It is indeed with much sad regret that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), sole advocate of Slave Burial Ground, Paynes Town, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica; announces the home going of unsung heroine and icon Mrs. Elvie Annita Daley-Miller, a native of Paynes Town, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, past student Carmel Elementary School, Westmoreland and owner of te property on which the Historic Cinderella Heritage Site is located.
Miss Elvie as Mrs. Miller is fondly called and revered by everyone in her Paynes Town community, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2022 at the age of 85 years in Black River Public General Hospital where she was admitted with chronic asthma and pneumonia complication.
Miss Elvie whose husband Reuben Miller predeceased her, will always be remembered for her quiet resilience active participation in the meeting which she attended in the office of Mr. Errol Lebert, Chief Executive Officer Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation on January 15, 2018. The meeting which was chaired by His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman of the Corporation Councillor Derrick Sangster, was also attended by Mrs. Carmen “Mitsy” Jones-Robinson, President New Market Community Development Committee and Vincent Samuels, ASC, BBA; Secretary Treasurer/Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA). The purpose of the meeting was to make Saint Elizabeth Municipal Corporation aware of the Slave Day Burial Ground on Mrs. Miller’s property so that the Corporation could take appropriate action to pursue written assurance and commitment given to Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) by Mr. Zachary Beier, MA, Associate Lecturer and Archaelogist at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Kingston and Jamaica National Heritage Trust that the Historic Heritage Site where Hon, John Salmon, former President of the Legislative Council of Jamaica, Custos Rotelorum for Saint Elizabeth, Slave Owner of Kepp adjoining Paynes Town and Samuel John Manley (1832-1867), grandfather of Right Honourable Excellent Norman Washington Manley (1893-1969), Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and National Hero and other Slave Owners, members of their families are buries with their slaves would be taken over and preserved as a heritage site.
In the pursuance of getting the Cinderella Historic Heritage Site brought to public attention, with continued advocacy from the Secretary/Treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) at whose personal expense the site of the Slave Burial Ground was completely de-bushed and cleared of tall overgrown trees, shrubs, weeds and “ping wing macka” so that Paul Williams, Jamaica Gleaner Features Reporter could access the site to enable him to write several news articles which appeared in Jamaica Gleaner about the discovery; Miss Elvie and her daughter Madge Mullings attended several meetings of the defunct South Coast Tourism Product Development Company which were held at Lovers Leap, Yardley Chase, Saint Elizabeth under the Chairmanship of Mr. Anthony Freckleton.
Frail though and advancing in age as Miss Elvie was; she was an active communicant member at Carmel Moravian, Westmoreland for over 50 years. The historic Carmel Moravian Church built on lands bequeathed by the Slave owner of Hopeton Property, is the church in which Archibald Monteath, born Aniaso in 1790s in Southern Nigeria, pioneered relentlessly as a Helper after he purchased his freedom from John Monteath his Slave Master at Kepp Slave Estate, New market, Saint Elizabeth for Fifty Pounds. For more information about Archibald Monteath, the native from West Africa whose mortal remains are interred in the cemetery at Carmel Moravian Church; readers of this article announcing the homegoing of Miss Elvie, are urged to purchase a copy of Maureen Warner-Lewis book: ARCHIBALD MONTEATH: IGBO JAMAICAN, MORAVIAN (2007), University Press.
As an active communicant member at Carmel Moravian Church, Miss Elvie served as Stewart on the Church Board and member of the Church Choir. Miss Elvie leaves behind her children Jean, Madge, Melvin and Rohan, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, several nieces and nephews, members of Carmel Moravian Church Fraternity and members of Paynes Town Community to grieve and mourn her loss.
Thanksgiving Service for the life of Miss Elvie, unsung heroine and icon; will be held at Carmel Moravian Church, Westmoreland on November 12, 2022 commencing at 11:00 AM. Following the Thanksgiving Service, Miss Elvie’s mortal remains will be interred in the family plot at Paynes Town where she will be laid to rest beside her husband under tall dense overgrown bamboo trees with the Cinderella Historic Slave Day Burial Ground separated by adjoining stone wall as the backdrop.
We pass this way but once; therefore, if there is any good deed that I can do to the poor and needy and others with whom we interact daily; let us do it now for we shall never pass this way again.
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