Everette William Armbrister

Retired Police Sergeant 167 Everette William Armbrister 
Age 80 Years of #09 First Holiness Way; Bamboo Town South Beach 
Commanded his final parade at the Princess Margaret Hospital 
on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.

He was born at Arthur's Town Cat Island, The Bahamas on 
Friday, January 19, 1934. He attended the Arthurs Town All Age School 
and upon completion of school, he relocated to New Providence to seek 
employment opportunities. A few years later, he travelled to the 
United States of America again seeking a better way of life. 
(This was referred to as "the Contract"). Although at that time, 
the wages were not much, he still managed to send something home to 
his mother to take care of her and his younger siblings. After several 
years he eventually returned to the Bahamas and in 1957 he joined the 
Royal Bahamas Police Force where he served until his retirement in 1979 
at the rank of a Sergeant.

Everette, affectionately called "Sarge", was proud to serve his 
country in this capacity. This was evident by the pride he took 
when he was wearing his uniform. He would spend hours 
cleaning his buttons and belt, and polishing his shoes, which 
were so shine you were able to see your face in them. 
We often joked about how he would flip the back of his tunic 
up when he sat in his car so as not to put any crease in it.

Additionally, even though we lived not too far from the 
Police Barracks (which is now referred to as Police Headquarters), 
on John Chipman Street (formerly known as Lifebuoy Street), 
he would leave home hours ahead of the time he was to report for duty. 
Sometimes he would also talk about when he was stationed in 
Grand Bahama and Eleuthera. I can vividly recall an incident 
when my mother asked him to check the front door of the 
house to see why it was not closing properly. He told her in 
no uncertain terms that he was a policeman and not a carpenter.

Following his tenure with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, 
he was employed with the US Embassy, Butler & Sands and 
Super Value Food Stores respectively, as a Security Officer.

The year 1957 was also a very significant time in his life. 
This was the year he married the love of his life Euphemia 
Armbrister "nee Hepburn". This union was blessed with 
four children – three girls and one boy. All of whom he 
treasured and loved dearly.

Sarge was always a God-fearing man, and fully committed 
his life to Christ five (5) years ago. A member of St. Barnabas 
Parish he usually attended the Sunday Evening Services. 
However, it was not out of the ordinary for him to visit the 
Church on Sunday mornings to collect a Bulletin.  
He was also a member of the ACM.

There were certain characteristics Everette possessed, 
one being the respect he had for people regardless of their age. 
There were times you would hear him on the telephone and 
whether he was enquiring about the status on a particular 
bill or placing an order his response was always 'yes ma'am' 
or 'no ma'am' according to the question being asked. 
He was indeed from the old school.

He also loved listening to his music, the golden oldies rocked 
but most of all, he loved him some good old gospel music. 
He would have music from groups like The Dixie Humming Birds, 
The Sensational Nightingales, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, 
The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Consolers, The Redemption Gospel 
Singers and of course The Region Bells. It was like nothing for 
him to place up to eight albums on the turn table or record 
player (this was before the stereo) at one time, and he had to 
play both sides of an album, with the sounds coming from a 
loud speaker which he placed on the door frame above the 
front door that entertained the entire neighbourhood. 
You could hear this music blasting from one end of the 
street to the next as he enjoyed his soulful sounds.

Everette was a man who liked to read and he always first 
read his Bible, then he would read The Nassau Guardian 
and The Miami Herald Newspaper and wanted to ensure 
he kept up-to date with what was happening locally and internationally.       

Most would know, he was not much of a talker but there were 
certain topics he enjoyed talking about, sports for instance was 
one of them. Depending on the season, whether it was basketball, 
football or baseball, which was his all time favourite, you always 
knew he loved sports. When he watched the games, he was 
always eager to talk about the officiating, the players performance the 
scoring etc. His three teams were the LA Dodgers, the Lakers and the 
Miami Dolphins. Like most Bahamians, he was very disappointed
 whenever one of his teams lost.   

In January of this year, Sarge took ill, but you would not have known, 
because the tone of his voice was still very strong. Many times, people 
would ask if we were sure he was not doing well. Even though he was 
not at his best health, this did not dampen his spirit, we realized that 
he kept his spirits up because of his personal relationship with God and 
he always said that he left everything in the hands of The Lord. He began 
everyday with his daily devotion and continued to give praise 
and thanks to God throughout the day. 

On Tuesday, November 18, 2014 he was admitted to the 
Princess Margaret Hospital and a day later, on 19th November, 2014 
he took his final flight and went to be with his Lord. We know he was 
ready because he would always say when the good Lord is ready, 
he will call me home.

Sarge, you are missed, loved and honoured. Giving God all the praise 
and thanks for your years here with all of us. Rest on!

Everette is preceded in death by his:
Wife: Euphemia Joyce Hepburn-Armbrister;
Father: Jepthah Harcourt Armbrister;
Mother: Beaulah Blanche Rolle-Armbrister;
Brother: Selwyn Harcourt Armbrister;
Sister: Monica Armbrister;
Grandfather: William Amos Rolle;
Grandmother: Jemima Livingston-Rolle;
Aunts: Sarah Rolle and Emmie Eleanor Stubbs;
Father-in-law: William Hepburn;
Mother-in-law: Rosetha Munnings;
Son-in-law: Philip Burrows;
Brother-in-law: Rev'd Donald Newbold;

The Radiance of this "Garnet of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of his:
Four Sons: William Everette (Renee)of Tamarac, Florida, Dwayne, 
Roderick and Philip Armbrister;
Four Daughters: Sandra, Rose and Michelle Armbrister and Ida Burrows;
Three Grand Sons: Sven Ambrose, August Armbrister and PJ Rolle;
Three Grand Daughters: Avon Armbrister, Raven Simone and Odessa Rolle;
Three Sisters: Lorna of New York and Daisy Armbrister and Carnetha Seymour;
Fifteen Nephews: Collingwood, Michael, Leslie, George P. and Mackey Armbrister, 
Troy, Prince and Barron Thurston, Allison and Calvin Seymour, Glen King, Alvin O'Brien, 
Harcourt Miller, Philip and Paul Knowles;              
Sixteen Nieces: Cheryl Smith, Portia Fernander, Phillippa Farquharson, 
Penny Armbrister, Denise Pinder, Maria and Antoinette Seymour, Pamela Moultrie, 
Marcia Miles, Josephine Justilien, Patricia Cooper, Ernestine King, Francina Rahming, 
Valerie McPhee, Carolyn Simmons and Woman Police Corporal 2198 Loretta Munroe;
Cousins: Lillian Dean, Jacqueline King, Andrea Smith, Iris Mackey, Virginia Brennen, 
Salomie, Roselda, Priscilla, Joyce, Theresa, Bonnie, Maxine, Hesley and Ezekiel Stubbs, 
Alice Darville, Leonora Archer, Shelia Sweeting, Brenda Newbold, Olga, Donna, Eva, 
Howard and Garnet Rolle, Eugene Rolley, Stafford Knowles and their families;
One Daughter-in-law: Lisa Armbrister;
Other Loving Family and Friends Including: Caregiver Ann Marie (Sandra) Armstrong, 
Livingstone and William Farrington, Idamae Duncombe, Wilfred, Emerald, Ruby, Joel, 
Bernie and Bishop Albert, Rev'd Raymond, Errol and Elizabeth Hepburn, Alfred Burrows, 
Edmund Stubbs, Avis Gibson, Rev'd Charles Young, Rev'd Henry Seymour, 
Rev'd Lester Thurston, Rev'd Harold Bodie, Clinton Bowe, Faith Roxbury, 
Vincent and Jennifer Charlton, George Turnquest, Pearl Godfrey, 
Pamela Griffin, Isaac Lightbourne, Troy Ward and their families; 
Mario Curry, Edris Cunningham, Alicita Colebrooke, Archie Cambridge, 
Ursula Ferguson, Elizabeth Newbold, Families of the late John and 
Whitmore Armbrister, the late Idamae and Donald Newbold and the 
late Hazel Stubbs; The Webb, Thompson, Miller, Dean, Smith, Bonaby, 
Major, Ferguson, Mortimer and Rahming families; The entire Arthurs Town Community, 
The United Christian Church Association Inc., Canon Basil Tynes, Father Kerr and The 
St. Barnabas Parish Family, Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and Members 
of The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Allerdyce Strachan and Members of 
The Royal Bahamas Police Force Retired Officers Association, 
other family and friends too numerous to mention.
Special Thanks To Evangelistic Temple Church Family, 
Management and Staff of The Lyford Cay Property Owners Association, 
Management and Staff of J. S. Johnson Company, Management and 
Staff of Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Management and Staff of 
The South Beach Clinic, Management and Staff Star of David Memorial 
Chapel and Cemetery Ft. Lauderdale, Austin Johnson, Dr. Bain and Staff 
of the Trauma Room, Princess Margaret Hospital.