Mervis Patricka Deenah-Dookie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Surrounded by her family, our matriarch peacefully departed this physical world and gained her wings on November 24, 2021, at the age of 77.
Mervis was born in Clarendon, Jamaica on June 14, 1944 to Maria Theresa Bailey and the late Joseph Williamson. She was the first of 10 children. As a child, Mervis was very mild mannered and shy. This helped to shape her into a young woman who avoided conflict at all costs and was apologetic to even those who had wronged her. Her kind and gentle spirit would radiate throughout any room she graced with her presence.
As a young woman, Mervis worked as a conductress on the Jamaica Omnibus Service. She became a trained seamstress, but her dream was to become a nurse. Her dreams were big, and she aspired to provide her family (especially her children,) with the best of what life had to offer. That being said, she always sacrificed her needs and put others first. Mervis had seven children whom she deeply loved and adored. Determined to provide them with the utmost opportunity, she migrated to the United States at the age of 30. Here, she continued to be a true, selfless visionary who paved the way for generations to come.
Through Mervis, we know what resilience, perseverance and hard work looks like. It was while working tirelessly as a home attendant, she met the love of her life, her husband, Kenneth Dookie. Just as she had captivated the hearts of so many, Kenneth was no different. Her infectious smile became the magnet to his heart and instantaneously, a love affair was birthed and nurtured into a loving marriage that kept them inseparable.
Mervis enjoyed cooking, crocheting, and consuming Nollywood films. She was also an avid plant and flower enthusiast who could instantly identify various plant species at a single glance. Mervis was also a devoted Seventh Day Adventist worshipper who loved the Lord.
Our grief is like the ocean, it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, whilst other times, it is powerful and overwhelming. A void has been left in our hearts but her beautiful spirit will live on within us all.
Mervis is survived by her husband, Kenneth Dookie, mother Maria Theresa Bailey, her seven children, Barbara, Linton, Oralene, Dilmarie, Yanique, Damour and Sanderia. Their spouses Horatio, Glenis, Conrad, Derrick and Dwight; her 28 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild as well as her 7 siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and precious fur- babies Sadie and Buju. She was greatly loved and will be missed dearly.
A visitation of family and friends will be held for Mervis on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home - Fairview Chapel | 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A celebration of her life will occur in Ward's Chapel, immediately following the visitation. Services will conclude with a graveside committal at Fairview Memorial Gardens | 164 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.horisawardfairviewchapel.com for the Deenah-Dookie family.
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