On Wednesday 15th September 1954 abeautiful baby girl was born on the island of New Providence, The Bahamas tothe late Francis Richards Lightbourne and Milton Lightbourne. She was given thename Wendy Mae Lightbourne.
Wendy received her early education at WesternJunior and Western Senior Schools in the city of Nassau, on the island of NewProvidence. Upon graduation, Wendy wasemployed at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Downtown, Nassau. Shortly thereafter, she spent a brief stintat Butlers & Sands. Wendy’s last place of employment was Sysco Bahamas FoodServices formerly known as Bahamas Food Services where she spent fifteen plusyears before retiring.
Wendy was a private individual who did not seekattention and was not a meddlesome or disrespectful person. However, if you would have crossed her in anyway, you would have learned that she was strong-willed, plain-speaking, direct,aggressive, and determined. On the otherhand, she was also known to be kind-hearted, and family oriented.
As a young girl, Wendy helped her mother in andaround the kitchen cooking, baking, preparing family meals, and providingsupport to her mother to assist in caring for her siblings. Her mother’s training and practicalexperiences manifested in the transfer of the maternal and domestic skills neededfor Wendy to develop a love and passion for motherhood and for working with herhands. Consequently, she enjoyed cookingand baking. It was a delight for her, andshe took great care and pride in preparing meals for family reunions, parties, wakes,repasses, and other celebratory special occasions.
On Wednesday 10th August 1977 Wendy gavebirth to a handsome baby boy and she named him Quincy Deon Darling whopre-deceased her. Wendy was a devotedand dedicated mother who took great care of her son. She would often be seen routinely droppinghim off at the Centreville Primary School to ensure that he received hiseducation and provided love and support for him until the time of his demise.
It was during the early period of 1982 when Wendywould routinely make her school drop-off errands, that this beautiful GreenCastle Eleuthera young lady would catch the eyes of one Falcon Alexander Major;a handsome young man who was employed at Tyre Flex. This eye-catching experience lead toconversations and resulted in this uniquely special and enduringfriendship. This friendship blossomedinto a relationship and a union that would remain unbroken up to the time ofher transition. Wendy was very family-orientedand she enjoyed small family gatherings and spending quality time with her specialfriend and lifelong partner Falcon Major.
As Wendy was a private individual, whenever sheexperienced any health issues or challenges, she endured them internally whileseeking the necessary medical help and attention. She demonstrated unconquerable strength untilshe was no longer able to do so on her own. In her wisdom and as she began tobecome a bit more challenged in recent years, her life long partner reached outto her nephew Corporal 3152 Delmar Taylor who was a 919 Police call taker anddispatcher whenever Wendy needed the assistance of an ambulance. Wendy’s nieceMarktenya Lightbourne –Maycock (Teeny) RNwould routinely do house visits and provide the medical assistance wheneverWendy was hospitalized. Teeny would be the liason to Falcoln and provided himand the family with updates on Wendy’s health while in hospital. Falcolnensured and orchestrated the path to ensure that Wendy’s medical challengesreceived the necessary care, attention and support from caring family members,and those who were willing and able to assist during her final months on earth. He ensured that whenever there was a need forEmergency Medical Services, whatever challenges may have arisen, he found a wayto ensure that Wendy, received the services that she needed.
Wendy’s medical challenges made her keenly awarethat her time was coming to an end. Recognizing this reality, and as a result of her keen and devoted lovefor her grandsons Bill and Clifford, and despite extreme discomfort and anailing body, she demonstrated indomitable strength. During the week prior to her passing, andbefore she was re-admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital for the finaltime, she completed her final act of love and compassion. She got into her car, went to the bank, madea withdrawal, and took her grandchildren to purchase their school shoes, bags,and other school supplies to assist in ensuring that they were prepared andready for the upcoming school year.
In hopes that Wendy would be discharged fromhospital and return home; the week preceding Wendy’s transition, Falcolnensured that the propane tank at home was filled with cooking gas and the ovenchecked and ready for Wendy’s use for when she returned to her usual self to beable to return to her delight and contentment of cooking and baking.
On the afternoon of Sunday 7th August2022, sometime after 1:00 pm after enduring all of her health challenges, shewas made to surrender the battle. Our KeenGod and Most Gracious Heavenly Father understood that Wendy was growing wearyin her present body and answered her call for a new heavenly body. Through the “eyes” of faith, it was at this timethat she transitioned from earth to reward and exchanged her earthly garments.
Left to cherish her fond memories:
Lifelong Partner: Falcon Major;
Grand Children: Bill and Clifford Darling;
Brothers: Wilson and Kevin Lightbourne;
Sisters: Patsy Dolce, Cheryl, Marie, and Judy Lightbourne,Gina Miller, Mavis Johnson, and Yvonne Neilly;
Brother-In-Law: Foldere Dolce;
Numerous Nieces & Nephews: Tanishka, Maressa, Marktenya, Natasha Dillet,Christopher Saunders, Dominic, Corporal 3152 Delmar Taylor, Rashame Taylor,Rashard Lightbourne, Kelson, Candia Ross, Darnell, Falicia, Lynette Burrows,Latoya Laing, W/Sgt. 2445 Natasha Black, Sisco Taylor, Gerad, Alkino, Maurice,Teeboy, Ahmal, Gerlano, Taurean, Naquel, Regine, Yvonnericka, Samantha, Jill,Lamont;
Grand Nieces and Nephews: Tanricka, Charlene, Makai, Makayla, Yulanda Forbes-Fowler,Arwick, Alexis, Ariana, Takiem, Makai, Lavaunte, Stephan Jr, Demetrius,Ashanti, Demetria, Victoria, Dwania, Rachael, Maki, Keyonte, Dnari, Khari,Kamari, Nyla, Yelena Fowler .
Cousins: Francine Knowles, Carolyn Richards, RochelleLightbourne, Delvera Griffin, Donna Ferguson, Alison Brown, KatherinePercentie, Hazel Thompson, Linda Knowles, Veona Minnis, Betsy & CurleneRichards, Angela Thompson, Gloria Anderson, Delroy, Wilton, Hilbert BernellRichards Harvey Lockhart, Garnett Brown, Ricky Martin, Michael Ferguson;
Other Relatives & Friends: Vernita and Raymond Carroll, Althea Brooks,Abraham, Ruben & Cherice Major, Raymond & Kriston Carroll, Rekeno &Sharell Carroll, Cameren & Payton Carroll, Hensley Brooks Jr., Jason,Ruben, Jessica, Jasmine, Chereca, Rubenique, Robyn, Kriston Major, Bernadette& John Cartwright, Elaine Cartwright, Delores Taylor, Andrew Cartwright,Bridget Lightbourne, Pandora Darville, Lillian & Patricia Taylor, AgethaMiller, Keva Major, Joy Saunders, Tracy Major, Asia & Elton Major, KelseyRoxbury, Albury & Vincent Hanna, Brenda Cartwright, Rosie Smith, CraigCartwright, Peter Miller, Rodney Hall William Taylor;
Special Thanks To: Doctors and Nurses at the Princess Margret Hospital, The PublicAffairs & Communications Department of The Royal Bahamas Police Force,Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings, Inspector Makelle Pinder, Apostle Valentino and Kenva CleopatraWilliams, Life Changers Ministries International, The Praise & Worship Teamof Life Changers Ministries (OWN), Saint Gregory TheGreat Anglican (Episcopalian) Church, All Saints Anglican Church, thecommunity of Green Castle and South Eleuthera, The Bamboo Town DorsettevilleCommunity, Shellie Pratt, Ricardo and Alexandria Taylor, and Vendors at TheDown Town Straw Market.
