On November 6, 1939, in the beautiful settlementof United States on the island of San Salvador a gem was born to the lateDeacon Ralph, Sr. and Evangelist Leeth Butler. They named her Princess.She was their first born of five children.
Princess attended the San Salvador All Age Schoolin Polly Hill.
Growing up, Princess was an average child. Whilethere may have been some areas of cognitive impairment, she enjoyed playingoutside like the other children, enjoying games like, ring play and hide andseek. As she matured, she not only cared for her siblings but was taught andadapted well to domestic work around the family home.
As the eldest child, she assisted in the care of hersiblings. She was Mama's traveling companion when theytravelled on the M/V Drake or the M/V Alice Mabel from San Salvador to Nassau orCat Island. Princess immensely enjoyed ironing.She would sprinkle water on top of the clothing overnight to prepare them forironing the following day. Princess would get up, have her breakfast and engagein non-stop ironing. She was always pleasant and of a quiet demeanor, a funperson.
In the early sixties Princess accepted Jesus Christas her Lord and Saviour during a Revival Service at the Church of God in UnitedEstate, San Salvador under the pastorate of Wendell Williams. She publiclyproclaimed Jesus Christ as her Lord before returning to her seat.
Princess and her parents and younger sister Mavis migratedto Nassau in the mid sixties. After seven years of living in New Providence,Mama decided to return to San Salvador. Papa was employed at Batelco duringthis period and Princess accompanied Mama to San Salvador. Mama said that Godhad told her to return to the island to engage in agricultural farming. Upontheir arrival, the homestead was in a poor state and they were invited to staywith Aunt Ada Nairn and her family. Daily they went to the homestead to clean.On one particular morning, Princess showed no interest in going. Mama tried herbest to encourage Princess to accompany her. However, Princess was insistent intelling Mama that her head was hurting. Mamabelieved her and left her alone. Shortly afterwards, Princess' mental state andbehaviour began to change. She refused to eat for some time and spoke less.Princess became more withdrawn.
Princess later became sick which ultimately affectedand changed her way of life. As time progressed, Princess' steps became slowerand she lacked the enthusiasm to perform domestic work.
It was always Mama’s desire that God would takePrincess to Heaven before her but that was not to be, instead Princess outlivedMama by twenty-four (24) years.
During those twenty-four (24) years she would frequentlytravel to Nassau and reside with her sister, Levinna for a few weeks at a time.When in San Salvador, Princess lived with her sister, Mavis and nephew Cordell.They, along with her caregiver, Bethsheba Forbes attended to all of her needson the island.
Princess was privileged to travel to the UnitedStates on many occasions, including a family reunion in Orlando, Florida andher nephews wedding in Atlanta, Georgia.
After turning eighty-two (82) years, her stepsbecame slower and her ability to respond to questions became even slower. However,her appetite did not decrease. She continued to enjoy her favourite foodsincluding, Peas Soup and dumplings and okra soup. She walked around the house less. However,she was always alert and needed more care and attention. Multiple caregiversand nurses were engaged to attend to her ongoing medical needs.
On October 2023 she suffered a mild stroke and wasconfined to the Princess Margaret Hospital for ten (10) days. Following her discharge,she was confined to her bed and was given all of the care and attention thatshe needed.
Most of Princess's entire life had been achallenge. She did not have an easy life, when compared to others, but God hadplaced her in a family who loved her very much. Princess was equally loved,just like all of her siblings, for there was no shortage of love in the family.
On the morning of Wednesday, 24 April 2024,Princess started to show signs of rapid deterioration with her breathing. Shebegan to sweat profusely and her skin became clammy and her foot was cool tothe touch. Her family sang songs of Praise and prayed with her. Around earlyafternoon as her sister Levinna was sharing words of comfort from thetwenty-third Psalm, Princess looked into her eyes and attempted to respond in away that Levinna had never heard before. Levinna inserted Princess' name intothe Psalm and said that Princess would endure no more discomfort, no more rollingand turning to bathe her and change her clothes. Princess responded by answering Levinna with aloud, "Anh! Anh! Anh!" Levinna looked at Princess and said, "allis well with Princess' soul, it is well, it is well, Glory Hallelujah!" Afew hours later around 9:00 p.m. Princess passed from time into eternity.
Princess was predeceased by her parents Ralph, Sr.and Leeth Butler, her brothers, Stanmitz and Ralph Butler, Jr. and her niece,Theresa Major-Jean-Marie.
Left to cherish her memories are:
Brother: Pastor Harrison G. Butler;
Sisters: Evangelist Levinna U. Butler-Rolle and Dr. Mavis P.Major;
Sisters-In-Law: Mrs. Mildred Butler, Pastor Diana Butler and Mrs. ChristineButler;
Nieces: Dr. Sharmaine Butler, Dr. Vidalia (Yaw) Butler-Poku,Ursula Butler, Julie (Lenny) Curtis, Attorney Jacinda P. Butler, Shavonne (Steve)Major-Butler and Lanna (Alan) Fernander, Vanria Butler, Miriam Smith, TheresaClyde, Monique Babbs, B. Raquel Pratt, Shantel King and Tasha McKenzie;
Nephews: Garfield,Attorney Truman (Fredericka) and Garrett (wife) Butler, Noland (Afarier), Jedand Bradford (Rochelle) Rolle, Cordell, Ishmael Terrance and Sergeant 2016 RicardoMajor, Elvis, Abraham and Mario Butler;
Grandnieces: Tahlia Jewel, Talya and Taryn Butler, HadassahPoku, Trinity Gibbs, Khloe Pratt, Dr. Julencia Curtis, Aniya Rolle, Aaliyah andAliyanna Fernander
Grandnephews: Phinehas Poku, Trevon (Lynthis) and Keenan Butler, KevonGibbs, Ashley Curtis, Nevan and Noland, Jr. Rolle , Jezreel and Tajh Rolle andJavier Jean-Marie;
Great grand nephew and niece: Messiah and Iris Butler;
Dedicated nurses and caregivers: Mae Ferguson, Norma Dean, Ms. Brown, Sharlisa Saunders,Keshia Swaby, Marcia Nairn and Archer, Kellie Capron and Shelby Dorsette;
DedicatedDoctors: Dr. Sharmaine Butler and Dr. Chrispin Gomez;
Cousins: Rev. Ivan Butler, Sr., Rev. Joseph Saunders, Rev. UlrickButler, Dilith and Hendrick Nairn, Sr., Pamrica Rodgers, Carriemae Hunt,Winifred Campbell, Barbara Barnes, Bessie Mae Bess, Beaulah Morris, BishopHelen McPhee, Paula Ferguson, Verenchia Butler, Peter Butler, Rev. Dr. Ivan Ford,Jr. and Joanne Butler, Samuel, Wrensworth, Nathan and Emmanuel Butler,Christine Neely, Marie Thorpe, Louise Simmons, Abraham, Michael and ElizabethButler, Apostles Paul and David Butler, Paul Butler (Atl.), Theresa White, (Det.Mich.), Winifred Thompson, Andrew and Tony McKinney, Dr. Norman and Lloyd Gay, Rev.Patrick and Rudy Levarity, Ingrid Bain, Rev. Betty Williams, Francina Anderson,Katie Horton, Vernice Miller, Chief Superintendent of Police Walter Henderson,Elaine Smith, Hon. Melanie Griffin, Denise Barnes, Latoya Forbes, HermeanSturrup, Pastor Franchon Braynen, Melony Hall, Rosheva Hepburn, Elmeada Storr, EthlynAdderley, Ruth Miller, Ruby Gordon, Ruth Charlton, Winifred Bannister, MildredButterfield, Ellamae Blyden, Cheryl Brown, Sonia Timothy-Knowles and KevinTimothy, Rennard and Janet Storr, Dr. Ricky Davis, Matthew, Ezra and EarlDavis, Ronnie, Deidre and Sherry Pratt, Jackie McPhee and Irene King;
Godsisters: Maria Forbes and Florinda Williams;
Other Relatives and Friends including: Beryl Duncombe, MiriamBrown, DeAngelo Curtis, Pastor Carlsonand Enid Arthur, Catherine Storr, Eureka Knowles, Rev. Leo Jones and Family, PastorIvy Butler and Family, Pastor Stephen Brown and Family, Nurses McCray and Jonesand staff of the Cockburn Town, San Salvador Clinic, Denise Jones, KarenFernander, Pastor Officers and Members of the Church of God of Prophecy, SanSalvador, Alton, Kevan, Brenelle, Rosemary and Agatha Hunt and the Benson Family,Pastor, Officers and Members of the Church of God of Prophecy, San Salvador, PastorTyrone Laing, Officers and members of New Bethlehem Baptist Church, and a hostof other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
(If your name was not listed, we apologize, it wasnot intentional)
