Suzette Smith, Gleaner Writer

Sybil Evans

Sybil Evangeline Evans, affectionately called 'Aunt Sybil' and 'Nurse', was an outstanding contributor to the nursing legacy in Jamaica.

Her contribution has not gone unnoticed by her family members who will set up a scholarship fund in her honour at The University of the West Indies School of Nursing.

Nurse Evans was among the first batch of graduates from what was then The University College of the West Indies Hospital School of Nursing (UCHWI) and served in various public and private health care facilities, both in Jamaica and in Canada.

She will be remembered as a great humanitarian who was very compassionate.

"Ms evans was able to mount any obstacle and was adaptable to changes. Her entire life, she lived a Godly principle and loved people. She gave with dignity so no one felt belittled but esteemed," her daughter Collette Evans-Noel commented.

Gentle and giving

"She helped me with all three of my children; was always gentle and giving. She was so regal and gracious. I seek to carry on the work of this Godly woman who faced adversity with determination and has distinguished herself," she added.

Nurse Evans was born to parents Egbert Hugh Evans and Isabel Adina McPherson on April 20, 1923 in August Town, St Andrew. She was a former student of Morris Knibb Preparatory School and was a champion speller of the school.

She first trained as a pharmacist but, encouraged by her friend, Linda Abdulla, decided to pursue her first love - nursing. She enrolled at UCHWI and was an excellent student.

Working in Canada

Although she did not particularly like midwifery, she ensured that she delivered only the allotted 882 babies for her course requirements.

She became a graduate of the first batch of students between 1949 and 1953. She then worked at the University Hospital of the West Indies, the Kingston Public Hospital and the National Chest Hospital.

In the early 1950s, nurse Evans was recruited to work as a nurse in Canada and was assigned to Guelph General Hospital. She then did her degree in public health nursing at the University of Toronto.

From there, she went into public health nursing and worked with the federal government of Canada which was a very high accomplishment for her. She also gave nursing service to two different settlements - Beren's River and Fisher River- among the Canadian Red Indians, and had to learn to speak 'Soto', to communicate with the Indians. She spent a total of 14 years working as a nurse in Canada.

After her father fell ill, she returned to Jamaica and took care of him as well as her aunts.

On her return, she worked as a school nurse at St Hilda's High, St Ann. In 1971, she returned to Kingston and adopted her daughter, Collette Evans, on December 22, 1973.

Home for the elderly

In 1977 she started a nursing home for the elderly and ensured that the residents always had a family setting. She had a maximum capacity of 10 patients at any one time and her home became one of the leading nursing homes in Jamaica between 1977 and 1995.

She first operated from her home at 39 Lady Musgrave Road (1977-1979) then in 1980, she moved to Linstone Crescent, operated from there.

"People would turn to her home and ask for meals. Some were so regular they had their own cups and meals. She never let them feel inferior when she gave," Evans-Noel said.

Nurse Evans was a member of Bethany Gospel Hall and, even after her retirement from nursing in 1995, she helped out at the nursing home of the church.

After living with her daughter in Rochester, New York, for the past five years, she died there on June 28.

Her service of thanksgiving will be held at Bethany Gospel Hall, 9A Hagley Park Road on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Interment follows in the St Andrew Parish Church Cemetery.