Dorothy Eunice Wilkins

After high school, Dorothy aka to many as “Shirley” attended WYMA School of Practical Nursing in Jamaica, West Indies and completed her course of study on April 1 6, 1958 as a Practical Nurse. However, this was not to be her life calling. She sacrificed her desire to be a nurse, for her true calling of wife, mother and homemaker.

She uprooted her life in Jamaica, said good bye to family and friends to join the love of her life, Joseph aka “Ever”, her husband of 47 years. Dorothy married Ever on February 17, 1961 in Nassau, Bahamas. Two years later she welcomed her first child Codrington. Her family grew with the addition of Raphael, Selah and Norman. She prided herself on hand-making her family’s clothes, keeping an immaculate home and cooking meals when called upon. Usually, at a moment notice, a few minutes before Ever returned home from work; she would get a phone call from him that, he was bringing home guest for dinner from Nassau Harbor Club, where he worked. And true to form, she was an amazing hostess and cook and all left were empty plates, with smiles on their faces and a full stomach.

Dorothy was an incredible support to her husband. When Ever wanted to learn coding for the new technology, computers, which required a year away from the family. She worked tirelessly, taking care of her children and kept a balance budget. When Ever returned and saw that his opportunities in the Bahamas, were at an end. She relocated to New York with him in 1976 at a great emotional cost. She had to leave her children behind in order to provide the life and opportunities for a better future for them.

While not being able to take care of her own children, she spent her time caring for other children to console the pain she experienced during the separation from her growing children. Dorothy and Ever worked hard and relentlessly to restore their family under one roof, and in 1979 was reunited with them. She was once again became a stay at home mother, who loved and cherish each moment of her children’s lives. When she had time to relax, Dorothy was a voracious reader of romance novels, which led to her love of soap operas. She also loved sports, especially golf and tennis. Her evening was spent answering Jeopardy questions, as well as guessing letters for Wheel of Fortune.

It was not long after in 1990, Dorothy and Ever were on the move again. Her children, grown up, and a desire for a slow pace, and wanting her own home, they relocated to Florida. She loved shopping and needed a car to get around. No problem, she learned how to drive, passed her driver’s exam at 50 years old, and was happy to gain her independence. Her desire to help people never went away.

Dorothy was an active member in church. Her love of God was seen in her commitment to the church choir and was a member of the prayer ministry. She was faithful in her attendance, and her faith in God undergirded her, as she became the care giver to Ever. Unfortunately, after faithfully taking care of her husband to the end of his life, her health took a turn for the worst and she could no longer take care of herself on her own.

And yes, Dorothy was on the move again, returning to New York in 2012. She was resilient, her smile and laughter were a blessing to all who came in contact with her. Her care givers often spoke about, whenever they were down, they know if they saw Dorothy, her smile and laughter lifted their spirits.

On March 27, 2023, Dorothy left us and returned to spirit. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph Rose and Mary Hunt, her husband Joseph “Ever” Wilkins, her son Norman (Suzette) and granddaughter Alexis. She leaves to cherish her memories two sons, Codrington and Raphael (Donna), her daughter Selah, her brother: Barrington Staples (Valerie), sister Marie Campbell (Paul), her grandchildren Brittany, Ashley, Justyn, Jaida, Suriya, Jasmine, Jessica, Vaughn Jr and Danielle, 3 great-grandchildren, Joshua, Carter, and Asher and a host of nephews and nieces to mourn her passing.