Ritta May Grant-Albury

Ritta May Grant-Albury Age 75 Years of #40 Derby Road, Yellow Elder 
completed her service of care, at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

Ritta was born at Cash Hill, Hanover, Jamaica on Tuesday, August 29, 1944. 
She was the second of three children.

Ritta gave birth to, and nurtured five beautiful children: Halford St Patrick Gordon, 
Marcia Rose-Marie Johnson, Michael and Deon Foster, and later, Theo Omar Albury 
was born out of her matrimonial union with Bernard Albury. As if she didn't have 
enough of her own, she still had enough love to share and so adopted Angelia Rosemarie Malcom. 
In 2005, she also became the legal guardian to one of her granddaughters Philicia Johnson-Taylor 
whom she raised with the same discipline as she did her own children. (She called her 'Phili', and 
Phili was the apple of one eye and Theo the apple of the other.  

Ritta was known for her creative craft and her love for the elderly and children which led her 
into practical nursing. With the mindset of a breadwinner she gained an opportunity to work in 
Nassau, Bahamas for an immigration Officer, Mr. Peter Joseph. Her best friend known as 
Queenie Nelson had a bike and that was her transportation to the airport with one luggage and 
a determination to make a better life for her family.

She was also known for her kindness not only towards her children, but towards persons 
she worked with, and she usually developed a long-term relationship with those whom she 
came in contact. Rita paved the way for migration to many of our families, friends and even 
strangers. She even made sacrifices to open her personal home in efforts to get them on their feet. 

With her strong belief, in the Almighty God, and her love for the Jamaican Apostolic way of 
worship, Ritta had to find a church that would satisfy her way of worship. That was when she 
found Faith Apostolic church, her new Christian home. Ritta then decided to give her life to the 
Lord and the late Suffragan Bishop Winston Redwood was honoured to baptize her. Her faith family 
was very dear to her, and she would make any and every effort to attend church services and functions. 

She shared stories of her life before she got baptized and she would always say that she wore the latest 
and the best. Therefore, in her Christian life, she kept the same mindset. Well known for her beautiful 
hats and fancy 3-piece outfits, her fashion sense was always noticed by many. 

Although she had migrated to the Bahamas many years ago, her Jamaican culture never faded. 
From her accent, people automatically knew her roots. She was a good cook and could cook 
any native dish, but she loved to cook native Jamaican foods. Her famous curry crab was a 
masterpiece and favourite to everyone that had it. 

Ritta was always youthful and strong even towards her latter days. Unfortunately, May 2019, 
we were informed that she was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer. This was devastating 
news to her family; we acted as urgently as we could. Sadly, there wasn't much that could be done.

However, she did not allow this ailment to dim her sprit, as she continued to attend church and 
lived as if nothing was wrong. In her words, "God is always in Control" and she had faith that she 
would gain comfort in the Lord. 

On Friday August 21st, 2020, Ritta was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital and on 
Wednesday August 26th, she bid her last goodbyes to her close family and friends. She assured 
us that she was happy and ready to go and meet her Saviour. She encouraged us not to be sad 
and to pass her love on to those at Faith Apostolic Church and other friends and family. 
She was a strong believer, and knew that where she was going, her soul would Rest in Peace.

Ritta is preceded in death by her:
Husband: Bernard Ralph Albury;
Father: Walter Grant;
Mother: Louise May Johnson-Shippey;
Brother: Henry Grant;

The Radiance of this "Sardonyx of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Three Sons: Halford Gordon, Michael Foster and Theo Albury;
One Daughter: Marcia Rosemarie Johnson;
One Adopted Daughter: Angelica Malcom;
Seven Grandsons: Anthony Moss, Carvel Johnson, Fawn Foster, 
Ricardo Stoner, Amanekie Johnson, Teddy Harris and Horace Gordon;
Four Granddaughters: Kendra Gordon, Philicia Johnson-Taylor (D'Shon), 
Shellyann Manderson Spence and Kristen A. Kerr;
Two Great Grandsons: Ricardo Hudson and Antonio Patterson;
One Great Granddaughter: Rhoneeka Black;
One Sister: Gwendolyn Grant;
Two Nieces: Marcia Allen (David) and Marvely Foster (Wilbert);
Two Aunts: Carmen Powell and Gwendolyn Goffe;
Two Grandnephews: Alloi Allen, Brandon Foster;
Two Grandnieces: Tracey-Ann Foster and Kelloney Allen;
Cousins: Janet Hawthorne Newbold, Dorothy and Jesse Wedderburn, 
Danisha Pathan, Andrew James, Decoda and Dennis;
Other loving family and friends including: Chelsea Williams, Faye Nelson, 
Pauline Burrows, Stephanie Todd, Marvin Pratt, Christell Johnson, Nevielle Sands, 
Tanya Stuart, Ezra James Strachan, Claudette Sweeting, Rosetta Grey, Davia Moss, 
Ida Mae Sinclair, Mantano Palacious II, Patsy Davis, Byrina and Brad Treco Jr, 
District Elder Pastor Shirley Redwood, Assistant Pastor Suffragan Bishop David and 
Evangelist Ivy Higgins, Sister Carla Baker and the entire Faith Apostolic family.