Virginia Catherine Wilson RN

On September 5, 1926 upon the tropical twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, “the land of the hummingbird,” a beautiful baby girl was born to Rosalie Elberta Jones and Robert Benjamin Richardson in Granville, Cedros named Virginia Catherine Richardson. Virginia or “Virgie” as she was loving called, was the youngest of Rosalie’s three children. Her brother Cyril and sister Thelma quickly found that while young and pretty, she was also determined, talented, and industrious. Virgie was later joined by her younger siblings, Leon, Joshua, and Carol. Despite their meager beginnings, Rosalie noticed that Virgie was a smart student with many talents for a young girl. Rosalie became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian when Virgie was 6-years-old. It was this decision that changed their lives forever and created a family faith legacy that lasts to this day.

Virgie’s intellect, talent and determination took her far. She attended primary school at the Granville Government school and then as an erudite student enrolled in Caribbean Training College (CTC) (currently the University of Southern Caribbean). When Virgie lost hope that she had enough financial resources to complete her college education, she was made aware of a sewing course and enrolled immediately. As a result of successfully completing the course, Virgie became a sought after seamstress. Her sewing and designer flair was so exceptional that she used her training as a seamstress to help her mother support their home and to defray her outstanding tuition costs. Virgie graduated from CTC in 1951 with a certificate in nursing and as the secretary of her graduating class. Subsequently Virgie pursued her career as a Registered Nurse (RN) which was her chosen vocation and calling.

As a RN Virgie easily became employed and then trained at the Egypt Maternity Hospital in midwifery. Virgie was an outstandingly gifted, gentle and caring nurse. It was these attributes that enabled her to be selected with a group of nurses by a professional team of doctors. These physicians traveled from the United States seeking to sponsor skilled nurses from the island to employ in American hospitals. While working in the hospital and preparing for her departure from Trinidad, Virgie met a handsome, certified electrician who came to change the light bulb in the hallway. She noticed his fingers and hands and how beautiful they were and the excellent way he spoke when he introduced himself to her as Norris Samuel Wilson. Thus she was immediately attracted to him and the rest is whirlwind romance history! Six months after this initial meeting on July 21, 1957 Norris and Virgie were wed at the Nazarene Church in Couva.

Naturally she made her own wedding dress and the wedding dresses and clothing of her family and many others as the years progressed. Now with children, Norris and Virgie moved from Brooklyn to the cultured enclave of jazz legends, actors and athletes called St. Albans, Queens. It was there that she began her nursing career at Booth Memorial Hospital in Queens, NY. Before Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and Step Down units were available to patients around the country, Booth Memorial Hospital opened up a private surgical nursing unit called The Group Nursing Unit 1969. Virgie was again recognized for her superlative professionalism and compassionate skills. Virgie along with six colleagues comprised the pioneering private duty unit dedicated to providing care to post operative patients. This successful six-bed unit transformed positive patient outcomes and remained an integral part of post surgical care at Booth Memorial Hospital until 1997. Virgie and her beloved colleagues worked together for 27 years until her illustrious retirement in 1996 after working at Booth Memorial for 35 years. Virgie or “Ginny” as the unit nurses called her raised their families together. Ginny and the Group Nurses have remained forever friends and spoke as recently as a few weeks ago after all these years.

Norris and Virgie eventually moved their large and close knit family to Hempstead, Long Island. Over the years they raised five beautiful children Hubert (deceased), Donmarie, Noralyn (deceased), Eric, and Cheryl were never alone because Virgie had a compassionate and generous heart. Her house was filled with children, cousins, Jesus, joy, unconditional love and laughter. Her mother Rosalie better known as “Granny” joined the clan in 1960 and lived with the family until her death at nearly 100 years old in 1995. Virgie’s commitment to Christ also portends a folkloric faith. She was a co-founder of the Hanson Place SDA Church in Brooklyn NY, a Sabbath School Superintendent, at the Linden SDA Church in Queens, NY and after retirement to Florida she served as an elder in the Palm Coast SDA Church in Palm Coast, FL. She was also in charge of senior visitations, sang in the church choir, and was involved in women’s ministry. Virgie was a strong advocate for people of all age groups. Her ministry reached out to everyone, young and old alike. At the end of her life after years of happiness and health, Virgie contracted a rare heart condition. She was placed in home hospice care in August 2019. But while others were dismayed, Virgie became determined. She felt she still had purpose and could use her voice and her love as tools of testimony. Virgie would call the hopeless and hurting and give them rich words of wisdom and sing her sweet song of assurance “The Lord is My Shepherd.” She did this unsparingly and insatiably. It was as if her own life depended on Christ’s call to hope and healing. In June 2021, Virgie was discharged from hospice care and resumed living her life to its fullest. Yet suddenly an unrelated intestinal illness caused her to succumb on the morning of Friday, May 20, 2022 with her family all around. Virginia has held a lifelong commitment to friends and family all around the world. Her wisdom to raise her children, be an exemplary person and Christian role model touched the lives of many. She had a unique, irrepressible gift for loving you deeply and unconditionally. This is the God inspired legacy of love that Virgie shared and inspires us to emulate. Virgie and Norris were happily married for just shy of 65 years. We will all miss her gentle, loving, kindness and her sweet singing exceedingly.

Virgie leaves to mourn: her husband Norris Wilson and her siblings: brothers, Leon Richardson, Joshua Richardson and sister Carol (Richardson) Greaves. Her daughter Donmarie Wilson (Collin Downer), son, Eric Wilson (Karen Meade-Wilson) and daughter Cheryl Wilson-Bridges (Conrad Bridges). Her grandchildren: Kendall Wilson (Tara Dwomoh Wilson), Kameron Wilson, Kiara Wilson, Kyle Wilson, and Darius Bridges. Her nephews; Lennox Jones (Annette Jones), Brian Jones (Simone Jones), and Grand Aunt to Gisselle Jones (Jerome Jones), Lisa Jones, Kyle Jones, Damein Jones, Dale Jones (deceased), and Dominic Jones, Great Aunt to Justin Jones and Nathan Jones along with a host of cousins, and family and church family friends. Thank you Virgie for making an indelible mark of love on countless lives. We look forward to seeing you again in that glorious morn.

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