Vilma Meredith Norville

VILMA MEREDITH THORINGTON NORVILLE was the last child of Mary Caroline and Isaac Wellington Thorington. She was born, in Station Hill, St. Michael on the Island of Barbados July 28, 1930, just 3 months after her mother returned from Detroit, Michigan with her 3 and 6 year old sisters Caroline and Clerin to be united with four other siblings. It was her eldest sister Edna who acted as midwife to her mother in the birthing room so it is no wonder that Edna & Vilma developed a special bond more like mother and daughter. Edna had no children of her own and as the custom was more commonly practiced then, she took her sister around age five as her daughter. Since this was an exceptionally close family Vilma did not miss out on bonding with her mother; it was as if she had two mothers.

Even as a child Vilma had an active mind, great memory, active body and loved learning. She also loved the LORD and became a member of St. Stephen's Church from her early teens until she left the island. It was at St. Stephen's that she met the love of her life, Colbert Mitchell NORVILLE when they were 15 years old. He was handsome and outgoing and she was a pretty petite, who loved to dress, kind but also fiery. In fact, she reported with much of her soft, sweet laugher, that the other boys tried to warn Colbert off saying, "Watch out for her she beats up boys!" They formed a lifelong bond that did not end with his death in the 57th year of their marriage in 2013. Several family members and close friends have commented on the profound impact of his loss on her life.

Vilma attended secretarial school and received an Advanced Certificate in Typewriting as well as a Certificate in Pitman's Shorthand from the INCORPORATED PHONOGRAPHIC SOCIETY - LONDON. On April 14, 1956 a year after receiving the last certificate she and Colbert married. Two years later, she left for Sudbury, Ontario, Canada to study nursing and received a diploma after which she reunited with her husband in New York where they took up residence. Nursing proved to be her life's work! She was passionate about it. Vilma became the family's diagnostician. When we gave her our symptoms she gave us a diagnosis while recommending a doctor. She was never wrong. The doctor's diagnosis always agreed with hers. She was employed in two hospitals in her 30 plus years of nursing and in many different departments but Pediatric Nursing was where she found her niche. She loved the babies! The evening shift at the prestigious Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City was where she spent her last 15 years before retiring and moving to Florida.

It is impossible to talk about Vilma Meredith Norville's life without writing about her ability to demonstrate her love for her LORD, family and friends. One cousin said, "She was genuinely kind." It was a part of her nature displayed through her amazing gift of hospitality. Everyone felt warmly welcomed in Vilma & Colbert's home, even when you were only one of 30 or 40 people at a dinner. They both took great pleasure in showing their love by serving lavish dinner feasts. They helped, even rescued, countless people from difficult situations and were undeterred when their trust was betrayed. They practiced the ministry of hospitality.

Vilma often recalled the faith of her mother when they experienced hard times in Barbados. Her mother always encouraged them to look for GOD to break through the dark gloomy clouds to reveal the bright shiny, silvery ones. Vilma loved to sing and pray. Her faith showed through the last trying days of pain when she kept a song in her heart and on her lips. At the most difficult times if you put your ear to her lips you would hear her humming a hymn. Her response to the final diagnosis had been, "I'm not worrying about anything. It is all in GOD's hands!" On Thursday morning at 4:45, our LORD took back the breath HE had given to her for 87 years and welcomed her with open arms into HIS loving embrace! We say, "BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!"

She leaves to mourn: her sisters, Clerin, Caroline (brother-in-law Mervin), brother Cosmo (sister-in-law Evadney), brothers-in-law Mark Norville (sister-in-law Hazel), Rodney Norville (sister-in-law Ann), sister-in-law Pat Reid (brother-in-law Frank), nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, great-great nieces & nephews, great-great-great nephews, cousins, godchildren and dear friends.

Thank you dear sweet Vilma for showing us what unconditional love looked like humanly speaking.