Ena Millington

Ena Muriel Millington was born at Christianburg, Demerara, Guyana (former-ly British Guiana) on September 25, 1921. She was the third child of Joseph Samuel and Rachael (née Reid) Browman. Her father was a Dis-penser/Pharmacist, stationed at Christianburg, and her mother was a nurse. He was transferred subsequently to a similar position at the Prison in Georgetown, and in 1926, Ena began her education at St. Phillips Primary School. She continued her education at St. Stephens Scots Church School, then at the Owens Private School, and she passed the Junior Cambridge exams in 1938.

Ena began her career as an educator with the Canadian Mission School system in the County of Essequibo, on the island of Wakenaam, where she taught for 2 years. This was her first time away from home. Ena recounted hilarious es-capades of learning to ride a bicycle on unpaved roads to get to work. She was then assigned to the neighboring island of Leguan for a short period of time, following which she transferred to the Anglican school system, and was ap-pointed to teaching positions at Parika and then at Windsor Forest in West Demerara. In 1953 Ena moved to St. Sidwells Anglican School in Georgetown. This enabled her to pursue a formal educational program in Early Childhood Education at the Guyana Teachers College, followed by a year of training as an instructor of Home Economics at the Carnegie Education Center. Upon gradu-ating from Carnegie, Ena was appointed as a Home Economics teacher at St. Phillips, where she taught until 1963.

Christianity played an important role in Ena’s upbringing, and she became a member of Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church at an early age. She was also a member of the YWCA in Georgetown, where for many years, she conducted classes in her chosen field of Home Economics for teenage girls. She was se-lected to represent Guyana at an International YWCA Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1959.

In May, 1963, Ena married David Millington, with whom she would spend 41 years in a loving, harmonious relationship until his death in 2004. In August, 1963, Ena emigrated to the United States where she was warmly welcomed by her sisters Leila and Marion and their families. David joined her in 1966. They quickly established themselves in the US and purchased a home in Roosevelt, NY. Ena continued her teaching career at The Academy of St. Peter Claver, Queens, NY, where she taught for 5 years. Dedicated to her love of learning and to the importance of furthering her education, she pursued an Associate Degree in Dietetics, and a BS in Food Science & Management at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, from which she graduated with honors in 1977. Subsequently, she took courses in Education at the Bank Street College of Education in Manhat-tan.

Ena continued her career in the educational field as a Manager of School Lunch Programs at selected public schools in the New York City school system. In 1978, she was appointed as School Lunch Director of Roosevelt Public Schools, covering grades Pre K - 12. In this position, Ena was responsible for administration of the program at 6 schools with 4,200 students. She retired from this position in 1983.

In 1984, Ena and David moved to Florida, and settled in Palm Bay.

They became active members of the United Methodist Church in Palm Bay. Ena was also a founding member of The Rainbow Club, an organization of women dedicated to helping newcomers to the community. The Club also de-voted time and resources in providing food and clothing support to various Caribbean countries for relief in times of Hurricane & other disasters. She joined the Palm Bay Senior Center, where she actively participated in exercise programs, and in providing educational assistance to children through a Fami-ly & Community Educators Program. She also became a member of the Bre-vard County Democratic Club. Following David’s death in 2004, Ena became a member of the First Baptist Church of Melbourne in July 2006.

Ena and David enjoyed traveling, visiting Canada, The United Kingdom and Continental European countries over the years. As much as they enjoyed trav-eling to new places, their favorite vacation destination was often Barbados, the ancestral home of David’s family, as well as numerous trips to Guyana.

Ena celebrated her 90th birthday in September, 2011 with an extended visit to Guyana, where she enjoyed multiple reunions with many of her relatives and friends. In October, 2015, Ena gave up the home in Palm Bay, and moved to a Senior Residence in Melbourne, Fl. As aging took its’ toll, she moved to Port Saint Lucie in 2019 to live with her step-daughter Camille Alexis and family. Her health declined over the ensuing 2 years, and she moved to the South Port Assisted Living facility in Port Charlotte, where she passed away peacefully on Friday March 18, 2022.

She leaves many relatives who cherish her memory, including her brothers John, Harcourt and Michael Browman, step-daughter Camille Alexis, many nieces, nephews and members of her extended family and friends. Ena will be missed by all for her warm and affectionate persona. May she Rest in Eternal Peace.