Shirley Ailaine Strachan-Ellis

Shirley Ailaine Strachan-Ellis Age 73 years of Prince Charles Drive and formerly of
 #24 Hampden Road, Stapledon Gardens completed life's lessons and taught her final class 
at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

Shirley was born at Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas on Tuesday, February 18, 1936 
she was the second of three children. Shirley spent a happy childhood living in the Eastern District 
where her parents, siblings and other family members resided on Kemp Road. She spoke of 
the many happy occasions where she interacted with her aunts, uncles and numerous cousins 
who lived in the surrounding area. They would return to the homestead on visits, even when 
some of them relocated to Florida. She was confirmed and worshiped at Saint Margaret's Anglican 
Church and under the guidance of Father Lambert and Bishop Donald Knowles, participated 
in many of the church's activities including Sunday school. Later four out of her five children 
were also christened at St. Margaret's Church.

At Shirley's wedding her childhood friends Cleomie Lightbourne and Mary Clarke formed part 
of her Bridal party. Cleomie served as maid of honour and Mary as bridesmaid along with 
Shirley's cousin, Janette.

Shirley received her education at The Eastern Prep and Eastern Junior and Senior Schools. 
In preparation for the job market she and her friend, Cleomie took and successfully completed 
a private commercial typing course. Subsequently, she entered the new world of employment by 
securing her first job at Bodie's Bank. Shirley did not remain at Bodie's Bank, but entered the 
local Nurse Training Programme. After having met and married, Frank Ellis, a police officer, 
she discontinued her training in nursing and entered the Teacher's Training College. 
It was there that her passion for teaching emerged.

Shirley's career as a teacher spanned almost forty years. Even when school was closed for 
the summer, she held summer school on the porch where she resided on Kemp Road and 
subsequent addresses. Many students took advantage of the opportunity to receive additional 
tutelage in reading, arithmetic and writing. Dick and Dora and the Royal Readers were prominent then. 
Many students can also attest to the time and effort that Shirley invested in them, ensuring 
that they knew and understood the principles of each subject taught. She never gave up on any 
student no matter what primary school she was posted to. She not only served as teacher, 
but also as mother. She would take hair combs and hair brushes to school and ensured that 
all of her children, as she referred to them, were well groomed. She would share her lunch with 
students who did not have any, sometimes taking extra. If they had no clothes she provided that too. 
She loved them as if they were her own.

Not only did her students benefit from her kindness and concern for their welfare, but teachers as well. 
Those who understudied and were assigned to her on teaching practice received patient instruction. 
Others who did not have transportation were offered rides to their homes, to destinations as far as 
South Beach. Many days, especially after her children became young adults, she did not arrive 
home until 5:00p.m. in the afternoons. When questioned, she would reply that one teacher or 
another lived far and did not have transportation to get home.

Shirley also believed in providing for her family. She took care of and assisted her parents as 
well as her Aunt Sadie even after she was married and had her own family. Further, after her sister, 
Thelma's death, Shirley did her best to provide for Thelma's children. She would visit them to see 
what they needed, combed, washed and hot-combed the girls' hair (a time of hollering and crying) 
"Aunt Shirley, you does comb hair hard". She would also include them in her family picnics and 
even after they could care for themselves, she would visit and enquire about what was happening in their lives.

She was not only an excellent teacher, but an excellent wife and mother. She thought nothing of 
making sacrifices to ensure that her husband and children received her utmost attention. 
Even when tired she would get right into the business of cooking the family meals and making 
preparation for the next day. Again, one would think that she would have taken a break on the 
weekends, but no, the weekends were just as busy. Despite how busy she was she always found 
time to take her children on outings; and Frank being the avid sportsman would allow his family 
to accompany him to many of his sporting events.

When Frank was posted to the family islands, Shirley became mother and father. She had the 
full responsibility of raising her family and tending to their every need. When the car broke down, 
her children would "duck down" on the floor. She would bravely lift the hood of the car and would 
look as if she knew what went wrong. Invariably, some gentleman would stop and assist in getting 
the car started.

Shirley was also ambitious and after having purchased a lot in Stapledon Gardens, she and her 
husband had plans drawn up and the construction of the family home began. On completion the 
family moved there and began a new phase in their lives.

Upon visiting Holy Trinity Anglican Church, located in Stapledon Gardens, it was decided that 
the family would worship there instead of making the trek to St. Margaret's Church in Kemp Road. 
Shirley and her children became involved in the church's activities. She held various executive offices 
including the position of President in the Church's Anglican Church Women (ACW) Organization. 
She was a member of cell group and assisted wherever she could. During the early days of erecting 
the church building, Shirley was amongst the group of women who would cook and provide lemonade 
and other cool drinks for the men who had volunteered their services. When there were not enough 
men in place, on occasion, she helped to lay bricks. 

Another highlight in Shirley's life was her attainment of a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood 
Education at "St. Ben's" University, Minnesota. While pursuing her degree, she had to interrupt 
her studies on several occasions due to family commitments. There was great rejoicing on completion 
of the programme and her daughter, Bernadette, was extremely proud of her mother's accomplishment.

Shirley is preceded in death by her:
Husband: Retired Assistant Superintendent of Police Frank Joseph Ellis I;
Father: Isaac Strachan;
Mother: Maudeline Gwendolyn Newbold-Strachan;
Sisters: Thelma Adderley and Lerlene Parker;

The Radiance of this "Amethyst of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Three Sons: Craig Armstrong Sr., Frank II and D'Arcy Ellis I;
Two Daughters: Nursing Officer I/Registrar Bernadette Ellis and Bianca Lockhart (Andy I);
Eleven Grand Children: Frank III, D'Arcy II, Giovanni and Cara Ellis, Andy II, 
Blair and Joshua Lockhart, Trevor, Thaniah and Craig Armstrong Jr. and Tiffany Adderley;
Three Brothers: Leslie Strachan, Keith and Kevin Ferguson;
Step Sister: Julia Barry;
Fourteen Nephews and Nieces: Stephen, Sherry and Jacqueline Adderley, 
Peter and Stephanie Armbrister, Herman and Michelle McKinzie, Charles Johnson, 
Ingrid, Fenton and Burlington Strachan, Akeem, Keisha and Trez Ferguson;
Two Brothers-in-law: Lionel Nelson and Russell Carrington;
Three Sisters-in-law: Geraldine Collins of England, Carmen Carrington and Beatrice Collie;
Numerous loving cousins and their families: Leon, Godfrey, Terry, Everette, Ken, Maritta, 
Gerald, Marie, Denise and Kenneth Strachan, Janette Newlands, Brenda Jagnandon, Paulamae Miller, 
Louise Gray, Ruth Rolle, Desmond Fraser, Dianne Gibson, Derek Sweeting, Shirley Armbrister, Rose, 
Patricia Major, Jacqueline Allen, Maxine Brown, Angela Tynes, Evangeline Lightbourne, Brenda Newton, 
Sylvia Mackey, Dorothea Farrington, Patricia Beneby, Marie, Susan, Sonny and Charlene Newbold, 
Nathalie Peletierre, Joan Rolle and Jackie Darrell;
Many other loving relatives and friends including: Cleomie Lightbourne, Mary Clarke, 
Delores Mounts, Venerable E. Etienne E. Bowleg and The Parish Church of The Most Holy Trinity, 
Pastor Joshua Sands Jr. and Lifeline Ministries Int'l, Bishop Adline Jones and New Beginnings 
Prayer Ministries, Minister Andrea Archer, Minister Pamela Bowe, Vera Bain, Jay Mills, 
Sheryl Thompson, Paula Cartwright, Doug and Cindy Sawyer, Mark and Heather Bowe, Cecil, 
Deborah and Toi Johnson, Sharmene Smith, Stanley and Barbara Campbell and their families, 
Bishop Christopher, Evangelist Melony and Jessica Minnis, the Hampden Road families, 
St. Matthew's Day Care Centre for the Aged, Yellow Elder Day Center for the Elderly and 
Coastline Community Nursing Home and Day Care. If we have inadvertently left your 
names out please forgive us;
Special Thanks to: Dr. Eugene Gray, Dr. Leslie and Mrs. Beverly Culmer, Dr. Nelson Clarke, 
Dr. I. Ene, the Chest Pain Unit A&E, Nursing Officers 1 Sandra Moncur, Vivia Young and 
Valderine Bell and Staff, Trained Clinical Nurses Hutchinson and Emmanuel of Fleming Street Clinic, 
Nursing Officer 1 Prescola Rolle and Staff Female Surgical #2, Stephanie Pinder, 
Veronica Hamilton and Marsha McQueen.