Famous Female Firsts - The Abacos "First Women"
A What's On Lifestyle Article

Female "Firsts" in the Abaco
Charlene AM Fernander-Cote

The idea of writing about female residents of The Abacos who were the first in their respective fields of interest or expertise came to me when my "uncle" Vernon Malone inadvertently mentioned that his daughter, Bonnie Hall was the first Abaco female firefighter. I am no longer a feminist but I certainly am a people-activist and the achievements of anyone, male or female always interest me. For those who follow the stars of Astronomy, I am an Aquarian ­ therefore, reportedly, a rebel (with a cause), a revolutionary and a person of the future.

We shall begin at the beginning ­ with Wyannie Malone, that first female Loyalist settler of Hope Town, Bonnie's homeplace and her ancestor. As we all know by now, Wyannie, a mother of four ­ to whom the Malones (and others) owe their very existence ­ came to the Abacos in the late 1700's when the place was not more than forestry and windswept beaches.

Bonnie Malone Hall, daughter of Vernon and Barbara, wife of Arnold Hall (Malone Estates) and mother to Albert, began as the first female firefighter about three years ago. She studied for this occupation, which is a voluntary one, by reading up on the practices and methods of the New York City Firefighters and by taking the recent First Responders course of the Ministry of Health. Bonnie and her brother have firefighting "in the blood" as their maternal grandfather and uncles were all firefighters in their American home state of Virginia. She teaches the cadets in Hope Town in hopes of strengthening the 12-member team of the Hope Town Volunteer Fire Department.

Another Hope Town resident who was a "first" was Flossie Albury, the first female Justice-of-the-Peace. Flossie, who had been the Post Mistress for many years previously, died in 1995 at the age of 62 years.

Savethda Fynes, only daughter of Pearl Lewis of Cooper's Town, North Abaco, holds the title of the first Abaco Olympian contender ­ male or female. Ms. Fynes, now 24 years old achieved her undisputed honour and glory when she competed for the Bahamas and The Abacos in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and took home the silver medal for the relay. Ms. Fynes now competes in "circuit" racing in the United States and Europe. She honed her training when she was a student at Michigan State University and presently makes her home in the States.

Mrs. Beverly Roberts Sands holds the record for being the first (and only, so far) female boat captain of the Albury Ferry fleet. Captain Bev began her service about five years ago after having worked as a Dive master and boat captain for UNEXSO ­ a diving concern in Freeport. Albury's Ferry enjoyed her service ­ as did her passengers ­ and were sorry to see her leave, when she relocated to Great Guana Cay. Captain Bev is equally sorry, she enjoyed meeting the visitors to the Abacos as well. Lately, she has ventured into a new field ­ wood carving and sign painting in her new home at Great Guana Cay.

Ms. Nakia Williams is perhaps the most youthful of our gallery of awesome women. She is the first female News Reporter of the first local radio station, Radio Abaco. At present, Ms. Williams is also the youngest female member of the Pilot Club of Abaco.

We have been showcasing the Abaco-born female firsts; now let us remark on the achievements of those who have made Abaco their home and have brought their stars to shine over these turquoise waters.

Royann Newbold Swain, the first female Principal of Abaco Central Secondary School in Murphy Town, hails from Nassau and was encouraged to follow her childhood dreams of becoming a teacher by Abaconian veteran educator, Patrick Bethel. Her own education in Nassau schools like Government High and the Bahamas Teacher's College, was highlighted by her achievement in the honours programmes. Mrs. Swain came to Abaco in 1973 to teach at Abaco Central Secondary when it was still situated in Spring City. She married local Abaco son, Sherman Swain (National Insurance Board) in 1979 after having further qualified herself with degrees in Education (B.Ed. and M.Sc.Ed.) in Florida. The couple have three children, Casey, Sherann and Kelson.

Mrs. Swain has been principal for about two years after having returned to Abaco Central at its new location several years ago. She was preceded by Principal Cephas Cooper, who was transferred from the school in 1997, and is holding her own against daunting odds ­ a large student population (approximately 600 teenagers) and a staff of diverse teachers. Mrs. Swain, daughter of Bruce and Bertha of Nassau, is an active member of the Anglican Church and reads, writes, travels and entertains to relax.

Nassauvian Police Constable Ellen Meldor (who married Philip Strachan while I was trying to put pen to paper.), is the first female police officer of the Abacos. Mrs. Meldor Strachan was posted to the Abacos from Nassau (her homeplace) in 1996.

Other firsts of the Royal Bahamas Police Force are Female Police Reservists, Valerie Dean, Samantha Bain, Carmel Cornish, Frankie Evans, Beatrice Moxey (also the first Colina Financial Services policyholder in these islands), Mary Reckley, Shannia Rolle, Yvonne Saunders and Crystal Swain. This elite group of capable women boost the ranks of the police by providing additional law enforcement reserves when the need arises.

Charlamae Fernander, a daughter of Charles and Sylvia and one of three children, has distinguished herself by becoming both the first President of the Abaco Chapter of the Pilot Club (May 1998) and by being the first Chief Welfare Officer of the Department of Social Services in The Abacos. Ms. Fernander, a Nassauvian (and, yes, my sister) came to Abaco in January 1997 after having done a stint in Andros. As President of the Pilot Club of Abaco, a non-profit charitable organization, whose primary focus is brain-related disorders, Ms. Fernander and several of the other members of the Club are second-generation Pilots.

In her professional life, Ms. Fernander, an 18-year veteran of the Department of Social Services, became the first Chief Welfare Officer ever assigned to the Abacos. She is responsible for a staff of five (5) permanent and eleven (11) part-time employees throughout the Abacos. Although her work presents many challenges, she derives happiness from helping other people to improve their standard of living and achieving their goals.

Rev. Carla Culmer, the first female Methodist Minister was posted to Abaco to serve as the Minister of Epworth Methodist Chapel, Cherokee Sound, St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Dundas Town and St. James Methodist Church, Hope Town, on 11th September, 1995. Rev. Culmer also has the distinction of being the first woman ordained in the Methodist Church of the Bahamas (21st June 1996.) This dynamo in her chosen field, holds a Master of Divinity degree (Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA).

In addition to serving as the Minister to the three mentioned congregations, Rev. Culmer serves as the Director to Ordained Ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church and as the Conference's Coordinator of Young Adults Ministry. Her recently produced booklet, "Three Healing Exercises," allows individuals to prepare themselves for God's healing presence in their lives. Rev. Culmer, the daughter of Frank and Joyce, is a native of Savannah Sound, Eleuthera and has eight siblings.

Peggy Cooper, another Nassauvian, was recently promoted to the post of Nurse Practitioner ­ which means that she is qualified to write prescriptions for ailments and is the first Bahamian appointed to Abaco with that rank. Nurse Peggy (as she is affectionately called) holds court at Marsh Harbour Government Clinic and is the "right hand" of Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hyatali Ameeral. She also serves as Personnel Officer, Office Manager and general dispenser of common-sense advice to the general public.

Ms. Sheila McDonald, first female Bahamas Customs Officer (in charge and at that level) who was honoured by her Department on International Customs Day (22nd January 1997), is now Customs Superintendent (effective April 1998) in a field, which, like most uniformed branches of the Public Service, had been the bastion of males for many years. Ms. McDonald, who was born in Nassau, has been serving in the Customs Department for more than thirty years and has one son, Justin, of whom she is justifiably proud. When she was assigned to The Abacos in January 1989, she was second-in-charge, but she rose to the topmost level by January, 1994 and has been holding her own since then.

Bahamas Customs is the primary source of revenue for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, therefore, Ms. McDonald has no piddling in her role as the chief guardian of fees and tariffs collected on incoming goods. Her unblemished reputation as a woman of integrity is truly a feat for an officer in her career ­ a career fraught with the perils of unscrupulous persons who will attempt to threaten or bribe. Ms. Mac (as she is nicknamed) continues to hold her head above it all.

Other notable first women are Pastor Yvette McIntosh, the first female licensed Minister of the Church of God, Cooper's Town; Suzanne Bethel and Eleanor Pinder Jorgensen, who are respectively the first female chairpersons of their townships - Hope Town and Cherokee Sound (Local Government Authority.)

Mrs. Greta Strachan-Culmer is the first female Youth Officer of that Ministry, Mrs. Ethellee (Lee) Wilson of the Administrator's Office, Marsh Harbour, manages that office and holds the distinction of having done so through several Commissioners (Administrators). Mrs. Veronica Edwards-Nairn, first female Chief Labour Officer; Mrs. Gloria Bain, the first female Deputy Administrator appointed to South Abaco and among the first female Administrators ever; Mrs. Kendy McPhee Anderson, the first senior officer of the Abaco Tourist Office; Ms. Laura Weatherford, first General Manager of the tourist publication, What's On! Abaco; Mrs. Ansula McDonald, first female Office Manager of ZNS III ­ The voice of the Bahamas, all of whom are leading ladies in their fields.

Ms. Enid White of Sandy Point was the first female employee of the Road Traffic Department, Nurse Barbara Reckley, was the first Government Nurse, Ms. Geneva Williams of Moore's Island was the first female Baptist (Zion) Minister, Dr. Elaine Lundy, the first female physician (general practice), Mrs. Jacquelyn Estevez of Nassau, the first female Assistant Manager of Commonwealth Industrial Bank and yours truly . . . first female Chief Executive Officer to the Office of any Island Administrator.

There's no need to warn the fellas to watch out ­ males have been distinguishing themselves in their fields for centuries but they tend to virtually ignore or undermine female achievements in identical areas ­ so, we've decided to blow our own horns. Enjoy reading about your sisters, ladies and uphold them all!