Una Retilda Reid

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Una Retilda Reid, affectionately known as 'Ritty' was born on March 22nd 1930 in Hopeton, district of Springfield, Parish of St James, Jamaica, West Indies to parents Larette Maitland of Hopeton, Jamaica and Frederick Reid whose family hailed from Damascus, Syria. Una was the third of four children of Larette Maitland; all three of her siblings, Esmie Heath, Stanley Chambers and Jean McFarlane preceded her in death.

Una attended Buckingham All Age School in Hopeton, Jamaica. She graduated and secured employment at an early age to help take care of her family. She took care of her mother Larette until her passing in 1974.

Una was blessed in 1965 with a son, Rohan Alexander, whom she loved dearly. She was blessed a second time in 1968 with a daughter, Pauline Elizabeth, who she also loved dearly. She instilled in her children strong character and self-worth.

Una accepted Christ as her Savior early in life. Her home church, Hillview Baptist church was where she served on the choir and remained a faithful member until she migrated to Southern California in 1990, where she resided with her daughter, Pauline. She then started attending Immanuel Baptist Church in Riverside, California where she remained faithful until her illness in 2012 with Dementia Alzheimer's disease prevented her from continuing faithfully. She resided in Grand Terrace, California for 25 years until her passing.

Una enjoyed helping people. She worked for 14 years at the St James Infirmary, in Montego Bay, Jamaica as Nurse's aide and Cleaner. She continued her passion for helping people as she volunteered with her daughter at the Union Rescue Mission downtown Los Angeles during their monthly visits.

Una was a kindhearted woman who loved children and even though she only had two of her own, she mothered many in her eighty four years. Garfia McKenzie of Montego Bay, Jamaica was her other daughter.

Una enjoyed attending church. She enjoyed reading the Bible and singing gospel songs. Her favorite songs included "Beulah Land", “It is Well with my soul", "Jesus is all the World to Me", "Zion Hill" and "Jesus Paid it All". Una taught by example, meekness and temperance. She loved to cook and clean. Una's humble beginnings in Jamaica taught her the importance of simple things, and so even after her relocation to California where she could enjoy some luxuries she never had earlier in life, Una's favorite things remained simple - enjoying her flower garden or working in her backyard. If her children were happy, she was happy and she would continue to work well past retirement to ensure that she had something to share with anyone who was less fortunate.

The Adeleyes residence became her second home and work place for over 20 years before Dementia Alzheimer’s' started to take its toll on her. "Nana" as she was now known as, became familiar to the Adeleye household. Families and friends who came from mother Africa celebrated and loved her.

On Friday, January 16th at 9.06am, God called Una home to Beulah Land. She can now rest. No more work required. We now have one more Angel watching over us. Una leaves to cherish her memory her son, Rohan Alexander Lindsey. Daughter, Pauline Morris Ewing. Son in law, Melvoy Ewing. Grand children, Krystinia and Keshia Lindsey. Adopted daughter Garfia Yaneke Mckenzie. Nephews, Denzil Stewart and Delroy Lewis and his wife Dawn of Hartford, Connecticut. Nieces, Kathleen Lewis, Ivette Kellier, Andrea Linton, Darnell James, Darnette Lewis and Suzette Brown. Her special cousin, Ruby Coates of Cleveland Ohio. Her friend Frederick Morris of St Elizabeth, Jamaica. The extended Lewis, Gallimore, Linton and Kellier families in Hartford, Connecticut. The extended Maitland and Reid families in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Her adopted family, the Adeleyes of Moreno Valley, California - Adeneyi, Abimbola, Jinmi, Ade and Lola. Adopted family, the Trimbles of Riverside, California - Chuck, Dianne, Christina, Candice, Carla and Clarrisa. Her beloved Hillview Baptist Church family in Jamaica. Her friends at Immanuel Baptist in Riverside California and numerous other friends and family not mentioned here who reside here in California, on the East Coast and on the Island of Jamaica.

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give to me on that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing" ----2 Timothy 4:11