Save the Pages: For Future Generations

By Jeryl F. Hodge

I always liked writing. This story is of special value to me for a personal reason. My mother and I had a good relationship, but she died fifty-nine years young. As I thought about how much I valued my mother, I wanted to write about our lives. I believe some of the stories might help resolve old conflicts and promote understanding among family members.
Another reason for writing this book is that my mother told me about her experiences growing up in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and was not able to publish them. I have recalled wonderful, often-forgotten experiences and have written them on paper since I retired.
I wanted to write a book everyone could read, and I encourage others to write their stories as they live them. I hope this book will help young people as well as future generations to know where they came from and who they are. This book is a gift for every family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503579262

Jeryl F. Hodge

Jeryl F. Hodge is a native of Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. She grew up in Saint Thomas with her parents and in Tortola with her grandparents and aunts. Jeryl F. Hodge is a graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School. She now lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She had worked at Vitelco, which is now Innovative Telephone Company, for thirty-eight years. She is best recognized for singing locally in the eleven-o’clock choir at Christ Church Methodist. She is the wife of Irvine Hodge Sr. and a mother of two children, Irvine Jr. and Devin. Jeryl takes a great deal of pride in recognizing the role of her late parents, Esmie and Charles Frazer, during the course of her life. In 2011, Jeryl was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was fifty-seven years old. She learned to manage her therapy throughout her life. Jeryl F. Hodge now loves to read, write, and collect information on the early history of the US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. Her interest in the final was to write a book about her family history as it was in her homeland.

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Copyright © 2015 by Jeryl F. Hodge.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 07/07/2015

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

In Honor of My Mother

Self

Moments and Memories

Courtship and Marriage

Children

Hobbies

Sports

Religion

Politics

Travel

Family and Friends

Health and Wellness

History: Brief Summaries

Tribute to Jeryl F. Hodge from Loved Ones

Bibliography

Author’s Biography

Photos and Other Graphics

I came as one, but stand as one thousand.

—Dr. Maya Angelou

In loving memory of my mother, Esmie V. Frazer, who left these earthly confines. Though gone, her legacy will never be forgotten, and she continues to live on through the training and teaching she instilled in me and my eight siblings. She was and is my inspiration.

To my loving and supportive husband, Irvine Hodge Sr., my rock, you have been my stable place when all was chaos. Thank you for your unending and unfailing love, support and encouragement throughout this work.

To our two sons, Irvine Jr. and Devin, thank you for the inspiration to keep going and to be strong.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

When I called three publishing companies, Kim from Xlibris was the first to return my call. John, whom I have to report to, said to me, Do your thing and take your time. Thank you, John, for believing that my story will make a great impact on those who read it. My thanks to you and the team at Xlibris.

I love to write, but writing a book is different than I expected. First, I thank the good old Lord and my husband, Irvine Hodge, who would prefer to read and spell-check for me, and the doctors on Saint Thomas and Florida. I love everyone who has helped me along life’s journey, including my relatives, church family, and friends who prayed for me. God bless them all. Thank you.

My mother was a phenomenal woman. She was beautiful in every way. God blessed me because my mother was the wind beneath my wings. Thank you, Mommy, for giving me unconditional love and a listening ear when I needed it. Even though my parents are no longer on earth, I miss them and thank them for providing for me, bringing me up in the church, and caring for me and my children.

A special thank you goes to the summer students and friends who helped type my book, namely, Glanesha, Shayna Wright, Shanon Charite, Rosalind Bowen, Opha Penn, Aquila E. Dorsey, Cheryl Mingo, Marguerite H. Williams, Monifa, Wyni Frederick, and Lacoya, who were all compensated for their efforts. Thanks to the librarians who assisted me, Beverly Smith and Stephanie. I would also like to thank my typist in Florida, Maria Clarcher, and my helper, Tameka Shelford.

In the summer of 2015, I put the finishing touches on my book, which I hope will be a fascinating and inspiring read for children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and future generations. Life experiences remind us of how rapidly time passes and how important it is for us to make an effort to present stories about the time in order to preserve memories and share moments from the past.

INTRODUCTION

I always liked writing. This story is of special value to me for a personal reason. My mother and I had a good relationship, but she died fifty-nine years young. As I thought about how much I valued my mother, I wanted to write about our lives. I believe some of the stories might help resolve old conflicts and promote understanding among family members.

Another reason for writing this book is that my mother told me about her experiences growing up in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and was not able to publish them. I have recalled wonderful, often-forgotten experiences and have written them on paper since I retired.

As a retiree, I decided to write a book and launch my book and incorporate it with the honoring of a few mothers who did more and beyond in the community and were never noticed. Even though my book didn’t meet the deadline, I decided to go ahead as promised to my five honorees and have the Mother’s Day function without the book. For every disappointment, there is a blessing. God’s timing is perfect; when the book is ready, it will be announced when the time comes. Part of the proceeds from the function will be given as a donation to the radio station WTJC to help spread the gospel over the airwaves. The five honorees were Christalia G. Testamark, Allegra Callwood, Laurice G. Fahie, Rita Turnbull, and Delita Parsons. Thanks to Irvine Hodge Sr. (my husband), Susy Espada, Winston Turnbull, Percy Nurse, Charles Jones, and Cheryl Huyghue. My helpers and ticket holders are Joyce Delemus, Lorna Lettsome, Carolyn Santora, and Mona Jones. Ticket Outlets: Nora Beauty Palace, VI Bridal and Tuxedo Center, and honorees. Booklet: Janet Myers.

I wanted to write a book everyone could read, and I encourage others to write their stories as they live them. I hope this book will help young people as well as future generations to know where they came from and who they are. This book is a gift for every family.

IN HONOR OF MY MOTHER

My mother, Mrs. Esmie, was born on September 6, 1923, in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. She migrated to Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and married Mr. Charles L. Frazer on August 28, 1946, in the Methodist Church. Together, they had eight children, who never dared raise their voices to her. We all knew to stop misbehaving when she gave us that look in her eyes. I am the last of eight children, the baby of the family.

My mother was confirmed and baptized in Christ Church Methodist in the Virgin Islands. Every Sunday, we had to go to Sunday school or we were not allowed to go anywhere else on that day. My mother used to dress my sister Susan, who is a year older, and I alike even though we were not twins. When our clothes were too small for us, my mom would give them away.

Every summer, my mother would send my sister Susy and me to our grandparents (Elizabeth Greaves and Elizabeth Turnbull) and our aunts in Tortola.

My mother was the best mother anyone could ask for. She was also like a big sister to me.

She attended the 6:30 a.m. Christ Church Methodist service. She never talked much, but she was a good listener. She raised her children well and was there when we needed her. She was a cook for the Galiber family and had other jobs at Red Roaster and at the Apothecary Hall. She worked until her last child, me, graduated from high school, which was my father’s suggestion. She loved to sit in her living room and watch Perry Mason and the soap opera Love of Life on television.

My mother loved to cook exquisite and delicious dishes. My brother Vanley would steal the food off my plate by distracting me. My mother cooked every day. My father didn’t like leftover food. He always wanted fresh food that was cooked the same day. Everyone who visited our home never left without a meal. Sometimes, I believe they came just to enjoy my mother’s cooking. Saturday was for cleaning, washing, and shopping. So we would eat pow-pow or cowboy food, which was corned beef, white rice, pork and beans, and fried plantain.

Lunch on Sunday had become a family ritual for my mother—a time when family gathers around to eat food and talk. My sister and I were not big enough, so we sat on a pile of books to reach the table. There were always other guests such as the neighbor and other families, and our friends were always welcomed to our home. On Sundays, when the neighbors went to work, they would send their kids up by Mrs. Esmie to eat and sleep until they got off from work. On Sundays, we had stewed mutton or dove pork or stewed chicken with red peas and rice or pigeon peas and rice, baked macaroni, coleslaw, stuffing, and maubi to drink.

I always bragged about my mother’s cooking and baking. On special occasions, I would get orders for tarts from my job for her. My friends and coworkers supported my mother’s carnival booth. My coworkers also bought tarts from my mother at Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmastime. My girlfriend, Rose Kitnurse, still has a china plate in memory of my mom. Everyone loved her cooking and baking.

I personally think the heat and cold of cooking had something to do with my mother’s illness, so I became a short-order cook—getting in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible.

My siblings and I inherited our cooking and baking skills from our mom. All of us can either do one or the other. My mother never liked children in her kitchen, except to wash dishes. So I really had to learn how to cook over the phone when I got married. She taught me her recipes right down to the tarts.

My mother was kind, determined, and true. She loved to dress, and I would take care of her hair. My mother was my best friend and confidant.

My mom loved plants, so anywhere she went, she would ask to purchase a plant. I think she loved sports cars too because it didn’t matter who was at the house with a car. She would call me to come take her wherever she wanted to go. When I asked if she wanted someone else to take her, she would say that she wanted me. Don’t play with me. Hurry up and come for me. I don’t want to be late would be her response. So when Auntie Christie, Auntie Laurice, and Audrey Turnbull (her sister-in-law) went out, I was there, even to Tortola Harvest and August Monday Festival.

My parents loved to watch the stories on TV, such as Days of Our Lives and As the World Turns. My mother and my father took care of their grandchildren. Mom didn’t babysit at nights or weekends, so if I had to work late, my husband would have to pick the children up by 5:30 p.m. We often bought our meat wholesale and split it in half. Many times, she would cook for her household and mine. That was my mother, always taking care of her family.

I spent a lot of time with my mother, and we went to many events together. I always kept my bedroom at my parents’ home so when I came from the hospital from having a baby or during village night around carnival time, I would go and spend time there. The only places I didn’t go with my mother was to my sister, Susy’s wedding in New York, or when she went with my aunt Laurice to Germany to visit my cousin Kenneth while he was in the military.

After my mother was diagnosed with an illness, she was sent to Puerto Rico Hospital. I would go with her while my husband took our children to and from school and took care of them. My mother had fourteen medications that she needed to take every day, and my father made sure she took them on time with meals. She never one day complained, and if anyone asked her how she was, her expressions were Not bad. But you could see how her lips were pressed together, and you would know she was in pain. She once said to me, I don’t have anything to give in return but God’s blessings. She was a woman of great courage and fought her battle well.

When the church group would come to visit my mother at the hospital, I would join them reading and singing at her bedside. She departed this life on April 23, 1984. After my mother passed, my father, my nephew Kevin, and my sister continued living in the house.

I used to enjoy having personal talks with my mother and was able to cry on her shoulder. My mother prayed for me more than she prayed for herself. I can say my mother’s prayers are surely being answered, for the Lord has been blessing me. She asked my husband, Owen, to take good care of me. For that, I am truly grateful. She was my inspiration, causing me to get my mammogram every year. I cannot allow my mother’s legacy to die with her.

When you find yourself complaining about your mother, think of those who have lost their mother like myself and would give anything to talk to her one last time.

SELF

Life must go on. Everyone’s life is unique!

A baby girl named Jeryl Hodge was born at Knud Hospital in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, on October 10, 1954. Mrs. Sarah Neptune, a midwife, delivered me.

My parents, Charles and Esmie Viola Frazer, baptized me in Christ Church Methodist at the Market Square in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I was born bowlegged as well as one of my brothers. My mother took me to the doctor to get braces on my feet so I wouldn’t be bowlegged when I reached school age.

When I was a little girl growing up, I was in Mrs. Sebastian’s majorettes. Our majorettes’ boots and sticks were ordered at La Belle Creole Department Store.

I used to tear pages out of Montgomery Ward’s ordering books and make paper dolls and clothing from the catalog. As a child, I never thought I would grow up to be a woman, a wife, or a mother. I have been married for thirty-nine years. Through everything, my husband, Irvine Owen Hodge Sr., has been supportive and has always been right beside me. We have two houses in Saint Thomas