Edith Louise Barnes-Collie

Mrs. Edith Louise Barnes-Collie age 81 years of Betsy Bay Mayaguana, 
The Bahamas completed her life's work at Mayaguana Airport on Thursday, April 04, 2013.

She was born at Pirate's Well Mayaguana, The Bahamas on Wednesday, March 09, 1932. 
Six (6) months after her birth her mother died as a result Edith was nurtured by her elder 
sisters Loretha "Ester" and the late Advira Bain before she was adopted by her stepmother 
the late Margarette Barnes.

Like all the school age children, she attended the Pirate's Well All-Age-school where she 
received her early education. At the age of fifteen (15) years, her family relocated to the 
island of New Providence where she was immediately enrolled in Western Senior School 
by her very attentive father, himself an Educator, Justice of the Peace, Island Medic and 
Post Master among other things.

At the age of sixteen (16) years, shortly after graduation, she met Stanley Collie, 
a tall, dark, debonair and very handsome young man of twenty four (24) years 
from Betsy Bay, Mayaguana. They fell madly in love almost instantly; a few months 
later Stanley proposed marriage. As was customary at the time, Stanley was advised 
to write a formal letter to Mr. Barnes for Edith's hand in marriage; the letter was 
delivered by a trusted relative, Sarah Collie affectionately referred to as "Sis". After a 
brief but stern lecture, Mr. Barnes gave his approval. Edith, only seventeen (17) years 
old at the time and Stanley Collie were joined in Holy Matrimony on the 9th day of 
March, 1949 by Rev. Grant of the Mt. Pleasant Green Baptist Church.

Over the ensuing seven years while Stanley traveled back and forth to the 
United States of America on "The Contract", Edith worked as a domestic 
at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel and in private homes. In the evenings 
and weekends, she apprenticed as a cook with The Persis Rodgers family.

After Stanley returned to The Bahamas from The Contract permanently, 
the young family immediately relocated to Betsy Bay, Mayaguana where 
she remained until the day of her demise.

Mama Collie, Mummy, Auntie Edith, Mrs. C, Grammy are all terms of 
endearment affectionately used by the entire Mayaguana community 
when referring to Edith. She was a Civic leader serving as Secretary of 
the Betsy Bay Burial Society and as a member of the Pirate's Well Pearl 
Club and defunct Mayaguana Development Association. Edith served as 
Sunday School teacher and Superintendent at the Zion Surreth Baptist 
Church for many years before she changed membership to the Barea 
Mission Church in Pirates Well. She was very active in her church as an 
alternate Praise and Worship leader to the very end.

She was well known among family and friends for her extraordinary baking 
abilities, especially her "jaw lackward" Potato bread, made from potatoes she 
farmed herself, and her Coconut cake as well as her tasty native dishes.

As a young woman, she was constantly sought after as a special guest artist 
at all local programs/concert because of her gifted "songbird voice". Her 
favourite songs were "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" and "Farther along We'll Know All About it".

Because of her dedicated life of service to the community, and the manner 
of her death, the family will establish "THE EDITH COLLIE FOUNDATION" 
in her memory. The objects of the Foundation will be for the Educational, 
Spiritual, Athletic and Cultural development of young people born in Mayaguana 
or the offspring of descendants of Mayaguana.

On Thursday 4th April, 2013 at approximately 1:00am while on a mission of 
mercy to assist her critically sick uncle, Rev. Robert Black, she was involved 
in an unfortunate but horrific incident at the Mayaguana airport. Edith along 
with her stepdaughter Enamae Polowick and her step son-in-law Tim Polowick 
went to be with the Lord. Noted by witnesses present was the mystery of her 
well-worn red Bible that flew out of the vehicle far enough from the burning 
truck and scorching flames, coming to rest a safe distance away, unscathed and undamaged.

The Radiance of this "Bloodstone A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Husband of Sixty Four Years: Stanley Sidney Collie;
Six Sons: Sidney Sr., Hilbert, Elwood, Derek, Malfret and Kirklyn Collie;
Three Daughters: Christine McClain, Villadale Rolle and Constance Collie;
Thirty Two Grandchildren: Prenell Rahming, Nadine and Portia McClain, Brian Rolle, 
Sidney Jr., Michael, Asha, Yendise, Thara, Aneta, Hillary, Deangelo, Dereka, Desiree, Vantasia, 
Nay'Antra Kayshannique, Shiloh, Kavon, Diargo, Renaldo and Elvardo Collie, Sidona Pierre, 
Natasha Brown, Melvin and Vernaldo Wright, Shantina Clarke, Jeremy, Ariel and Gabrielle Rolle, 
LaTeisha McKenzia and Wendy Bonaby;
Thirty Nine Great Grandchildren: Randika Rahming, Alvinique McIntosh, Stevette Scavella, 
Shanario, Samuel, Sidney III, Steven, Syron, Michael Jr., Malik, Salice, Serenity, Michelle, Angel, 
Kalyn and Tyleah Collie, Brandise, Jazmyn, Yasmin, Brian Jr. and Shanton Rolle, Brionce Walker, 
Bryson and Kristin Clarke, Justin Pierre, Nathalya, Owen, Oneil, Orenique and Orianna Brown, 
Amari Bowleg, Renae Moss, Lakeisha and Ciara McKenzie, Shiloh Sweeting, Tenae Fraizer, 
Kezia Sweeting Dania Wright and Senthon Williams;
Two Great, Great Grandchildren: Jaden Rahming and T'ahja Smith;
One Adopted Daughter: Lenamae Missick;
Two Sisters: Loretta McPhee and Dorothy Barnes-Johnson;
Thirty Eight Nephews: Timothy, Orman, Stanley, Ervin, Franklyn, Audley, Christopher, 
Rudy, Clayton, Alvin, Edins, Elton, Lymus, Elvin, Fletcher Miller, Johnley, Artwll, Winton, 
Talbot, Silbert, Eddison, Rodney, Fletcher, Bertram, Dennie, Ricardo, Jamaal Grecko, Roberto, 
Anton, Cedric, Cordero, Ryan, Christopher, Bradley, Ashon, Mark, Frankie and Alvin;
Fifty Nieces: Ernestine, Judy, Melanie, Lilymae, Mavis, Manerva, Jennifer, Maxine, Helen, 
Ruth, Dorothy, Clara, Joycelyn, Eloise, Annamae, Diane, Agatha, Jaleze, Linda, Vanda, Cleomae, 
Lubertha, Velna, Althia, Alvain, Luann, Iva, Sharell, Shavonne, Erra, Annamae Hamilton, Dianne, 
Vernice, Patsy, Cola, Anishka, Komeni, Tara, Kahara, Badue, Sarrakhan, Carletha, Kayshana, Denisha, 
Destinque, Kari, Cedricka, Glendamay, Donna and Andrea of New York;
Eight Grand Nephews: Ricardo and Jarvado McPhee, H. Kevin Brown II, Travis and 
Nathan Thompson, Nathaniel and Michael Miller and Justin Yearwood New York;
Five Grand Nieces: Lotoya Musgrove-Hilton, Kesha Campbell, Nyika Ammon-Edwards, 
Natasha Holmes and Donicea Miller of New York;
One Aunt: Daisy Black;
Six Daughters-in-law: Mavis, Melvita, Orynthia, Petral, Charissa and Sheena Collie;
Two Sons-in-law:  Ephraim McClain and Wesley Rolle;
One Brother-in-law: Bertram Brown;
Five Sisters-in-law: Eva Hamilton, Laura McPhee, Vernice Brown, Leurella Burrows and Irene Johnson;
Twelve Godchildren: Pandora Miller, Barbara Murphy, Vanda Forbes, Myrtle Strachan, Anishka and 
Ecklyn Williamson, Reuben Mount, Nolan King Jr., Elkin and Pastor Kevin Collie, Leslie Shephard 
and Iverine Missick;
Special Friends: Marrietta McKinney and Sylvia Missick;
Other loving family and friends including: Reginald, David and Laura Charlton, Ida and 
Phillip Johnson, Minister Betty Thompson, Merciana and Mabelle Bodie, Ulinda Delaney, Kaywanna, 
Kaymala and Maxine Wright, Blondeva Rahming, Dotlene Edgecombe, Wendymae Fernander, 
Icilyin Ferguson, Almartha, Mario, Samuel and Mildren Murphy of Betsy Bay Mayaguana, Clifford, 
Cynthia, Frankie and Alvin Brown, Mildred Williamson, Effie McPhee, Clarabella, Ceola Missick, 
Cecil and Nesbit Higgins, Ariline and Sara Collie, Velva and Glenda Edwards, Princess Smith, 
Elvin McClain, Emiline Moss of Abrahama Bay, Mayaguana, Lana, Rhoda, Carmey and their families, 
The Sherman and Ash families, The Berea Mission Church family of Pirates Well, Mayaguana, 
Tim Haffner, The I-Group, Mayaguana, Mr. Moss, Island Administrator and the entire 
Mayaguana Community;
Special Thanks To: Commissioner Elleston Greenslade and The Royal Bahamas Police Force, 
Eugene Dupuch Law School, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union, C. W. Saunders 
High School, Burns Group of Companies, Members of The Local Chapter of The Alpha Kappa Alpha 
Sorority Inc. and Leisure Travel & Tours.