With the covid-19 disease restrictions rolled back in Anguilla on church gatherings – including services, funerals and weddings – a larger number of persons were able to attend the Services of Thanksgiving for two prominent Anguillian women.
The separate funerals, on Saturday, May 16, were held at the Immanuel Methodist Church, at West End, for the late Ms. Vera Doreen Richardson; and at St. Aug, at East End, for the late Mrs. Ivy Marjorie Vanterpool.
Ms. Richardson was born on June 4, 1953 and died on April 18, 2020. She was a member of a prominent family and was known for her arts and crafts work, sporting activities – and her work in the Immanuel Methodist Church as a Class Leader, Congregational Steward; Sunday School Teacher, member of the Women’s League and a greeter. In the community she served with the Junior Red Cross; the St. John’s Ambulance; the Friends of the Hospital; and the Soroptimist International of Anguilla.
She was among the first batch of students to attend The Valley Secondary School when it opened in 1953. Following her schooling she worked at the Treasury Department during the 1967 Anguilla Revolution; later served as Secretary at The Valley Secondary School and then worked at Cable & Wireless.
The tributes were led by Mrs. Janice Hodge, a Methodist Local Preacher. The sermon was delivered by the deceased Godson and first cousin, Rev. Wilmoth Hodge. The other officiating Ministers were the Rev. Dr. Wycherly Gumbs and Rev. Dunstan Richardson.
The other prominent Anguillian woman, Mrs. Ivy Marjorie Vanterpool, was born on January 27, 1934 and died on February 29, 2020. She was the wife of the late well-known and widely respected educator, Teacher Arthwin Vanterpool. She has been described as having been “a woman of God”.
Widely known throughout Anguilla, she was a business woman in earlier years. She operated a grocery store in The Valley and a snack shop serving food and other refreshment for schoolchildren at East End. She has had a positive impact on the lives of many persons especially schoolchildren with whom she had established a close affinity.
The tributes were led by Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett. The sermon was delivered by Mrs. Vanterpool’s son, Pastor Kennedy Vanterpool, who spoke from Texas where he and his family reside. The other ministerial parties were the Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks, Rev. Raliville Christian and Lay Reader, Mr. Chrispen Gumbs, who conducted the other portions of the Service of Thanksgiving.
Congregation at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church 
Pastor Kennedy Vanterpool 
Bishop Brooks, Rev. Christian and Minister Chrispen Gumbs
Meanwhile, Anguilla recorded the passing of yet another prominent woman on Saturday, May 16 2020. She was retired educator Omah Richardson of West End.
Teacher Omah taught for many years in St Kitts and later in Anguilla. On her retirement she ran a private school in West End, catering particularly for students requiring additional classes outside their regular school hours.
