Eunice ‘Miss Nicey’ Ettienne – Coomaka mom of 19 is a ‘Special Person’

May 13, 2012 News

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“You couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like to prepare three square meals for 19 children every day! My mother is an extraordinary woman.” – Eunice Ettienne’s eldest daughter, Sybil.

By Neil Marks

 

When she was born 69 years ago, Guyana’s population was one-third of what it is today. So to

say that ‘Miss Nicey’ contributed to the growth in the country’s population would not be an absurdity.
Sure, you can chuckle at her story if you want. At least she does! She boasts an incredible sense of humour. But don’t be fooled. She is no weakling. Beneath her shy demenour, ‘Miss Nicey’ is a strong woman – a woman who has overcome what to many might seem like overwhelming odds to bring up her 19 children. Were it not for miscarriages, she would have had a total of 23 children
Hers is a story of hard work and endurance. How was she able to do it all? Her answer is simple: “I just love them.”

 

 

PARTY GIRL
Her real name is Eunice Ettienne, but most people know her as Miss Nicey Daw. And when we say “most people” you’d be correct to assume she is well known.
Once you get into the mining town of Linden, just ask for the bus going into “The Mines” and tell the driver you are going by ‘Miss Nicey’.
She was born in the mines of Coomaka, a dusty community located an estimated ten miles above Kara Kara, another satellite community of Linden.
Her father, Tyril Ettienne, a Grenadian, had come to Guyana in search of work. He was employed in the bauxite operations at Coomaka, and had met Eunice’s mother, Miriam.  The union of the Ettienne’s produced 16 children.  Eunice was the 14th in line. Today, just three of her brothers and one sister are alive.
Growing up, Eunice attended the “all age” school in Coomaka, but when her father found work with the bauxite company, the family moved into the town, and there she continued her schooling.
When Mr Ettienne was retrenched, the family moved back to the Coomaka mines, where Miss Nicey currently has her house just by the riverside.
Just after she finished schooling at the age of 16, Eunice would become pregnant with her first child – Renni.
It was madness in the Ettienne household. The parents were known as strict disciplinarians, but they could not get the better of Eunice.  She was a party girl and she knew just how to get to the “dance.” Her favourite music? Oldies.
The “dance” would happen just under a troolie-leaf tent that one of the residents would throw up to sell entertainment.

 

 

19 CHILDREN
At one of those dances she met a gentleman, Arthur Daw, who used to make runs to the “gold bush” but later found work with the Demerara Bauxite Company in Linden.
She wouldn’t admit that she was smitten by the gentleman. She offers the sharp retort:  “I don’t like man; man got to like me.”
Eunice and Mr Daw pursued their romantic relationship secretly. Her parents could not find out what was happening. But you really can’t hide a pregnancy, now can you?
In time, the Ettiennes found out their girl was pregnant. They were outraged.
“They row and thing, but we still keep on.”
Renni, a boy, was born when Eunice was still yet age 16. Soon, she became pregnant again. That was the end of the road for the Ettiennes.
Eunice and Arthur Daw decided to get married and lead a life of their own. And the children kept coming:  Leon, Sybil, Carol, Lovern, Carl, Richard, Brenthnol, Linden, Maline, Shawn, Fitzrol, Terrence, Mitcheline, Garth, Keron, Derwin, Steve and Coreen.
The last child, Coreen, is now 23 years old.  Just a few weeks ago, Coreen gave birth to her first child giving ‘Miss Nicey’ her 49th grandchild.
Your guess would be correct if you were thinking that ‘Miss Nicey’ has great-grandchildren. She has eight of those.
There were times when the children had health complications, but Eunice was never scared. She puts it down to her faith in God.
“God gave me them, so wouldn’t he take care of them?”
The one time she remembers being scared was when she had to “go under the knife” in bringing forth Coreen. All the other children were delivered the natural way.
Eunice and Arthur Daw did not plan to make as many children. However, due to health reasons, she could not use contraceptives. And when she kept getting pregnant, there was only one option.
“I never believed in ‘throwing away’ baby,” she firmly asserted.
‘Miss Nicey’ states emphatically that her children have been a source of blessing and great joy.
She admits there were days when she worried about taking care of them all, especially during those times when she and Mr Daw were going through a rough patch. In fact, when they had made their first six children, the two separated. But they reunited and the other 13 children came.  The couple eventually divorced. Mr Daw died last year.

 

EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN
“I managed with God’s grace. He gave me them and he provided for them all. I have no regrets,” she says, her eyes eager to let you see the sense of pride she feels.
The eldest daughter, Sybil, recalls times when there was utter chaos in the house.
“You couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like to prepare three square meals for 19 children every day! My mother is an extraordinary woman.”
Sybil recalls that the older children would help the younger ones, and kind neighbours would always extend a helping hand.
“Mom did what she had to do and we all came up,” Sybil reflected.

Together with Mr Daw’s income, ‘Miss Nicey’ did the occasional jobs to supplement provisions in the house.
Discipline was a feature of the household, and at times when frustrations boiled over the children had to get a scolding.
“She would give us the whip. But what I liked was that she always explained to us why were getting the whip,” Sybil explained.
‘Miss Nicey’ is proud of the fact that her children never did have huge fights among themselves.
“What we did fight about is helping one another, like going to school or getting a job,” Sybil recounted.
Apart from taking care of their physical needs and inculcating good virtues in her children, ‘Miss Nicey’ made sure she found time to take care of their emotional needs. She recalls doing simple things with them, like taking them up on the sand hills of Coomaka on a moonlit night.
And how did she manage to bring them all up? Her explanation is simple: “I just love them. I hug them, I play with them. I enjoy my children.”
Today, ‘Miss Nicey’ enjoys her old age. She currently lives with three of her youngest boys and her youngest daughter.
“My children have been a blessing; none of them have deserted me. I thank God for that.”

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