Thanksgiving for the life of Ms Blondell Redden: 4 April 1935 - 30 June 2004

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Mrs Blondell Redden – better known to many as Ms Blondell, Ms B or Blondie, was born on Cayman Brac on April 4th 1935 to Captain Patrick Alvanza Scott and Mrs Maggie Scott, late of Cayman Brac.

Being an only child, she was heavily dependent on her family at an early age. Her other sibling was still-born in 1932.

Childhood memories Venita recalls are that, at Christmas in the 60’s, when gifts were bought a couple of weeks before the event, they were stored in the attic or the clothes closet.

She would sneak a peek at the gifts before they were wrapped to see who got what. Also she recalls that only a hardworking mother could cram so much in a day as she did, burning the midnight oil as she did, as she had to prepare schoolwork for her students.

Having taught school since 1950, she took maternity leave and returned to active teaching in 1960 with Raymond and Venita in tow at West End Primary in 1950 and Creek in 1960, then on to Spot Bay Primary in 1966.
At West End Primary she taught such notables as Parker Tibbetts, who she took to school on a bicycle, and Ernie Scott, District Commissioner Kenny Ryan, and Chief Secretary James Ryan.

At the Creek she taught such students such as Chief Insp George Watson, Dorrette Brown, Gloria Lewis, Marie Martin, Elliot-known as Fee Fi, as well as many others.

In Spot Bay she had students such as Joel Walton, whom she called Jo-Jo, and took the spelling bee in Jamaica when he was only eight years old.

There was also Liz, Linda and Lucy Walton and Renrick, Richard and Raymond Christian.

The Old Spot Bay School had very long benches and students too many to mention; some names come to mind such as Elaine and Dortha Dilbert, Richard Lewis, Dwayne McLaughlin, Robert Edwards, York Scott, Randy Scott, Don, Doyle and Danny Dixon, Joseph Scott, Jennilee Ritch, Sue and Marcia Rankine, Brenda and Cinda and David Dixon (now director of licensing) and of course Ursula Welcome.

Once again taking maternity leave in 1971 to have her last child Connie Ann, she was then transferred to Grand Cayman to work in the Courts Office with Mr Moody,

Mr Tyson, Judge Horsfall and Mr Lee Ebanks, who was registrar at that time.

She succeeded Mrs Iva Panton, who was doing births, deaths and marriages at that time. In 1975 she was subsequently transferred to the new glass house and worked with Mrs Barbara Whittaker, the late Alan Forbes, the Late Yeula Ebanks, Mrs Dalphine Terry, Mrs Floris McLaughlin, Mrs Orilee Ebanks, with Mr Woodward Terry and Mr Bobby Bodden as subsequent registrars. There were also Joseph Ebanks and Delano Solomon.

She retired from public service in 1985. Her favourite saying was:“The Lord will provide.” She liked plants and animals, especially cats having names for them all! She loved her ‘boys’ dearly.

She was married to Merril Denniston Ryan on 16 September, 1953, and then to Shawn Redden on 31 March 1983. School life in the forties was pretty interesting and she made many friends at school such as Mrs Lois Brown, who was known as her Siamese twin, Chelsea Brown, Elmond Scott and Bruce Eldemire as well as the late Albert Henning and too many others to mention.

Her teacher Islay Conolly, former Chief Education Officer, could relate how she passed the Jamaica local exam with distinction. She was known as an excellent mathematician, who surprised auditors with her sense of diligence and common sense approach to get the job done.

She was awarded a certificate from the Quincentennial office for her teaching abilities, as well as a plaque as a retired educator in 2002 for excellence in education.

Having adhered to the Baptist faith all her life, she joined First Baptist when they established a mission on Grand Cayman in 1977 as the Neelys arrived for their stay as missionaries. She was baptized in the Creek Church in 1955.

Prior to her passing on June 30th 2004, she had been hospitalised after she suffered a couple of mild stokes in April this year, and had a long battle with chronic bronchitis over the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Denniston. Left to mourn her passing are daughters Venita, Merlyn and Connie Ann, sons Raymond and Collin and Families.

She also had eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild, and also special cousins Freda (sing-sing), Elda and Henley, niece Marlene Bodden and others.

Her special friends were Beverly Henning, Carolyn Parsons, Kerry Nixon, Janice McLean, Joy Basdeo, Beth Leggett, Amy Kirkconnell, Janice and Evelyn Godfrey, Thalia Foster, Virginia Castillo, and her Sunday school class at First Baptist.

There was also Carol Walker, who assisted her in cooking delicious soup, Pastor Randy, Tom and Dave Jorge and many, many more.

Well done good and faithful servant. May her soul rest in peace.

Service of Thanksgiving held 6 July 2004, First Baptist Church, Crewe Road.  Officiating Ministers Pastor Len Leggett, Pastor David Jorge, Pastor John McMillan. Interment at Prospect Cemetery.

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