For over thirty years, the late Ethel Adora Rey, formerly of Mount Fortune, Anguilla, lived with her faithful son, Jeth Rey, in North Carolina, and he has taken her with him to other parts of the United States on his various assignments in the US Army. Now, fourteen months following her passing, he undertook to bring her ashes to her beloved Anguilla for entombment at the Sandy Hill Cemetery.
The committal was performed by Seventh-day Adventist Minister, Pastor Trent Berg, on Tuesday, April 26, who took the opportunity to convey his condolences and best wishes to the family of the deceased.
During the brief and solemn event, a number of family members joined in recounting some of the social and cultural glimpses of the life and work of Ethel Rey who, like per parents and siblings, were well-known in Anguilla.
The obituary was read by the deceased’s son Col. Jeth Rey who is now stationed at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He was accompanied to Anguilla by his wife, Carla Long-Rey, who is also a Colonel in the US Army, but is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The text of the obituary is as follows:
“Ethel Adora Rey was the first of four children born to James Ruan and Euphemia Webster. She was born on November 8, 1932 on the British West Indies Island of Anguilla.
Family and friends knew her as a caring, loving, and giving woman and hands down a great cook. In Anguilla and St. Thomas where she also lived, she was regarded as a dependable friend, a woman of wisdom, a great teacher and a trusted confidante. She was strong-willed, unselfish, and courageous. A relentless matriarch, that was responsible for holding the family together often referred to as the “Center of Gravity”. She has been a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) for over 60 years and a very devoted woman of God.
“Referred to many beloved friends and family as “Nanny” or “Mum”, she never knew a stranger. She was an educator for almost 20 years, and devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to her family. Her legacy of faith, leadership, determination, and athleticism will live on in generations to come.
“Ethel departed from this life on December 12, 2014. She was preceded in death by her sister, Selina Lake and both parents Euphenia Webster and James Ruan.
“She leaves to cherish her memory one sister, Eileen Rogers, of South California; one brother, James Ruan, of Anguilla, BWI; six sons: Stennett Rey, Curtis Rey, Sherwin Rey, Glenn Monsanto, Tony Rey and Jeth Rey; three daughters: Veeda Charles, Eudine Cox and Jenny Giscombe; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends.”
The urn, containing the ashes of the late Ethel Adora Rey, was placed in a specially-prepared vault at the base of the tomb of her mother, Euphenia Webster, who died in 1995.
