Joseph Edwin Harrigan was born on December 15, 1934, in East End, Anguilla, to the late George and Inez Harrigan. He grew up with sisters Rose, Carmen, Margaret, and Zelmera, and brothers, Stanley (deceased), Kenneth and Ambrose, in a home filled with love and faith in God. As a young man, he began his lifelong teaching career at the East End Primary School where he became known affectionately, as Teacher Joey. There he met fellow Teacher Flossetta Richardson (Teacher Flossie) from The Valley, Anguilla, whom he married in 1960. By 1966, the family included three sons – Edwin, Glenn and Alexis.
In 1967, Joey, Flossetta and family moved to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and continued their teaching careers in that territory until their retirement in the mid-1990s. Joey’s faith in God, love of family and others, and hope in the future, underscored all his efforts to advance and improve the lives of those around him – humbly, without expectation of great reward or recognition. He indulged in his passions for music, songwriting, cricket, gardening, growing flowers (particularly roses) for his Flossie – and service in his church, the St. George’s Anglican Church, Road Town, Tortola. When called upon he would play the organ and piano to accompany the church choirs at Road Town and East End, and at times drafted Flossetta, his sons, and his beloved grandchildren to perform some of his compositions at services and special events.
On, Sunday, September 27, 2020, at home in Greenland, Tortola, Joseph Edwin Harrigan departed this life peacefully, at age 85. He leaves behind Flossetta, his wife of 60 years; sons – Edwin, Glenn and Alexis; daughters in-law, Eleanor and Alivern; grandchildren – Chanelle, Alyssa, Kobe, Kairhys, Jaida, Omari and Imani Harrigan, Rayvern Hodge; great grandson, Kaelen Thomas; sisters – Rose Ferguson, Carmen Callaghan, Margaret Augustus and Zelmera Valasquez; brothers – Kenneth and Ambrose Harrigan; sisters-in-law – Ursula and Susan Harrigan, Bronte, Eltima, Lolita and Batoul Richardson; brothers-in-law, Hylton Callaghan, Morris Augustus, Ambrose, Albertus and Attlee Richardson; Uncle, Evans Harrigan; and an extensive circle of neices, nephews, other close family members and friends in Anguilla, Tortola, Canada, the USA, England and elsewhere.
Rest in Peace Joseph (Joey).
– Contributed
