Eva Nixon-Smith

Eva Nixon-Smith Age 89 Years of #11 Lime Street, Yellow Elder Gardens 
completed her earthly walk of life at her daughter's residence #40 Pine Crest Drive, 
Pinewood Gardens on Thursday, April 04, 2013.

She was born at Mars Bay Andros, The Bahamas on Saturday, June 30, 1923. 
Eva was the fifth of nine children. Access to a quality education in Family Island 
communities in those days was limited and as result her educational experience 
was confined to the Public All Age School in Mars Bay where she attended 
until age 10. She came from a poor, working class family and as a result did 
not have the opportunity to further her studies.

At the age of 17 she fell in love with Hubert Smith Sr. They were married in 
September, 1941 and began the process of raising a family. 
The marriage had its share of challenges, resulting in her 
relocating to Nassau in 1960. It took great courage for her to 
leave a secure environment where her husband was the sole 
bread winner and decide to make it on her own. It was not easy 
for a woman to raise 10 children in Nassau in the 1960s. 
he would work two jobs at times, just to try and earn sufficient 
money to make ends meet. Sometimes the ends never met, 
but she never stopped trying. She would work as a Housekeeper 
by day and a Cook by night, having only enough time between 
jobs to prepare a meal for her children. Fortunately, her oldest child, 
Hubert Jr., was already living in Nassau. So, with his help she 
was able to raise her children, ensuring that they all obtained a 
high school education with several earning University degrees as well. 
She was a very strong, determined woman, who was very kind, 
loving and compassionate but always in charge. 
She was the undisputed leader of the family.

She would give of her best to her relatives, friends and neighbours, 
never concerned about whether they would return the favour. 
Even though we didn't have much whatever we had she was willing to share. 
She was an excellent cook and many would stop by Sunday after Sunday to 
feast on her Sunday meals. She had an open-door policy –Everyone from 
Mars Bay who came to Nassau stayed at our house, even though many times 
we didn't have the space to accommodate the many family and friends. 
She would never turn anyone away and treated them as if they were her children.

She was a caring Mother who always wanted to know what was going on in 
her children's lives, even after they were married with families of their own. 
She spent countless hours helping her children, either with housework or 
caring for her grandchildren. She had a serious love affair with her grandchildren. 
They seemed inextricably linked.

She loved her God, her Church and was intimately involved in the 
Prayer Band at Christ The King from its inception. Despite her challenges 
and imperfections, Mother's relationship with her God was personal. 
She loved her priests and developed a special bond with her adopted son, 
Fr. Samuel Sturrup. He often referred to himself as the second son. 
She attended Mass every Sunday and weekdays until she became seriously ill three (3) years ago.

In January, 2010 she was hospitalized and diagnosed with a serious heart condition. 
That diagnosis coupled with her diabetes that she lived with for almost 50 years and 
hypertension resulted in her inability to care for herself

After her release from hospital, she needed the help of her children, 
but not wanting to be a burden she tried despite her ailments to do what she could.

In July 2012, she was readmitted to hospital, where she remained for three weeks. 
Her heart condition worsened and was functioning at only 25 per cent capacity. 
After consulting with Doctors, we felt that she was nearing the finish line. 
But upon her release from hospital, even though confined to bed, she rallied, 
gained strength and seemed to have received a new lease on life. 
She was laughing, talking and controlling again.

Then suddenly three weeks ago, she was overtaken by a "calm spirit". 
She became very peaceful and quiet but was constantly smiling. 
She consistently reminded her caregivers that she was tired and ready to go. 
Then after having lunch on Thursday, April 4, 2013, while lying peacefully on 
her bed she quietly slipped away at 5:03pm with her primary caregivers 
Coral and Linda, and her son Hubert at her side.  

Eva is Preceded in death by her:
Husband: Hubert Akiel Smith Sr.;
Father: Theophilus Smith;
Mother: Ada Rahming-Nixon;

The Radiance of this "Pearl of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Her Children: Hubert and Orea Smith, Veronica Smith, Leroy and Lawrean McPhee, 
Reuben and Frances Smith, Ross and Vanda Smith, Coral and Willard Dean, 
Oswald Smith, Beryl and Leslie Duncombe, Carlton and Portia Smith, 
Franklyn and Valderine Smith, Monique Forbes and Mark and Linda Wilson;
Eight Adopted Children: Fr. Samuel Sturrup, Fr. Mervyn Buck Johnson, 
Majorie Thompson, Louise Williams, Sonia Miller, Sonia Bostwick, Robert and Sylvia Smith;
Thirty Seven Grandchildren: Whitney, Cardez, Walden, Ronauldo, Valentino, Lashay, 
Briana, Amber, Jerusha, Carlene, Delphine, Nadia, Brittany, Lithera and Shatiska Smith, 
Oreinthia and Keith Ferguson, Lashay and Reuben Stokes, Nevardo and Trevano Dean, 
Danielle, LaSean and LaMon Duncombe, Kenrear, Jason and Christine McPhee, Chinique and 
Dion Gray Sr., Ginea Wilson, Ayana and Remone Storr, Ronell Powell, Racquel, Jermaine and 
Tameka Forbes and Toni Johnson;
Twenty-Five Great Grand Children: Reuben, Gregory and Layla Stokes, Reyanah Smith, 
Jajuan and Jayden McPhee, Dion Gray Jr., Reanna Storr, Amahl Kelly, Tomari Jackson, 
Rachel Horne, Jaida Knowles, Triniti Wells, Jermaine Jr., Jayden Forbes, Ravae Powell, 
DeCarlo, Dureonte, Ly'earron, Ly'naya, Ly'najah, Raquan, Qunell, Marliyah and Khari;
Two Sisters: Elsie Smith and Ruth Meadows;
Two Brothers-in-law: Wilbur Smith and Austin Meadows;
Three Sisters-in-law: Mable, Monica and Eloise Nixon;
Twenty-Eight Nephews: Gene, Rollie, Ron and Randy Smith, Harris, Edward, Clyde, 
David, Spurgeon and Grevan, Freddie, Sheddy and Anthony Nixon, Ivan, Arlington and Cedric Forbes, 
Errol, Leonard (Milo) and Edison Meadows, Cedric, Basil, Dennis, Oswald and Sean Dean, 
Sherman and Elvis Bullard, Cecil Longley and Frank Carey;
Thirty-Four Nieces: Mavis Dean, Oralee Alcorn, Myrtle Cooper, Lenny Bethel, 
Reinadell, Winnifred and Zel Lockhart, Eunice, Portia and Cyprianna Smith, 
Gerona Adderley, Betty Moss, Joan Scott, Michelle Knowles, Charmaine Bain, 
Deanne Mackey, Carmel Penn, Ethlyn Meadows, Vernice Minnis, Leona Davis, 
Beverly Rolle, Patricia Grant, Linda, Amanda, Daphne, Aralyn and Maureen Nixon, 
Ethel Munroe, Ruby Sturrup, Jeanetta Lowe, Vernice James, Wilma Marshall, 
Sheila Johnson, Celestine Taylor and Betty Scavella;
Other Relatives and Friends Including: Otis Munroe, Anthony Smith, Barbara Douglas, 
Bishop Laish Boyd, Venerable Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown, Rev. Fr. S. Sebastian Campbell, 
Canon Curtis Robinson, Rev. Fr. Bradley Miller, Rev. Fr. Whitfield Hutchinson, Rev. Fr. Donald Kerr, 
Sir Arlington and Lady Shelia Butler, Dora C., Richard and Iris Dean, Bishop Neville and Sis. Hart, 
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Rolle, Mrs. Mazie Cooper, Leah O'brien, Delores Cooper, Rose Rolle, 
Yvonne Stuart, Mr. Raymond Knowles, Ms. Patricia Smith, Mrs. Daphne Johnson, Eugene Gibson 
and their families, the Prayer Band of Christ The King, Baillou, The Duncombe Family, 
The Communities of Mars Bay, Andros and of Lime Street-Yellow Elder Gardens;
Physicians: Dr. Agreta Eneas-Carey, Dr. Morgan (PMH), Dr. Chin-Chea (PMH) and Dr. Tina Bethel;
Caregivers: Marcia Christie-Brown (RN), Veronica Bodie (RN), Jenelyn Webster-Rolle (RN), 
Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Williams and Ruth Dean along with her daughters Coral Dean and Linda Wilson.
In Lieu of Flowers: Donations can be made to the Christ The King building fund in the name of Eva Smith.