A Prince is Born
On August 15th, 1966 a handsome baby boy was born on AmosFerguson Street formerly Exuma Street on the island of New Providence. He wasthe sixth child of ten, and they named him Elvis Brian Thurston. Elvis was known for his unique, sociable,jovial, carefree personality, and for always being meticulously manicured, andsmelling of the most pleasant cologne. Elvis was kind, caring, humorous andloved people. His favorite expressionwas “Every day is a new day. So do not carry over your experiences of yesterdayinto today”. Elvis loved his family and knew the importance of keeping close tothem even though he resided and worked in the United States. When both of his parents were alive, he wouldnot let a day end before calling home to make sure all of his siblings weredoing well.
When Elvis visited Nassau, he always looked forward tointeracting with his brothers. His competitive spirit was unmatched. His brothers would surely miss watchingbasketball games together for hours, playing dominos or backgammon from 6.00 inthe evening until 6;00 the next morning, shooting pool, skating and of coursecooking the most delicious peas soup and dumpling and appetizers.
Elvis also had a special place in his heart for all ofhis sisters and respected the role each of them played in his life. He knew that his sisters were proud of andloved him and did not have to think twice if he needed their assistance oradvice. He always enjoyed sharing hisrecipes and cooking skills to make every cooking experience tasty andenjoyable.
Elvis always enjoyed the fellowship and touched base witheach of his nieces and nephews regularly. He would often call or reach out tothem in a meaningful way via Facebook or Instagram.
Over the years Elvis had and made many friends who heembraced as his family and from time to time would share whatever he had withthem. His career and work experiences gave him the opportunity to interact withpeople all over the world and from all walks of life.
Education
Elvis began his early education at Ms. Henfield Preschoolon Coconut Grove Avenue and later at Yellow Elder Primary School where he was aprefect, a member of the school choir and Christmas Production Team. Hecontinued at SC McPherson Junior High where he was also a prefect. He excelled in academics and practicalsubjects and later graduated as a prefect at AF Adderley Senior HighSchool. Elvis was a high achiever. His siblings nicknamed him “Mr. paragraph” becausehe achieved no less than an “A” grade in all subjects.
Christian Foundation
Elvis was raised in a God-fearing home, where his fathergathered all of his children every Sunday evening to read Bible stories andrecite the books of the Bible. As a child he attended Holiness Community Churchalso known as “Patton Church” on Bahama Avenue and New Testament Baptist onDolphin Drive. His aunt Beulah Sands (deceased)took a delight in taking Elvis to Sunday School and church services at The Churchof God of Prophecy Freetown on Lyon Road now called Church of God of Prophecy LifeTransformation Centre on Shirley Street.
Career
As a young boy Elvis was employed as a packing boy atSuper Value. Even though he was brilliant, cooking came to him naturally, as heinherited his cooking skills from his mother, Ametha Grace Thurston, who wasone of the best Bahamian cooks. After graduating high school, he was employedat King and Knights Hotel and Restaurant as a cook, where he trained under ChefVenal Kemp. In his pursuit of culinary excellence, he enrolled in theApprentice Chef Program at the prestigious Bahamas Hotel Training College afterwhich he was sent to Switzerland for specialized training. Subsequently, he wasemployed at The Crystal Palace as an Apprentice Chef before beginning hiscelebrity career in the private sector.
Elvis worked for over 19 years as a private chef for MichaelDingman in Lyford Cay. Elvis enjoyed his work experience and never lost contactwith his former co-workers and friends. Because of his experience and talenthis career blossomed, and he was excited and honored to be employed as aCelebrity Chef in New York City for Madam Terry Allen Kramer. His employment afforded him the opportunitynot only to prepare scrumptious signature dishes but for him to interact andcook for celebrities such as Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Taylor, Brook Shields,Gloria and Emile Estefan, Sean Connery, Rick Fox and many others. One of his memorable experiences was when heprepared a seafood meal during a celebrity function with the talented andfamous Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto, of the famed Food Network televisionshow, Iron Chef.
Marriage Union
On the 9th October, 1993, Elvis was married toRochelle nee Nairn Thurston and out of that marriage a bouncing baby boy namedElvis Brian Thurston Junior. affectionately called “EJ” and his Mini Me “wasborn. During that marriage they attendedSt. Gregory Anglican Church. When that marriage ended, Elvis married TomekaPruitt who sadly died on 13th April, 2015 after a brief illness. On24th June, 2017 Elvis was later blessed with a beautiful daughter,Paige Thurston affectionately called “Berry”. There was a special bond between Elvis and his children and his life andcommitment revolved around his children.
Hospital Care
On24th August, 2021, Elvis informed sister Lynn Thurston in Nassauthat he was at the Emergency room at Memorial West Hospital in Pembroke PinesFlorida because he was not feeling well. Later that evening a nurse from thehospital informed her that Elvis was very ill and had to be admitted. Thefollowing day Elvis told her that he wanted his hospital business to remainprivate. Afterwards he was incubated and remained in a comma for thirty-eightdays. On the thirty-nineth day Elvis opened his eyes thanking God for his graceand mercy. During one of the daily Web conference calls with his family Elviswas so happy to tell his family that one of the nurses witnessed to him on herday off and he immediately accepted he Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and personalSavior. Throughout his hospital careElvis siblings and special friends Langston and Tenielle Welch, Rodney Hepburnand Chef Adrian Walker, Minister Trevor and Juliet Seymour and the formercoworkers at Michael Dingman and Crystal Palace walked with Elvis through hiscritical journey even up to his time of death which ended on 17thJanuary, 2022. May Elvis Brian Thurston’s soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
Left to cherish his memories are:
Children: Elvis Brian Thurston Jr.
Paige Thurston
Four Brothers: Donald, Christopher (Elisa), Michael (Felicia) andReginald Thurston
Four Sisters: Vernell Nottage (Glen), Sandra Miller (Daniel), Lynn, andMelony Thurston
Eight Nephews: DaneroMiller, Andrew Nottage (Claudia), Burnal III, Tico, Jordan, Michael Jr. (Cara)and Maurice Thurston
Seven Nieces: Danica and Danielle Miller, Andrell Cartwright, (Daryl)Doneeca, Krislyn, Rhymelle, and EleahThurston
SpecialFriends: Langston& Tenielle Welsch and God Children Aria, Brielle and Amare Welsch, RodneyHepburn, Dwayne Pratt, Pedro Roberts, Adrian Walker, Coolie Williams, AnnamaeCharlton, Darron Mackey, Wendel Rolle, Antonio Stranch, Derick Crossman, TrevorBridgewater, Kevin Miller, Kirk Smith, Trevor and Juliet Seymour,
Other Friends: Gregory Saunders, Former Coworkers of Crystal Palace, MichaelDingman and Mrs. Terry Allen Kramer, Pastor Kirk Stuart, Valachi Theophilus,Charmaine Rolle,
Tiffany Gibson, Raquel Carey, includingthe entire Thurston Family and Gibson Family.
Special thanksto: The entire medicalstaff: doctors, nurses and caregivers and physiotherapists at Memorial West HospitalPembroke Road, West Gables Rehabilitation Hospital, West Gables Hospital, UnityHealth Rehabilitation Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital.
