This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Valerie James, 63, born on April 21, 1953 and passed away on June 10, 2016. We will remember her forever.

Valerie Eudora Rosemary affectionately known to many as Val, Teacher Valerie, Teach, Teacher Val, Sister James and Sister Valerie was born to Victor and Olvina Brand of Barzey’s on the 21 of April 1953. She was the fourth child of that union.

Valerie attended the Cavalla Hill and St. Johns Primary Schools and later the Montserrat Secondary School.

In 1971 Valerie began working as a teacher at the St. Johns Primary School. Val graduated from the Antigua State College at the top of her class.  Throughout her teaching career she attended other training programmes in Canada, the United Kingdom and Dominica. Valerie had a love affair with Math’s and her face would actually glow whenever she was working a problem.  She simply could not understand how people did not like Maths when it was just so logical and enjoyable. She was a committed and trained teacher. Valerie believed in punctuality and you knew she was really, really ill if she called in sick for work.

Valerie later became the head teacher of the Salem Primary School and then served as Early Childhood Education Coordinator in the Ministry of Education up until 1998 when her position became redundant after mass migration as a result of ongoing volcanic activitiy.  

In 2000 she commenced working as manager of the Montserrat Philatelic Bureau a post she held until her passing. She became very fascinated with stamps and enjoyed producing new stamps for the Government.

Forty four years ago Valerie married Victor James of Gerald’s. This union produced three children. Arlene, Magdalene and Victor Jr. Considering that all of their children were born in November maybe one can conclude that Valerie could only conceive in February.  We often joked with her about her fertile month.   The children’s birthdays fell on the 22nd, 24th and 28th of November.  We always felt that the series should be complete with a child in the family born on the 26th. Victor Jr almost made it possible however his son had a mind of his own and came on November 23rd .  The series is still not complete.

Valerie and her husband were baptized together at the New Carmel Church in Salem in 1974 and she had been involved in various forms of ministry over the years.  She served as church treasurer, Sabbath School Superintendent for numerous years, choir leader and auditor. She also assisted in youth ministry. She served as the head secretary for island wide crusades for many years. Valerie attended church regularly and was always punctual.

Valerie took pleasure in working with the inmates at HMS Prison where she taught them to read, write and do Maths.  Her goal was to ensure that every prisoner would be functionally literate and that those who had the ability should go on to do their O’levels in these areas. We would hear her say on Sunday afternoons, “I am going to prison”.  Very few programmes or activities could come between Valerie and her voluntary prison commitments. She was always delighted of her students’ achievements.

Valerie was a good cook and liked to experiment. She learnt to bake tart from Mr. Morgan who was one of Montserrat best chefs. Her children’s friends would remark at Valerie’s skill.  One of their friends who claimed not to consume soup was coaxed to take a little bit of Teacher Valerie’s soup.  She asked for seconds and instructed the children to save her portion whenever Valerie cooked soup. Anyone who visited on Christmas Day enjoyed the food she prepared.  She also organized many church luncheons.

She was an active member of the Montserrat Amateur Radio Society (MARS). Her call was VP2MER. Members of that fraternity will refer to her as a silent key.

Val was hospitalized in April of this year and travelled to the UK shortly thereafter. She was admitted at the North Middlesex Hospital but succumbed to her illness on June 10, 2016.  She leaves to mourn her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, relatives, friends, in laws, teachers she worked, students she taught, co-workers of the bureau, and inmates and staff at Her Majesty The Prison.

Funeral Service
http://livestream.com/accounts/2258188/events/5686359


Second site

http://valerie-eudora-rosemary-james.forevermissed.com/