upon this earth a most beautiful gift, Sylvia Mary Agatha Parris. Born in the village of Tabernacle, Saint Christopher (St. Kitts), Sylvia was a blessing to her parents Ariel Alexander Parris and Henrietta Fielteau-Parris. She would later marry Charles Garnette of Tabernacle Village, on July 27 1960.
Sylvia attended the Tabernacle Primary School, and later the Convent High School in the capital Basseterre. Upon graduating from High School, she taught at the Catholic Primary School (Parochial School) for two years.
In 1949, she travelled to Antigua where she was employed as a clerk at the Experimental Cotton Station, Friar’s Hill. While there she was an active member of the St. John’s Methodist Church, President of the Methodist Girls League, and also Captain of the Girl Scouts movement, demonstrating leadership potential from an early age.
Five years later in 1954, she crossed the Atlantic and travelled to England where she pursued her nursing career at the High Wycombe War Memorial Hospital, Buckinghamshire in General Nursing, and the Leicester General Hospital where she studied Midwifery; and gained accreditation as a certified State Registered Nurse (SRN), and State Certified Midwife (SCM). She excelled in her studies and was awarded the Matron’s Prize for the State Registered Nurse examination, being adjudged the Best Practical Nurse in her hospital. She also obtained the 1st Prize in the State Certified Midwife (SCM) examination.
She understood the importance of networking in her field of interest and was a member of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health. She further advanced her nursing career and education through various courses and conferences in Barbados, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Curacao, and Switzerland, and made lifelong friends along her journey.
On her return to St. Christopher (St Kitts) in 1966, she started her private Midwifery practice, However, with a yearning for continued learning she again departed the Federation in 1969 until 1971 to further her studies in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey USA, where she obtained her Post Graduate Obstetric Nurse Specialist. Certificate.
She returned home in 1971 and was appointed District Nurse Midwife.
In 1978 she attended Public Health Nursing School in Jamaica where she excelled, earning several honors and awards, Ten years later in 1988 she earned a certificate in Public Administration from The University of the West Indies, Jamaica.
Accomplishments in her hometown
Her extensive training abroad redounded to the benefit of the Federation of Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis:
• In her capacity of Public Health Nurse, Cayon Health Centre, she was instrumental in the establishment of a Health Committee in Cayon, and also the setting up and opening of the first Day Care Centre in Cayon;
• She served in the position of Family Planning Administrator.
• She was appointed and served as Matron of the Sir Joseph N France Hospital in 1987 for several years.
• She was instrumental in the introduction of the statute that governed the full immunization of all children prior to school admission in the Federation of St. Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis.
• Served as a member of the St Kitts and Nevis Nursing Council and Midwifery Board
• In 2016, she was bestowed the Medal of Honor by the Federation of St. Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis for her work in the field of nursing
• On June 25 2020, the new Health Center in Tabernacle village was named in her honour.
Her professional life was devoted to improving the standards of nursing, community healthcare, and public health in the Federation. She prided herself in her constant pursuit for excellence and her determination to succeed against all odds. She sought to make each day better than the last and to “never leave an unfinished task.”
Following her retirement from the public service in the Federation in 1993, she migrated to the United States in 1995 to be closer to her beloved children, but remained active in the everyday affairs of her beloved country. She was a frequent participant in call-in radio programs in St. Christopher (S Kitts), often rendering soul stirring prayers, and never shy to vocalize her opinions and/ or share advice.
Matron Garnette was a devout Christian and a living testament of the goodness and glory of God. She believed in the power of prayer and the miracle of salvation. She lived her life with humility and to glorify God.
As a loving and supportive parent, she was second to none. She loved all her children dearly and fiercely believed in them. She instilled the values of self-confidence, self-respect, hard work, honesty, integrity and good character. She spiritually upheld them daily with powerful prayers, and was exceedingly proud of their achievements and successes.
She was a true Matriarch whose life was defined by her faith, integrity, love, resilience, perseverance and determination; a life devoted to service and the uplifting and betterment of others – A life well lived.
She was predeceased by her husband Charles Garnette, daughter Esther Garnette, sister Edith, and brothers Charles and Edward Parris.
She is survived by her children: Dr. Charles “Chris” Garnette, Andrew Garnette and Gladwin Garnette; daughters-in-law: Isalin Garnette, and Raquel Garnette; stepson and wife: Charles “Leo” Estridge/Garnette and Violet Estridge; sister-in-law: Perline Parris; grandchildren Koy Karisa, Khan, Kai, Charles II (CJ), Jonathan, Aletha, Janine, Micaah and Gabriel; great grandchildren A’mia, Xavier and Khelan.
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbors and dear friends around the world, including her loving community of Tabernacle; members of her church, prayer groups, the nursing fraternity of St. Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, and many other dear and devoted friends too numerous to mention.
Her life is celebrated by all as we grieve the loss of this magnificent treasure. May her dear soul rest in peace.
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