Sheila Anita Knight

Sheila Anita Francis Knight was born on March 5, 1960 at St. James Hospital in Leeds, England in the United Kingdom. She was the fourth child born to Arthur (Bonx) and Elrene Francis who immigrated to England from the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts. Sheila grew up in England with her loving parents and siblings. Both parents worked to support the family and her father, at one point in his career, was a driver of one of the famous English double decker buses. Her childhood in Leeds was spent doing what most children did at that time, playing hopscotch and skipping rope with her childhood friends Marla, Marisa, and Karen. Sheila attended Cowper Street Primary School, an English Victorian school built in 1909. She was a smart child who excelled in school. As a child, Sheila enjoyed reading stories about Noddy the wooden puppet, which were made famous by the English writer, Enid Blyton.

Sheila also enjoyed watching children’s shows on the family’s black and white television, especially Blue Peter, Andy Pandy, Pinky and Winky, and the Willie Wombat character from The Tree House Family show. Family outings included trips to visit aunts and uncles in Birmingham, outings to the famous Roundhay Park and drives around the English countryside and seashores, where she enjoyed playing in the sand and building sandcastles with her siblings! As she grew older, Sheila was often nostalgic when recounting the times her mom and dad would arrive home with fish and chips bought from the chip shop on Harehills Road wrapped in old English newspapers, a treat the whole family enjoyed together.

In 1968 at the age of 9, Sheila and her family left England and immigrated to the United States. On January 7th of that year, Shelia along with her mom and siblings arrived at New York City’s JFK Airport on a cold, snowy day where they were greeted by her father and aunt who had arrived in New York the previous year. The trip was not without incident however, as energetic Sheila wandered away from the family and got lost at the airport! She was eventually found by the airport security much to her mother’s relief. Sheila adapted well to life in New York and continued to live in New York for 40 years. Sheila and her family first lived in Brooklyn where she attended PS241. She continued to excel in her studies. By the time she entered junior high, the family moved to a different part of Brooklyn.

Sheila was an outgoing friendly person and made friends easily. Her smile was contagious! She was especially close to her best friend Nadine with whom she remained friends to the end. Sheila attended and graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens, New York. She was an excellent math student who was interested in a career in the healthcare field. While in high school, Sheila met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Daryl. The two soon became inseparable and he eventually became an unofficial brother to Sheila’s siblings. She enjoyed shopping with her siblings on weekends. Some of her evenings were reserved for trying on Lizzy and Johnny dresses that they had ordered along with playing card games and drinking shandies.

After high school, Sheila attended Queens College where she completed her studies. Although Sheila’s career aspiration included working in the medical field, God chose another path for her. She found a job in the banking industry and carved out a successful professional career in that field. Sheila was hardworking and loved by her colleagues and coworkers.

Sheila’s life took an exciting turn when she married her high school sweetheart, Daryl. The two built an enduring and loving life together. They had a beautiful baby girl Sheena, born on Christmas Day 1983. The couple eventually moved to Rosedale, Queens and became happy homeowners. The second joy of their lives came with the birth of Daryl Jr. their son. The four have an unbreakable bond that will continue into eternity. Sheila loved her extended family and always enjoyed spending time with them whether in the Caribbean, Canada or here in the United States.

Recently Sheila and Daryl moved to North Carolina to enjoy their well-deserved retirement together. Sheila’s sudden and untimely death has left a void that cannot be filled. Sheila will be missed dearly. May she rest in eternal peace.