On July 19, 1941, in Mt. Stewart, Westmoreland, Jamaica, a beautiful baby girl was born to Ivy Palmer and John McKayle, who they named Doris Nerissa, affectionately called “Mackie”. Growing up, her parents and siblings considered her to be a smart, helpful, industrious, and fun-loving child. Mackie received her early years of education at the Bickersteth Primary school and later attended Herald’s (Shiloh) High School in Westmoreland.
In search of a better life and greater opportunities, Doris migrated from Jamaica to Canada in the early 1970’s, and transitioned to the United States shortly thereafter, settling in New York. There, among her varied responsibilities, she engaged in the task of nurturing her three daughters after a joyful reunion in February 1979. While in New York, Doris worked at Stouffers Restaurant on the Avenue of the Americas, until the chain was sold. It was during that time that she met and married her husband, Douglas Eggers in 1976.
Doris valued family, and demonstrated this characteristic through remarkable, unsurpassed love and dedication for her children and grandchildren. She found great joy and satisfaction spending precious moments with them. Every time she shared one of her family stories, her eyes would light up with the most amazing shine, a shine that could never go unnoticed. Although most of her siblings were by father only, Doris did not discriminate, but embraced every one of them with open arms. The love she showed was reciprocal, as she was deeply loved and cherished by her family and friends.
Doris was always a faithful woman of God and active in her church and community. From childhood through adolescence, she attended the Mount Carey Baptist Church in Mount Carey, St. James. Although circumstances altered her Christian journey during adulthood, she returned to her First Love, Jesus Christ, and in April 1999, was baptized in the Healing Waters Ministries, where she remained a member until her passing. After this rebirth, Doris never looked back but “pressed toward the mark of the high calling which is in Jesus Christ our Lord”. Most notable in her service to her church was the position of Lead Deaconess, a position she held until she became ill. Espousing the hope that her family would give their hearts to Jesus, Doris was fearless in pioneering her grown children in the fear and service of the Lord. She made it her responsibility to share with them the everlasting love of her Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved them unconditionally and taught them principles of life, which today have kept them on the straight and narrow, and made them into model citizens of our society.
Being a God-fearing, strong, faithful woman who would always put others first, one would never know what she was doing for someone, or how much she was putting herself out, because she would never talk about it. One would just learn of it after the fact. Of a surety, everyone has his/her own memory of Doris in which she has shown them love. She dedicated over 24 years to Universal Studios as a wardrobe attendant, where she also touched many lives. Doris was known for her big warm smile and her even bigger and warmer heart. She loved to cook, decorate, travel, laugh, entertain, watch Jeopardy, play SUDOKU, drive long distances, and most importantly, read and study God’s word.
Everyone knew that whether you needed a listening ear, a hot meal, or even a pick-up or drop-off anywhere, Doris was always there to help.
Doris went through quite a lot in the last 3 years. As we watched her go through her illness, we always hoped for recovery but the Lord chose to take her home. We often say that the hour of death cannot be forecast and none of us knows when or how we will leave this world. What is certain is that all of us will die. When we say this, we imagine this hour will still be in a distant future. We, as a family, never thought we would be thinking about our mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, as a memory. Yes, it came a little sooner than we were prepared for. It came as a shock to us and the feeling is yet unreal. This unselfish pioneer, consummate worker, avid loyalist to church and family, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, departed this life on October 11, 2019. Now the Lord has called her home and we come together to celebrate her life and home-going. We as a family sincerely hope that she has touched each and everyone who is here today. Let us all celebrate her by keeping her memories alive - what she was, and what she meant to us all.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents John and Ivy, her brother Osmond (Tony) Flowers, and her sister Doliah. She leaves to cherish her memories: 3 daughters and their spouses - Lorna Grant, Sandra Gardner-Marslin (Ronald), and Doria Jumpp (Michael); 12 grand-children: Alexandra Gonzalez, Charles Lee Jr., Pavielli Vega, Imari Ricketts, Andre Marslin, Anree Benitez, Tatianna Jumpp, Joshua Jumpp, Ronald Marslin Jr., Isebela Jumpp, Una Jumpp, and Mikenna Jumpp; 2 great-grandchildren: Andre Marslin Jr. and Sophia Torres; brother Leroy McKayle; sisters Inez Solomon, Cynthia Hudson, Linda McKayle, Juilet McFarlane, Sherdon Laird, Jennifer McKayle, and Hilka Farquharson; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many beloved friends.
Forever in God’s arms we send our mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and coworker.
May her soul rest in peace, and light perpetual shine upon her.
Lovingly submitted by: The Family
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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