On March 1st, 1936 inthe settlement of Majors Cay, Crooked Island, the world was blessed with the arrivalof the 2 of twin girls to the proud parents Pembrooke Eugene andOlive Edith Ferguson and lovingly named Carmen Vernella. Carmen and her twin ThelmaCorrine brought much joy to the family as the first girls.
Her early childhood education wasgained at the "All Age" Grammar School at Major's Cay, until the ageof eleven when she travelled with her family to Cockburn Town, San Salvador andresided for the period of September 1947 to August 1951. In 1949, at agethirteen years, she completed studies and successfully passed the Board ofEducation Primary School Certificate and commenced teaching as a career in 1950to August 1951 at the Cockburn Town, "All Age" School. Teachingcontinued at the Roker's Point (Exuma) Grammar school in September 1951, but itwas not until in November, 1951 when she was officially appointed as amonitress. As a result of her proficiency and conduct, she was promoted to aPupil Teacher in February, 1952, and held that post was held until January 1954. She was also successful in passing theUniversity of Cambridge overseas Junior School Certificate in December 1953 andis also a holder of certificates in the General Certificate of Education(G.C.E.) held in 1970 and 1973.
Teaching has always been a part ofMrs. Hepburn's family trait until this present date. Relatives, includingbrothers, sisters and uncles were always in the teaching profession and forher, the only principal teacher she knew was her own father. Due to thefamily's involvement and commitment to general education, she decided toventure out into the new and exciting field of nursing so as to meet new peopleand give specific health needs to individuals of the community.
To fulfill her dreams, Carmen cameto Nassau to live with and stayed with her Aunt & Uncle Irene & MosesFerguson who lived on the corner of East St. & Coconut Grove Avenue. Earlyin the year Carmen went to register at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) tojoin the Registered Nurse (RN) but reported that because they weren’t startingthe programmes until September, she agreed to dosome Auxiliary nurse work for a couple months at the female mental hospital.Carmen officially joined the Registered Nurse program in 1954 and demonstratedher excellence by graduating at the top of her class on April 21st, 1958.During this period of training many experiences were gained as she worked in"all" areas of the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Mental Hospital,the Infirmary and Tuberculosis Wards. At the end of her training, she wascertified in General Nursing, Midwifery and Psychiatry and later was registeredwith the Nursing Council of the Bahamas.
After graduating as a Staff (Registered)Nurse in 1958, in that same year through her cousin, the late Leonard Minns,she met the hard working, charming, debonair and minister of the gospel, thelate Steve A. Hepburn. They were joined in joined in holy matrimony in June1959. The union was blessed with six children whom Carmen loved dearly andsupported with all of her heart and resources.
Having successfully completed hertraining, she worked as a Staff Nurse in all areas of the Hospital coveringboth day and night shifts. In 1970 -1971, she accepted the opportunity for further training at the Royal College ofNursing in London and obtained a certificate in "Teaching Methods".This was also a sad time for her as during this time, her mother Olive EdithFerguson passed away but she remained resilient; and on her return she wastransferred from the Princess Margaret Hospital to the Department of NursingEducation and promoted to Nursing Officer II engaging in both classroom andclinical teaching.
With the consent and approval ofthe Ministry of Health, an Inservice Award was granted to her for the year 1979- 1980 to attend the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. Here,she obtained a certificate in Advanced Nursing Education. In 1981, she waspromoted to Nursing Officer I and continued passing on skills to nursingstudents in the classroom and in the hospitals with clinical teaching andbedside patient care. Sis. Carmen taught many, many nurses who currently servein the hospital and have gone on to become leaders in the field of Nursing. Sheenjoyed working with her colleagues including the late, Ernestine 'Big D'Douglas, Castella 'Cassie' Bowleg and many others including Mrs. PatrinellaDeleveaux, Minister Gloria Ferguson, Ms. Mary Johnson, Retired Director ofNursing, Mrs. Hilda Douglas and the late Mr. Andil Laroda and Mrs. EsmereldaRutherford
She was involved on a professionallevel in the Bahamas Nurses Association including serving in the roles oftreasurer and membership secretary. She enjoyed traveling with the associationto many Caribbean and International union meetings which was quite in line withher love of travelling. She enjoyed trips to many cities and countries includingParis, Bejing, Alaska, Seoul Korea, California LA, and Bermuda.
Ever the scholar, after meetingthe required entrance conditions in 1983, she decided to enroll as a part-timestudent for the Bachelor of Education in 1984 with the University of the WestIndies. Included in this degree was her publication on "The Causes ofStress Producing Factors in First and Third Year Nursing Students". She retiredfully from active nursing service in 2000 though she returned for a short stintas the Ministry of Health was still in need of good nursing tutors.
Sis. Carmen loved working for theLord and served as a faithful wife to her late husband as he Pastored theEarnest Street Church of God of Prophecy and as District Overseer for CatIsland. As her children grew older, she was able to find time to attend all ofthe old Bible Training Institute sessions (years 1 to 3) and even the advancedsession. She enjoyed traveling to the General Assembly for many years where shewas blessed by the services. She thoroughly enjoyed travelling to Fields of theWoods, Prayer Mountain and attending the Women’s Ministries events. She served faithfully in her local church for many years as amember of the sanctuary choir and the Ushers Board all for which she was dulyhonored. She also served faithfully as a Care Group leader under former Pastorsof her local assembly; and on a national level as Assistant Hospital MinistryDirector.
Sis. Hepburn was an avid fan ofthe World Famous Bahama Brass Band! She enjoyed the music especially duringconventions and the concerts. She was the more delighted that that her three sons,Steve, Garren and Vanru, and her son-in-law, Auric were active members. Shetraveled with them on many of their annual cruises, and one of her favoritetreats in her later years was having car rides with her children while playingthe band CD's in the car. She was honored by the band on more than oneoccasion.
Sis Carmen also loved attendingthe local Women’s Ministries Retreat and fellowshipping with her sisters at herlocal church. She had a good spiritual, but also temporal relationship withmany of the church sisters as she delivered some of their children as a trainedmidwife. She loved her church family, and many of the younger ministers of thegospel can attest to her encouragement to them in ministry especially hercurrent pastor of the East St. tabernacle, Bishop Hulan Hanna.
She was affectionately called AuntCV, Sister V, Aunt Carmen and she loved her Ferguson family! She happily tookit upon herself to give names to many of her nieces and nephews! It was alwaysher joy to have them visit with her, and she would be sure to scold them if theyhadn't checked in with her for a while. During her latter years, all her children and caretakers can attest tothe fact that she and her sister Shirley called each other every day! She alsodid her very best to stay in contact with her sister-in-law Rosheva and othermembers of the Hepburn family. She was especially proud of her youngestbrother, the National Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, Bishop Dr.Franklyn Ferguson, whom she lovingly called her “mama’s last child”. BishopFrank’s wife, Dr. Rovena always complained that “Sis. V had spoiled him!”.
Carmen and her beloved husband hada special relationship. He would call her ‘Sugar’ and she called him the same.As children, we would wonder which one of the Sugars was being spoken about. Mrs.Hepburn faithfully cared for her husband during his illness until his death in2009. After his passing she made effortsto lead the family business, though she became limited in her efforts after herfirst stroke in 2016.
Sister Hepburn was very proud ofher children and their academic accomplishments. She would always be heardthanking God that she was able to see all her children to adulthood and with acollege education! She attended all their overseas graduation and even stayedwith her daughter, Thalia, a few summers during her doctoral studies. She wasequally proud of her grandchildren and was the constant fixture at many primaryschools ‘grandparents’ day’ and high school graduations!! Her favorite song asshe rocked many of them to sleeps as babies was " ...tell grammy what theydo to her boy/girl". ...and they all went into a deep sleep in her arms!Her grandchildren loved her dearly and can recall many days at the familyoffice building on John Road sitting at her feet learning bible verses, songsor receiving what the grandchildren called “the pinch of death”. She was aloving disciplinary and her grandchildren knew it well!
Man that is born with of a womanis of a few days and full of trouble and Mrs. Hepburn had her share. In 2016she suffered a major stroke and though she made a good recovery, her mobilitywas reduced. Earlier this year in June she suffered another cerebral accidentand after hospitalization, she never fully recovered becoming bedridden.However, even then she continued to share and praise the Lord through her achesand pains. Her children rallied around her, along with her caretaker, to giveher the best treatments well deserving of a person who had given her life tocaring for others. Often times her caretaker would report that she exclaimedthat she was ready to ‘go home’ to be with the Lord. Her warm large andinfectious smile in life was also experienced in death. On Monday, August 15th at around 11:00 p.m., in the loving arms of her last son Dion, and eldest daughterShaureen, she gave a final quiet look at her daughter, closed her eyes, turnedher head away and smilingly took her final breath and her journey into theeverlasting arms of God. It’s alright now, for she is in her Saviour’s care,It’s alright now her Saviour heard and answered prayer! Oh what glory,hallelujah, when we meet our blessed Saviour in the sky!
She was predeceased by her lovinghusband, Bishop Stephen A. Hepburn and her siblings Lionel Ferguson, ThelmaRolle, Samuel Ferguson, Marina Taylor, Enid Lois Gibson, Wesley and Neville,Ferguson.
She is survived by
Children: Registered Nurse ShaureenHepburn- Hall, Steve, Garren (Deanne), Vanru, Dr. Dion Hepburn (Turkessa) andDr. Thalia Micklewhite (Auric);
Grandchildren: Sahhara Hall, Shandira,Stephanie, Stephen and Sterling Hepburn, G'Ann and Gia Hepburn, Rickevon andKaitlyn Micklewhite; Valencia and Vandeleeza Hepburn, Sarah and Natanya Hepburn;
Great Grandchildren: Serenity and Jahmir;
Sister: Shirley Armbrister;
Brother: Franklyn Ferguson;
Sisters-in-law: Rosheva Hepburn, Alma Walkins,Veronica, Queen and
Min. Dr. Rovena Ferguson;
Aunts: Halcy Hanna;
Nieces/ Nephews/ Grand-Nieces and Grand-Nephews: Kaylinda Knowles, DaphneFerguson; Patrinella Rolle, Everette Rolle, Jennifer Cox, Jeffrey, Bernadetteand Hartman Rolle Jr.;, Bridget, Cleopatra and Trevor Armbrister, Clelia Minnis;Ingrid Ferguson, Debra Pinder, Sheena Albury, Gillian, Perry, Carlo and TavarenFerguson; Janis, McDonald, Shereeza, Jason, Benton and Erica Gibson ;Jacqueline Taylor-Smith, Alexandria Taylor-Roker, Elder Wallace, PastorCarlton, Dave and Javon Taylor; Dr. Romeika Ferguson-Adderley, Kendrick,Franson, Farenno and Dr. Rodeina Ferguson, Margaret and Arimentha Walkins,Clifton, Kenrica, Valria, Ellavonne, Marcus, Patrice, Solomon, Gloria, Nadia,Simone, Damien & Annalise, Jeffrey, Fenrick, Deborah, Stephen, Patrice, the Venerable Archdeacon Earl Hepburn, Lisa, Kenrica, Patrice, Ashanti, Kiara andTiara, Princess, Joanne, Derek and Jestina & their families;
Other Relatives & Friends: Marcia Hepburn & Family, Familiesof Emanuel and Miriam Curtis, Irene Ferguson, Gladstone Ferguson, HerbertFerguson, Luther Ferguson, Avery Ferguson, Phalmon and Marilyn Collie, EulamaeFlowers-Johnson, Merline Smith, Emmazell Ferguson, Descendants of Merill,Homer, Linville, Hermis and Ruby Curtis, and Eurice Ferguson, Princess Fawkes,Vernice Bodie, Descendants of Elgie and Nora Ferguson including Apostle PhalmonFerguson and Family, Bishop Sterling and Barbara Moss and Family, Rosemae Bain,Families of Arthur & Iva Ferguson, George Irvin & Family, Beryl Mae Micklewhiteand Family, Families Of Viola Moncur and Solomon Hall;
Godchildren: Cora Colebrooke and PrincessFerguson;
Church Members & Ministers: East St. Church of God ofProphecy Family, Bishop Hulan Hanna & family, Bishop Woodley Thompson &Family, Bishop Brice Thompson & Family, Bishop Kendal Simmons & family,Bishop John Ferguson & family, Bishop Maurice Simms & Family, DeaconFritz & Minister Janet Grant & Family, Minister Beatrice Ferguson &Family, Sis. Cynthia Ferguson & Family, Family of the late Bishop PhalmonCollie, family of the late Curtis, family of the late Nathaniel & VictoriaBeneby Family, family of the late Cephas Ferguson and the Church of God ofProphecy family at large;
Doctors: Dr. Gertrude Holder and Dr.Delton Farquharson;
Caretaker: Mrs. Doris Johnson & Ms.Rosemary Smith;
Community: The Nurses Association of The Bahamas, former College of The BahamasSchool of Nursing, Faculty of the University of The Bahamas, Colina InsuranceLimited, Bahamas Telecommunication Company, the First Street Coconut Grove Community and Our Lady of the Holy SoulsCatholic church community.
