Bertha Inell "Momma, Nell" Carey

Bertha Inell "Momma, Nell" McCartney-Carey Age 85 Years of 
#25 Father Calnan Road, off Market Street departed this earthly life, 
at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, December 20, 1998.

Nell was born at Tarpum Bay Eleuthera, the Bahamas on 
Monday, April 21, 1913. She received her education at the Tarpum Bay Public School. 
Upon completion of her education, she went on to become a teacher at her alma mater.

She later met and married, Joseph Samuel Carey, who preceded her in death 
on Monday, March 23, 1970. This union was blessed with eight children, 
three of whom have also preceded her in death. The call for an improved way 
of life triggered the young family's migration to New Providence in April of 1950. 
Nell wanted what was best for her children and she worked hard as a homemaker up to the end of her life.

Mothering was a natural instinct for her and she soon became 
known as "Momma" to friends and family alike. To many Momma 
was considered to be a modern day "Dorcas". The family homestead 
at Father Calnan Road quickly became a refuge for the weary, shelter 
for those with nowhere to sleep and a place to find food or whatever assistance need. 
Momma would even open her home to those who needed clothing, giving whatever, 
she had to offer. Even in her failing health, unable to remember who was who, 
Momma would still dash to the kitchen the moment anyone walked through her door, 
looking for something with which to feed them.

Momma was the driving force behind the family. Living to see the span of 
four generations, she offered word of advice and wisdom to her children, 
grand children and anyone that needed her counsel. The value of honesty, 
integrity and a thirst for knowledge are but a few of the principles Momma 
instilled and shared whenever she could. Momma was both mother and 
father to her family for the better part of the last thirty years, showing 
strength and courage every step of the way.

Momma was a concrete believer in Christian principles and was steady in 
her relationship with her creator. She was a devout Anglican and attended 
church until failing health restricted her ability.

Momma loved playing her organ and taught music lessons for years here in Nassau. 
Before the word became fashionable, she was also as example of a determined 
"female entrepreneur" for many years. She owned and operated a little grocery 
shop on Father Calnan road, which was established by her late husband and herself. 
Momma ran the shop while at the same time raising six daughters and adopted children, 
and later acting as the day care and after-school center for her grand children; 
no small feat if you knew her grand children back then. But Momma, being the 
disciplinarian that she was, always had things in hand.

The Radiance of this "Diamond of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Five Daughters: Kathleen Minnis, Margaret Forskin, Barbara Carey-Kemp, 
Sonia Taylor and Christine Longley;
Four Adopted Children: Glenn Bannister of Orlando, Florida, Karen Laing, 
Freda Cooper of Eleuthera and Dorell Culmer;
Twelve Grand Children: Kent, Kenderlyn, Adama, Monique, Cherice, 
Shanna, Vashti, Brent, Kelson, Kenia, Dwayne and Hartman II;
Three Great Grand Children: Danielle, Dudrie III and Dwaymon;
One Brother: Charles McCartney;
Three Sisters: Ethel Edgecombe, Florence and Lorraine McCartney;
Numerous Nephews and Nieces Including: Kermit, Jermain and Stephanie McCartney, 
Velma Cargill, Joan Allen Dean, Eula Dell Sturrup, Margaret Cox, Betty Kelly and Rosemary McIntosh;
Four Sons-in-law: Dudrie Minnis II, Ralph Forskin, Carl Kemp and Kendal Taylor;
One Grand Daughter-in-law: Raquel Minnis;
Four Brothers-in-law: Talmage, Coolridge and Osborne Carey and Howard Grant;
Six Sisters-in-law: Emily Nottage, Naomi, Dorothy and Kenris Carey, Doris Grant and Dorrie McCartney;
Two God Children: Faye Callender and Charmaine Thompson;
Other loving family and friends including: Barry Outten, Hartman Longley Sr., 
Emily Pitman of Maimi, Florida, Beatrice, Irvin "Sony", Addie and John B. McCartney, 
Emma Allen, James and Edith Smith, Elvis and Judy, Ralph and Ellen Carey, Omar McKenzie, 
John Bain, Terou Bannister, Edith Bowe, Lutchman, Brian and Alma Rolle, The Reckleys, Allens, 
Janet Gibbs, Sylvia Miller, Brenda Thompson and Vickic Charles and their families;
Special thanks to: The Staff of Gorgeous Christina's Beauty Salon, 
Yellow Elder Senior Citizens Home, St. Barnabas Anglican Church and Father Road families.