She was born on October 9, 1956 to Arnold and Winnie Williamson in Robin’s Hall, Manchester, Jamaica.
The eldest of three children, she had a typical West Indian childhood, attending Robins Hall All-Age School and later boarding school at Iona High in St. Mary. Some surmise this is where she learned her love of order, respect for rules and preference for having everything in its rightful place.
Upon graduating from high school, she moved on to nursing school at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston and worked there until she left to go overseas first to Bermuda then the USA. She settled in Florida where she lived and raised her daughter, Jhenelle.
Heather exemplified the best qualities of a nurse—compassionate, detailed-oriented, and disciplined. The perfectionist in her would never accept less than the best for her patients, and while many with her level of experience moved into management roles, she continued to focus on patient care. In her most recent post as charge nurse, preceptor and mentor at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center those with whom she worked closely no doubt have countless stories of her commitment to excellence and how she pushed them to aim for that level too—whether they liked it or not.
Then there was the other Heather. The one who named her plants (Prince a philodendron, Jenny a creeping vine and Fred the parlor palm), the one who savored tasty chicken wings (hello, Wing Stop) and who was known to have a sweet tooth. She loved to travel and went as far as Japan in her journeys. She enjoyed going on cruises to relax and recharge and was always up for a jaunt to a farmer’s market no matter how near or far.
Although she was away from her native land, it was never far from her heart and she was a staunch supporter of Jamaican cultural events in Florida. As one of the founding members of the Iona High Past Students’ Association, she was active in contributing to the community that nurtured her.
Heather leaves behind a legacy of service and accomplishment. She is survived by her daughter, Jhenelle, brother, Michael, sister, Faith, sister-in-law, Sandy, niece, Christina, nephew, Steven, grandniece, Michaela, grandnephew, John-Michael, aunts, uncles and numerous other relatives and friends.
A funeral service honoring Heather will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at 4:00 pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home South, 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue, Davie, Florida.
Private burial on Sunday, September 6, 2020.
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