Emolyn Valerie Rose

Emolyn Valerie Rose, affectionately known by family and friends as Miss Valerie or Mama, was born on August 26, 1935 in Belize, previously known as British Honduras. Valerie is one of two children born to the late Lucille and Arnold Williams. Arnold, a Jamaican by birth, although working as a police officer was having a hard time providing for his family. He therefore decided to return home to Jamaica with his family. She was in her early teens at the time. Growing up in Jamaica in the early 40’s and 50’s was very hard. The family was poor so getting a formal education beyond primary school was not very high on the list of priorities. As a young girl growing up in a village environment, where the culture was for children to participate in certain domestic chores, both before and after school, to assist their parents, Valerie was always ready and willing to do her part. She was loved and respected by both her peers and her elders because of her attitude and demeanor. Even in those early years she showed certain attributes, such as kindness, love, a caring spirit and an aspiration to attain, which were to play a vital part of her future development. These are the same behaviors she tried to pass on to her children.

She got married in the early 1960’s to Noel Rose and the union produced six children. Noel Jr. (deceased), Hartley (deceased), Malcolm, Dudley, Vonnah, and Andrea. She had a son, Sherman, when she met Noel who they raised together. She was a strong believer in education. After spending a short period of time working in a bank, she decided to embark on a career as a basic schoolteacher. Those early years proved to be very challenging and demanding. However, Valerie’s resolve, determination and brilliant intellect enabled her to overcome the obstacles that were so inherent. It was not easy taking care of and teaching children in the early stages of their development but she cared for them as if they were her own children. Her hard work and dedication to the profession and her relentless regime of studies resulted in her achieving four subjects in GCE and seven subjects in JSC.

In her determination to give her children the opportunity to achieve the “American Dream”, she immigrated to New York and lived in Brooklyn, Long Island, and The Bronx before moving to Margate, Florida. Valerie started a new career when she migrated to New York; she went into the medical profession and became a Nurses’ Aide. She worked in that profession for a number of years so she could be able to send for her children in Jamaica. She was well loved, respected and highly valued by both clients and colleagues. Valerie dedicated her life in service to others, she was always willing to help and make a difference in others' lives.

Left to cherish her memories is her son Sherman and his wife Barbara and their children, her son Malcolm and his wife Georgia and their children, and her son Dudley and his children. She is also survived by her daughters, Vonnah and her husband Elvis and their children, and Andrea and her children. She is also survived by many other grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memories is her friend of many years Mrs. Campbell and her children.