Ethel Gwendolyn Nottage-Grant

Ethel Gwendolyn Nottage-Grant Age 85 Years of 
#211 Paradise Island Drive and Bayview Lane, Paradise Island 
passed from her earthly walk of life, at the Princess Margaret Hospital
on Monday, July 18, 2011.

She was born at Tarpum Bay Eleuthera, the Bahamas on 
Thursday, August 20, 1925. The second of three children, 
Ethel learnt the importance of responsibility and hard 
work at an early age and as most children of this era she 
matured quickly and learnt the skills necessary for economic survival. 
At a very young age Ethel was adopted by and lived with 
Thad and Alice Bethel in South Palmetto Point Eleuthera 
where she attended school before moving to Nassau to seek employment.

Having obtained employment, she started a family and over 
the years nurtured 17 children, seven of whom are still alive. 
Ethel knew and loved the Lord and made sure that her children 
had a strong spiritual and Christian upbringing. She was a compassionate 
mother who cared for and loved her children dearly working hard to provide 
the best education and home for them.

Her employment was primarily in the domestic field; the most notable of 
which was at A. F. Adderley Senior High School where she was employed 
for many years as a janitress until she retired. Ethel was a dedicated worker 
who loved and took her job seriously. She had excellent cooking and baking 
skills and whilst at A. F. Adderley distinguished herself by assisting teachers 
and teaching students the art of preparing local Bahamian delicacies.

Ethel was a woman of many talents and became well known for her story 
telling and great sense of humour. She was a socialite and never missed an 
opportunity to celebrate a birthday, Christmas holiday or other special event 
in her life and that of her family. She touched the lives of many others by 
giving unselfishly to those in her community, the church and extended 
family and friends.

In her post retirement years from A. F. Adderley she spent a considerable 
amount of time with her eldest daughter Dorothy and her family. However, 
she continued to work to sustain herself and to maintain a high level of 
independence until her health began to fail.

Ethel was loved, cared for and cherished by her children and grand children. 
However, around 2003 there was a noticeable change in her memory and 
she went to live with her son Donald and his family. In 2005 upon the 
return of her daughter Dorcas from university, Ethel went to live with 
her and during a doctor's visit later in that year she was diagnosed as 
having Dementia which required special supervised attention. 
Her daughter with whom she now lived, sought assistance at A & A 
Comfort Care Nursing Home during the daytime, and even during 
this challenging period in Ethel's life she kept the residence and staff alike 
entertained with her great sense of humor.

Over the years her condition got progressively worse during which time 
she suffered several transient strokes. On the morning of Friday, June 24, 2011 
whilst at home with her daughter she suffered a stroke and was taken to hospital 
where she underwent surgery. During her stay in hospital her children, 
grandchildren and family members were constantly by her bedside praying 
for and reminding her of how much they appreciated and loved her.

Ethel is preceded in death by her:
Father: Elijah Nottage;
Mother: Olive Saunders;
Adopted Father: Thad Bethel;
Adopted Mother: Alice Bethel;
Son: Edmund Alfred Miller;
Grandson: Renaldo Demetri Forbes;

The Radiance of this "Sardonyx of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Six Sons: Livingston Archer (Berthamae), Godfrey Deveaux, Donald Grant Sr. (Donna), 
James Ferguson, Frank Sr. (Darnell) and Konto Miller Sr.;
Two Daughters: Dorothy Colebrooke (Alvin) and Agatha Dorcas-Bethel (Lorenzo);
Eight Adopted Children: Edith Marshall, Racquel Gibson, Harry and Deborah Fernander, 
Lorrie Williams, Benjamin and Julia Dames and Bernard Rolle;
Twenty Grandsons: Leroy Devon Forbes, Leonardo McKinney, Tyrone, Emmerson, 
Marvin, Elick and Jermaine Archer, Donva and Donald Grant Jr., Rodney and Baltram Deveaux, 
Bruce Lee and Johnnie Ferguson, Lathario, Eddie and Frank Miller Jr., Warren, 
Connalee and Jermaine Adderley and Barry King;
Fourteen Granddaughters: Melinda, Bettyanne, Erica and Jan Archer, 
Nicoya and Shatara Grant, Teneil Adderley, Deborah Thompson, Alexandria Dexeaux, 
Crystal and Monique Ferguson, Tiawanna, Thereca and Lashonna Miller;
Twenty Three Great Grandchildren: Konto Jr., Traveno and Ethan Miller, Tyrone, 
Téron, Tosh, Ty, Tyronique, Emma and Emily Archer, Tyrell Griffith, Rickquille Bethell, 
Dinishia, Albert, Bermont, Megan, Bruce Lee Jr. and Johnnie Ferguson Jr., Anastashia  Major, 
Jasnique Ingraham, Alicia and David Adderley Jr., Jaden  Williams, Nicoyette, Yolika, 
Oshawna and Selania;         
Four Nephews: James Nottage Sr. of Tarpum Bay Eleuthera, 
Pastor Gladstone of Miramar Florida and Andrew Curry and Charles Rolle;
One Niece: Mary Rolle;
Numerous Grand Nephews and Nieces Including: James Jr., Leading Seaman Clarence, 
Cynthia and Edith Nottage, Veronica Micklewhite, Ardell Johnson, Debra Moxey and 
Police Corporal 1997 Cedrick Sears;
Three Cousins: Jane Thompson, Normalee Clarke and Evangeline Hamilton;
Other loving family and friends including: Vincent and Mavis Pratt, 
Valderine Williams, Edmund and Inez Miller, Cheryl, Sandie, Samantha, 
Kristina and Lechea Carey, Kenrick and Kayla Micklewhite, Mr. Wendell G. II and 
Makeva Dean, Shanda and Levell Brown, Claire Leary, Urandle Sr., Urandle Jr., 
Reggie and Ryan Graham,  Mr. & Mrs. Sandra Coakley, Mr. Hiram and Mrs. Esther Laramore, 
Catherine and Patricia Rolle, Mrs. Gertlene Miller, Peter and Araline Mackey, Linda Ashe, 
Donna Johnson, Deborah Smith, Mr. Millard Bethel and their families;
Special Thanks To: Monsignor Simeon Roberts and the Parishioners of St. Cecilias Parish, 
The members of Wesley Methodist Church, Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, 
Rev. Godfrey and Mrs.  Bethel and the members of Ebenezer Methodist Church Shirley Street, 
The Red Bay Andros Community, Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Lightbourne, The Staff of WemCo Ltd. 
and Firstcaribbean Bank Habour Bay Branch, C. F. Butler & Associates and Hailshams Legal 
Associates, Apostle Leon Wallace and the members of Voice of Deliverance, 
The Bus Driver's Association, Seven Hills Seven Day Adventist Church, 
Bahamas Customs Investigations Department, Comfort Care Nursing Home, 
Reverend Rufus & Mavis Hanna, Mrs. Shirley Bain, The Staff of Intensive Care Unit and 
Female Medical 1 of the Princess Margaret Hospital, Doctors Patrick Whitfield, 
Channa Jagadeesh and Magnus O. Ekedede.