Founder of Bequia Girl Guides dies at 98

Described as a “venerable dame,” 98-year-old Irma Agatha Norris M.B.E. was laid to rest on Tuesday July 22, after a thanksgiving ceremony at the St George’s Cathedral in Kingstown.

Former Minister of Culture and close family friend John Horne, who eulogised Norris, said that Norris worked hard at everything she did.{{more}}

She was born on the Grenadine island of Bequia on April 19, 1916 to Cleopatra Hazell, who died in 1986 at the age of 101.

Arguably St Vincent and the Grenadines’ oldest Girl Guide, Norris, who was buried in the St George’s Cathedral churchyard, died on Thursday, July 17.

Horne, in the eulogy, revealed that Norris was a past student of the Intermediate High School (IHS) who returned to Bequia in 1934, where she taught at the Bequia Primary School.

She also taught at the Girls’ High School from 1956 to 1967 where she introduced sex education and also taught Scripture, English language and English literature.

She was married on December 27, 1944 to Samuel Augustus Norris and had five children: Lynette, Josette, Cecily, Audrie and Perry (deceased).

Norris is also credited with starting the Bequia Guide Company and as recently as Saturday February 22 this year, attended the annual Girl Guides Thinking Day Service at the Kingstown Methodist Church.

Norris was among the founding members of the Anglican Mothers’ Union which was established in the late 1940s.

In the Eulogy, Horne said of Norris, “St George’s Cathedral has lost a devout and totally committed Anglican who gave much to her church and to her community and her country.”

Norris’ funeral saw tributes from president of the Girl Guides Association Rene Baptiste and Reverend Deacon Rosemarie Alleyne of the Anglican Mothers’ Union. There were also tributes in song from Clifford and Trevor Edwards and a choir made up of past students of the Girls’ High School.

The homily was done by Bishop of the Windward Islands, the Right Reverend Leopold Friday.

Members of the Girl Guide Association formed a guard of honour as the casket was carried from the church to the burial site.