Obituary of Leonora Wilhelmena Penn

On February 13, 1934 in the village of Fat Hog’s Bay on the island of Tortola, Virgin Islands a most precious gift was delivered to the descendants of the late Melvina Stevens and James Pickering by their daughter Ida-Louise Pickering-Penn and her husband Benjamin Watkin Penn the son of the late Ludolph Geraldine Penn and, Catherine Augustus Lloyd-Penn, an earthly angel, their baby girl Leonora Wilhelmena.

Leonora, known to many as Nora was orphaned at a very tender age, and was raised by her late grand-mother Ms. Melvina Stevens along with the caring guidance of her many maternal aunts, and uncle the late Emmanuel Pickering. She always shared fond memories of her childhood, and how she was not privileged to complete the highest grade of school as she wanted to help care for, and ensure that Her younger siblings Raymond, Elwin, and James (Christmas) were kept together and were not sent to live with anyone outside her family circle as was the custom in those earlier days.

Through the guidance of Her late grand-mother Melvina Stevens who was very instrumental in the establishment of the Fat Hog’s Bay Seventh Adventist (SDA) Church in the Tortola, Virgin Islands, “Nora” followed the faith until Her transition to Her eternal rest from this life.  She grew up to be a loved and caring person in her family, and community, always reaching out to strangers and those less fortunate in life. Her life career began in the domestic industry where she worked at Guana Island Resort, and despite her long days of work she always found time to care for sick members of her family, and other relatives and friends whenever the opportunity presented. She was very instrumental in the straw industry in those earlier days where she spent many long hours at home knitting straw container for the bottle industry, and plating of straw for making of hats and baskets. She was very skillful in the culinary arena, and on many occasions was sought after for her delicious treats of tarts, and other delicious cuisines which she helped prepared with Her late dear friend Ernestine (Ms. Taine) George.

Later, in Her life she became an employee at Peebles Hospital, Tortola, Virgin Islands where she worked as a healthcare/domestic aide. She retired from that post, and relocated to live in Houston, Texas a city she fondly adopted to and loved very much, where she continued her Christian faith/practice of worship at the Bellfort Seventh Day Adventist Church, now World Harvest Outreach Seventh Adventist Church Houston, Texas. During Her lifetime she was confronted with several health challenges, most noted was breast cancer in 1977, which through God’s Grace and Mercy she was delivered, and secondly a stroke in 2011 which led to Her immediate, and extended residential health care at Gulf Healthcare, Galveston, Texas and later, to Windsong Care Center, Pearland, Texas.

She is survived by Her children Perseus and Althea Penn of Fat Hogs Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands, Dr. (Graduand) Franklyn and Peggy Penn, Wenford Lettsome, and Jennifer Penn all of Houston/Pearland, Texas, United States of America, two Foster daughters Mrs. Delores Horne-Grant, of New York, New York, and Kitty Penn-Grant/ Keith Grant of Vanterpool Estate, Tortola, Virgin Islands, also, 29 Grand-children, 3 foster grand-children. 15 Great-grand-children, and 4 great foster grand-children. Her brothers William Penn, and Reginald Penn of St. Thomas Virgin Islands, and Elwin Penn of New York, New York, foster brother-In-Law Joseph Rosan of Fat Hog’s Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands, and Winifred Penn of Baltimore, Maryland, a special cousin Hannah Williams of Maryland USA/Fat Hog’s Bay Tortola, Virgin Islands, also two very close, and special Sister-friends Antonetta Fahie of Maryland, USA/Fahie Hill, Tortola, Virgin Islands, and Marion Rabsatt of Long Look, Tortola, Virgin Islands.

She was  preceded in Her transition by her grand-son-in law William Davis Foster, sister Ophelena (Lena) Penn of Bronx, New York, her foster sister Naomi Anthony-Rosan, brothers, Loudolph Penn-Pickering, and James (Christmas) Penn all of Fat Hog’s Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands, and Raymond Penn of Bronx, New York, Her late Aunts/uncles: Rosita/Haldane Davies, Lillian/Alfrado Steven, Ellen Pickering of East End/Fat Hog’s Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands, Florence/Stanley Hodge, Houston, Texas Emelda/Emmanuel Pickering, Estate Tutu, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Emma/Rudolph Lewis, Maryland, USA,  Dina Leacock, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and Arosa Duncan New York, New York , Leonora Ethelinda Penn Stevens, Charles Town, Nevis, Ferdinand Pickering, and Buckley Pickering of Fat Hog’s Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands, Theophilus Penn, & Ferdinand Penn, East End, Tortola, Virgin Islands, William Benjamin Penn Kingston, Jamaica, Daniel Penn, Bocachica, Dominican Republic, Sister-in-laws, Idena Thomas-Penn-Pickering, Janet Penn, Sylvia Penn, and dearest cousin, Elsa Rymer of Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, Virgin Islands; also the Fathers of her children the late Ronard Leopold Penn, St, Johns, and Elfred Lettsome of Long Look, Tortola, Virgin Islands.

The joys of Her earthly presence to “Her Glorious Rest” will forever be remembered in the lives of Her children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren,  especially Kelima, Kennard & Kenroy; Taj-Jaraad/Mersha, & Tjodi; Allen, Tamisha, Leal, Levor, Chad, Kevin, Trevina, Brandie, Corey & Alton; JeT’aime, Keshia, Her siblings, cousins, other relatives and friends especially,  Her nephews and nieces (Ethan, Nathan & Pamella Sweeney), (Elwin Penn Jr. & Anthony Penn), (Livingston, Enius, James, & Albert Penn-Pickering), (Jacklin, William, Jason Joy, & Jody),  (Michelle, Ingrid, James Jr,. Michael)  and Her very fondest, Ernest Penn and Jacqueline Penn-Cameron, other relatives and friend of the East End/Fat Hog’s Bay/Long Look, Tortola; Valley, Virgin Gorda, and St. Johns/St. Thomas communities, Virgin Islands. Leonora W. Penn now continues in “Her Glorious Rest, until...” The Trumpet of the Lord Shall Sound and Time Shall be no More, and the Roll is call Up-yonder;” as she assured us in Her last testimony of praise, she will be there. Amen!!!