Bernice Mansell Foundation pays homage to eight mothers

May 15, 2017 News

The honouree mothers and the Hon. Minister Cathy Hughes

Eight mothers were yesterday honoured when the Bernice Mansell Foundation held its annual Mother’s Day luncheon at Parc Rayne Banquet Hall, Rahaman’s Park, Georgetown.

Founder of the organisation, Bernice Mansell, said that mothers are recognised each year for outstanding performance in their field of work.

This year was no different, as eight dedicated mothers were awarded with prizes and other collectables at the event, which was attended by Minster of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes.

During her remarks, Minister Hughes told the gathering that women possess a special gift, and that is the ability to nurture children, other than theirs. The Minister said that women have the physiological and emotional strength to find solutions to the toughest challenges.

She also remarked that a woman can wear a smile, even when things are not going well.

“Since we are little girls, we learn that those attributes are the very essence of womanhood and motherhood. Our society has strived for a very long time on the pillars of love, respect genuine care for mothers, grandmothers, wife girlfriends, sister, aunts and cousins,” the minister noted.

Among the honourees were Kaieteur News Special Person Mitzy Gaynor Campbell, who was described as a selfless person and a hard worker. Her daughter, Cristy Campbell shared that her mom has always been a staunch believer in God and as a result, their day always begins with prayers before sunrise.

Magaret Rose Arthur was also remembered. She was the first female to enlist in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), where she spent 25 years helping other women to become respectable soldiers.

Faye Audrey Crawford, the fifth of seven children, holds a Diploma in Theology and has been an ordained Minister for the past seven years. She is involved in social work and started a feeding programme in Tucville, Greater Georgetown. Crawford is currently the Regional Vice President of Intercontinental Region.

Sylvia Bernadette Calvan, was born on October 2, 1949. She had a pleasant upbringing and spent lots of time in the kitchen with her mother. In 1980, Sylvia and her family moved from Georgetown to a small, now developing village named Kuru-Kuru on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. There she settled, and it wasn’t long before her skills in the kitchen were recognized by friends and neighbours. She then worked at the Kuru-Kuru Primary School’s canteen, preparing hot meals daily for the less fortunate.

Winifred Fuentes was born on May 21, 1946. She moved to Fort Laurendale, Florida, where she graduated as a Cardiovascular Technician. Fuentes later graduated as a licensed practical nurse and massage therapist from the Florida College of Health.

Apart from her professional achievements, she has dedicated her energy towards assisting the less fortunate through socialization and the distribution of food stuff, clothing, medical supplies and other amenities to Venezuela and Haiti, that were both affected by natural disasters.

Maureen Massiah’s students had this to say about her. “We call you a mother because you had a hand in raising us. That we feel privileged, these words are testaments to the impact you have had on our lives.”

“To thousands, you are an educator, but to us you are a blessing. There are factors held in the highest esteem by a multitude, and even among them you’re upper echelon. You were our advocate, our inspiration, our disciplinarian and our protector. You were all a mother ought to be to her children.”

Brenda Moore, was born in New Amsterdam, Berbice in Edinburg Village. She later moved with her parents to Georgetown where she was raised in a Christian home. She hosts a popular food stall at her church fair and lends a helping hand to anyone that may be in dire need.

Mansell expressed gratitude to those who supported the event and pointed out that it is important for brave mothers to be saluted for having successfully undertaken the most important role that contributes towards positivism in society.

“A mother love is a handshake from the heart,” Mansell reminded.