Helen Olaitan Abbensetts

Helen was born on June 28, 1925 in Lagos, Nigeria to Amos Stanley Wynter Shackleford and Elizabeth Bintu. She married John Kwesi Abbensetts on January 10, 1958 in Kingston, Jamaica.

Helen attended Achimota Boarding School in Ghana, and became a registered nurse at Nuttall Hospital.  She was certified as a midwife at Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica and worked as a Family Planning Nurse with Jamaica National Planning Association. Her dedication to community engagement lead her to work with the Jamaican Movement for the Advancement of Literacy as an Adult Educator, where she coordinated classes for illiterate workers in hospitals, hotels, sugar factories, and other industrial sectors.  Her grassroots initiatives, ultimately lead to her involvement with the Soroptimist International Organization where she volunteered her time to aid in the transformation and betterment of the lives of women and girls in Jamaica.

As an avid lifelong learner and supporter of wholistic healing, Helen became a registered massage therapist after migrating to the United States in 1985.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, seven brothers, five sisters and her husband.

She is survived by her children Joanne and Kofi Abbensetts, her sister Claire Dockeray; grandchildren Siye Abbensetts, Damali Abbensetts, Kwesi Abbensetts, Maxwell Barbosa Abbensetts, Kofi Urueta-Abbensetts, great-granddaughter Amara Abbensetts and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

Visitation is at 10:00 am, followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 am on February 10, 2024 at Fred Hunters Funeral Home at 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood Florida, 33024.  Funeral services will be officiated by Rev. Sharon Abrahams of Jubilee of Praise Church.

The family of Helen Abbensetts extends their sincerest thanks to: Sharma Torres, Mona Quartey, Rachel Mackenzie, Marcia Cuevas, Jennifer Clarke, Nikki Brown, Veronica Finlayson, Dr. Kurt Newman and VITAS Healthcare.