Page 23 - ALMI 2023 Mother's Day Award Ceremony

SONIA PATRICIA WILLIAMS
Sonia Patricia Greene Williams College of Education in Edinburgh,
is the daughter of Sheffield and Gwendolyn Greene. She was born on November 24, 1959, in Nassau, Bahamas. She grew up in a home of love, where it was common to openly declare and show your love for your parents, and this was reciprocal. Sonia’s parents were big on two principles: devotion, a relationship with God, and achieving a good education. The stage was set for a quality, meaningful life.
Sonia’s formative
years were spent at
the Clarence Town
Primary School,
Long Island, with
Mr. Ronald Jones as
head teacher, and
later she attended
the Matthew Town
All Age School in
Inagua, headed
by Mr. Bowe. In
1972, Sonia and her
family moved from
Inagua to Lorimers,
Middle Caicos,
Turks and Caicos
Islands. At age 12,
Sonia started her
secondary education at the Turks and Caicos High School, but during her second year she transferred to Pierson High School, where she completed her high school years.
After completing high school, Sonia joined the teaching profession in 1979, teaching at Lorimers Primary School. It was gratifying to prepare seven (7) students for Common Entrance and see them all pass the exams. This was what cemented the teaching profession in Sonia’s heart and dismissed her desire to become an accountant.
Next came Sonia’s enrollment in Shortwood Teachers’ College, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1980. She completed her teacher training and teaching practice in 1983 and took up employment at Marjorie Basden High School as a teacher of English language and literature. Sonia believes in advancing herself academically, and in 1986 she studied at the Murray House
Scotland, and attained an Advanced Diploma in Teaching English as a Second Language. In 1989, Sonia enrolled at the University of the West Indies in a Bachelor’s Degree in Education program focused on the English language. This degree was completed in 1992 with upper second-class honors.
Sonia’s employment shifted in 2004, when she was promoted to Under Secretary within the Ministry
of Education, a position she held until 2012, when she retired. This role allowed her to impact and empower many people in this country through the ministry’s scholarship program. This aspect of Sonia’s work was most enjoyable, as this was not a job for her but a ministry ministering to the needs of our youth.
Sonia loves the Lord and gives her time to his work. She is a deacon at the Paradise Baptist Church and also serves as president of the Daughters of the King Ministry. The ministry’s focus is on outreach and meeting the needs of the less fortunate.
Sonia birthed one daughter, Samantha Williams, who predeceased her. She was the joy of her life, even in death. However, she understands that God’s will must be done. May her soul rest in peace. Although Sonia gave birth to only one child, she mothered a number of others. She mothered Jatana Williams, Collin Williams Junior, Dorell Williams, Brianna Williams, Kacey Lewis, Christin Greene, and Shakiel Greene. Sonia is also the proud grandmother of Tamia Glinton.
In a nutshell, Sonia lives to love, enjoy life, impact and serve others, and glorify God.
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