A teacher and principal who served Virgin Islands schools for more than five decades was remembered last week at separate services on Tortola and her native Anegada.
Phyllis George died on Oct. 31 at age 85.
Besides her work as an educator, she was known for her contributions to the Zion Hill Methodist Church, where she served as an organist for more than four decades, and for other roles ranging from librarian to flower arranger to community organiser.
Teaching
Born on Anegada to Ira and Delita Smith on New Year’s Day in 1940, Ms. George completed her primary and post-primary education at the Anegada School before starting her career there as a pupil teacher in 1957, according to her funeral booklet.
As required by her appointment, she passed the Pupil Teacher Exams in 1958 and 1959, opening the door for her to obtain her Teacher’s Certificate in 1960.
The same year, she was appointed head teacher at the Anegada School, where she taught for seven years.
She later studied abroad, earning a certificate in education from the University of Nottingham and a certificate in special education from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.
Upon returning from overseas, she met police officer Jacob George, who was stationed in Anegada, and they married in 1973 and later relocated to western Tortola.
They had a son, Jason, and adopted a daughter, Jenny.
Tortola schools
On Tortola, Ms. George served as principal at the then-Carrot Bay Primary School and the Fort Charlotte Centre.
But during the summers, she often returned to Anegada to run children’s programmes sponsored by the library service.
“This was her way of retaining a connection with the island of her birth as well as to give her son, Jason, an opportunity to experience the island,” her funeral booklet states.
At the Zion Hill Methodist Church, Ms. George also conceived a Black History Month celebration that launched in 1998.
Each year, the event continues to honour community members for their contributions to the territory.In 2015, she was among the honourees.
After retiring from teaching following a 52-year career, Ms. George served as a part-time librarian at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, where she was a founding member of the College Chorale.
She also worked for several years with the Social Development Department as a programme manager responsible for the Road Town Senior Citizens Programme, the funeral booklet states.
Services
Ms. George was honoured with a service on Friday at Zion Hill Methodist and another on Saturday at the Anegada Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, her children, her brother Iverson Smith and three grandchildren.
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