Lightbourne and Stanley Lightbourne was born on June 15th, 1930. They named her INEZ
GWENDOLINE LIGHTBOURNE.This union produced seven girls – Anna [Titer], Louise, Laurie, Olive, Sharon, Hazlyn, and their adopted daughter Lucille Cox, all of whom are deceased. They referred to their mother as “Dar” and their father as “Par.”
Life on the island, as she described, was beautiful. Even though there was not much to do, and money in that era [shillings and pence] was not as accessible as it is today, family was everything. They were a God-fearing family, they attended church and Sunday school every time the doors were open, shared with each other, played together, and love was always felt. The majority of the mothers were homemakers, while most of the men were either tradesmen, such as carpenters, fishermen or worked in the salt ponds. Her mother stayed home, while her father worked in the salt industry and raised animals.
Inez attended the All-Age School from the age of five. Before going to school each day, she and her siblings had to carry water from Basden well on their heads. This journey was made easier by going along with friends, including Mrs. Annie Brooks and others. Even though the journey was long, they had to return in time for school.
Inez deeply valued education, never letting challenges stand in her way. She walked barefoot to school, determined to learn, and carefully etched her lessons onto a slate—memorizing them swiftly before wiping it clean for the next subject. As time progressed, she transitioned to using a fountain pen or dip pen, embracing each step of her academic journey with resilience and grace. Her early school days in the 1930s were a testament to her unwavering dedication, shaping the foundation of the wise and knowledgeable woman she became.
After completing the sixth standard, she stayed home with her mother and helped her father take care of the animals. Later, she attended sewing school and learned to make clothing for her parents and siblings. She also worked for Ms. Costiena, doing household chores and caring for her children.
She enjoyed riding in the donkey cart, carrying hay, and traveling around town. She milked the cows and often spoke about how strong she was— perhaps because of the fresh milk she drank from the cows she milked herself.
She proudly boasted about the variety of animals her “Par” had—cows, goats, ducks, turkeys, geese, fowls, and pigs. She would often say, “You name it, Par had it.”
Teenage life for Inez and her six sisters was nothing short of wonderful. Their “Par” would allow them to
attend dances at the Sir Hew, always accompanied by their mother, and Inez—being the dancer of the family—loved every moment of it. Late nights were never permitted, but their father often brought the celebration home, arranging for the band to play right at their house, where family members would gather and join in the fun.
She often reminisced about her uncle Bruce, who
knew the steps to dances like the ‘Shat Te,’ ‘Walls,’ and ‘Ring Dance’ perfectly. She and her sister Haze took turns dancing with him, cherishing those joyful moments filled with music, movement, and laughter.