Edward Gustavas Smith

Bar In the quaint settlement of Lorimers, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, the home of Violet Tucker and Dewey Smith (both deceased), came alive with joy and happiness, as they celebrate the arrival of their precious gem, whom they named Edward Gustaves Smith. Edward’s family affectionately called him “Junior” or “Bar”, but acquaintances called him “Coca” after his great grandfather Coca Tucker. As a single mother, Violet and her son were forced to leave Middle Caicos, to reside with her grandparents in Moor Hall, North Caicos, a secluded and remote region between Whitby and Sandy Point. Junior acquired his early education at the Sandy Point All-Aged Primary School, under the tutelage of the late Jessie Campbell, until the early nineteen sixties, when his family’s primitive home was levelled due to hurricane Donna. In those primitive years, with no means of transportation, Junior and his two older siblings spent several years commuting between settlements to attend school or to run family errands. This was usually a day’s task, and since there were limited land routes, they had to walk the sandy beaches, from Moor Hall to Whitby or Sandy Point, and by a foot path through land to Bottle Creek. In the years following, Junior was blessed with four siblings. They all exemplified love and respect for him by calling him Bar. During the late 1963 to early 1964, life became less burdensome for Bar, when his extended family relocated to Bottle Creek, North Caicos. He continued his education at the Bottle Creek All-Aged Primary School (now the Adelaide Oemler Primary School), until the tender age of fifteen years. Since secondary education was not affordable in the capital island, Grand Turk, Bar gained employment on Pine Cay (a private island between North Caicos and Providenciales), during the construction of the Meridian Club Hotel. As faith would have it, one year later, Bar was enlisted as an apprentice, into West Indies Shipping Company in Nassau, Bahamas, along with many others from his hometown, under the supervision of renowned Captain Reo Swann, a native of the Turks and Caicos Islands. After the company became defunct, Bar sort employment from many shipping companies operating from Florida and other states. His seamanship ranked him from first mate to captain, until retirement. Junior’s knowledge of the sea bolstered him to weather many storms, including a narrow escape from his vessel from sinking. Bar was numbered among the many captains, who safely delivered one million barrels of oil to land. Bar never abandoned his religious beliefs instilled in him as a child. He accepted Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Saviour, late in years and would often attend church, especially after retirement. After years of acclimatization at sea, Bar would return home during vacations, to visit his mom and siblings. It was on one of those occasions that he captured the heart of one of the neighbor’s charming teenagers, Zalmunna Lightbourne. Their union produced three children. Left to cherish his fond memories are: Wife: Zalmunna Smith, Sons: Gordon, Gregory, Edward Jr. and Elison, Daughter: Valisa: Smith, Grandchildren: Tatyana, Tirrell, Tyson, Treyvonne, Ramon and Monalisa. Adopted Daughter: Florinda Baptiste of Nassau, Bahamas. Brother: Ashwood Forbes of Turks and Caicos Islands. Sisters: June Murphree of Florida, Elizabeth Nash of Bradford, England and Annal Handfield of Turks and Caicos Islands. Nephews: Neil, Ashwood Jr., Kaz, Patrick, Patterson, Caleb, Cameo and Brandon. Nieces: Bernadette, Catherine, Sandy, Patricia, Shedi, Shetra, Shan, Sarah, Sierra and Ashley. Grand Nieces and Nephews: Devon, Isaiah, Theo, Kyi, Phoenix, Jada, Azariah, Myles and Nathaniel. Other Relatives and Friends of the Turks and Caicos Islands (including special cousin, Stanley Jennings), the Bahamas and Florida, (USA), are far too numerous to mention. May Edward’s soul rest in God’s eternal peace.

Edward Gustavas Smith

October 10, 1954 - January 30, 2025