Marilyn Joyce Evans

CHAPTER 1- In The Beginning

As Charles Dickens once wrote, "It was the best of times; It was the worst of times". It was the worst of times because just about every country was seriously impacted in every possible way by the harrowing, ravaging effects of World War II, and Trinidad and Tobago was no exception. Yet, in the midst of all the devastation, in the midst of all the grief, in a little corner of our beautiful island, the best of times appeared as a respite one Monday morning when a baby girl, Marilyn (beloved) Joyce (joyous), was born. Her given names would prove to be befitting of her personality as she grew. She was the first of six children. She was our "Mayee", our big sister, our friend, and on occasion, our defender.

CHAPTER 2- Educational And Professional Pursuits

Marilyn was unabashedly a bookworm. It seemed like her head was always in a book even when there were chores to be done, much to our Mom's discontent. Quite a few frustrated "confound yous" were directed at Marilyn throughout her youth but she still read. But alas, we digress. Come along with us now as we follow the path of her formal education beginning with her pre-high school experience. She attended Melville Memorial EC., and Eastern Girls Government School where she prepared for matriculation to high school. She then attended Bishop Anstey High School, and last but not least St. Augustine Girls' High School, institutions from which she obtained both her Ordinary and Advanced Level diplomas. Her college experience began at Howard University in Washington DC, where she obtained a BA in History and ended at

Columbia University in New York having obtained an MS in Educational Technology. As mentioned in the foreword, Marilyn was ordained to be a teacher and more specifically a History teacher, a profession in which she excelled. She taught at the St. Francois Girls' College, the St. James Secondary School, and the Success Laventille Secondary School. Marilyn possessed an extraordinary ability to be both a teacher and a friend to her students with some of those friendships having lasted up until her passing.

CHAPTER 3- Her Proudest Accomplishment In spite of her many professional accomplishments, becoming a mother and having her own family was the one she cherished most. It would be difficult to find another mother-son relationship as close as Marilyn's and Andre's. Not a day passed by that they didn't communicate. When her phone rang at a certain time of day, she would smile and say, "That's Andre." They poked fun at each other and they argued sometimes, but those exchanges only cemented that bond. She was extremely proud of her son and his achievements whether educational, professional or familial. Speaking about the family, the highlight of her annual trips

was to visit Andre, Kathy, and Bella, and to be front and center at Bella's school performances.

CHAPTER 4- Qualities Worthy of Duplication

Our Marilyn was a loyal friend, supportive and encouraging. She had the rare ability to form and maintain lasting friendships through the years. She was fun to be around. She possessed the gifts of gab and laughter and willingly shared those gifts with others. Speaking of laughter, she is well known for her big, hearty laugh, and laughed at herself as much as she laughed at anyone or anything else.

Epilogue

"By learning, you will teach, by teaching you will learn." - Latin proverb

This was the mantra by which our Marilyn lived, always learning, always teaching. We are honored to have had her as such an important part of our lives and will treasure her memory as we follow the example of this consummate student and teacher. What a legacy! We close this book saddened by the fact that she was not able to achieve her next goal, becoming an author. Her book about the history of women in Trinidad remains unfinished, but her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Maybe some day, but not yet…..Her life was a life of bright color that may seem to have been dimmed at the moment but will, as time goes by, regain its splendor if we allow her to shine through us. Our sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend might be gone but will never ever be forgotten. We say goodbye for now with the hope that we will see her again. Until then, let's laugh, laugh, laugh in her honor. Laugh like there's no tomorrow.

Lovingly submitted by the family.

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