Justin Pickering

Justin was born in Road Town, Tortola, British, V.I. on May 28, 1951; the son of Mackinzie Penn and Kathleen Magdalena Pickering. He attended and graduated from East End Methodist School, and attended East End Methodist Church as a child in Tortola, B.V.I. While growing up in the B.V.I. Justin worked on his grandfather’s farm. On September 19, 1974, Justin married Theresa Pickering on St. Thomas, U.S. V. I. They divorced on January 13, 1989, and Justin never remarried. Justin loved working with his hands, specifically working on vehicles. He worked as an auto mechanic in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., Fort Lauderdale, Florida and then Albany, GA. Regardless of where he lived, he always had a shop or shared a shop with someone.

Justin lost contact with his family after moving to the mainland in his twenties. Like most of us, he aged and matured, and things in life took on a new perspective. While in his early 60’s his family he hoped to reunite with contacted him. He was overjoyed to speak with his mother and daughter, who was now in her early thirties. Eventually he was able to meet his grandchildren, ages 21, 16, and 10 and a great grandson who was 4 months old. He was grateful to be part of his family again. When on the phone with family he would enjoy hearing the children playing in the background. He longed to see his mother and taste her cooking again.

If you wanted to see Justin dance, play Ra-Ti-Ray by Designer, this was his soca jam. After a long day at work, he liked to relax and unwind with his rum and coke. He would leave you with a few words of wisdom, make sure you take care of any warning lights on your dashboard, and Life is too short not to be surrounded by your loved ones and good friends. Always surround yourself with people that have good intentions.

He was preceded in death by: his father, Mackinzie Penn.

Survivors included: his mother, Kathleen Magdalena Pickering; his daughter, Catherine Pickering; grandchildren, Andraya Hurdle, Bernadine Pickering and Audwin Mascoll, III; his great grandchildren, Isaiah Hurdle-Porter, Anastasia Pickering, Skylar Hurdle-Porter and Delilah Laney-Pickering; his siblings: Clinton George, Dawn Wilson, Rain Troy Wilson, Joy Farrington, Yonn Wilson, Kathleen M Wilson, McKenzie Penn, Velma Charles Cintron, Keithroy Charles; aunts on mother’s side, Erene Gary, Harriet Gordon, Ruth Gordon and Nellie Varlack, Evadney Varlack; aunts on father’ side, Verna Penn Moll, Shirley Combs, Dotsie Tolbert; uncles on father’s side, Algernon Penn, Timothy Penn, and Ronald Penn; and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Pickering family.