Alma Manners

Our beloved mother, Alma Manners, passed away peacefully at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Hospital on May 8, following a brief illness. She was 96 years old and lived in Brooklyn.

Mommy was born on March 29, 1927, on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. She was one of eleven children and immigrated to the United States when she was 23 years old. She married Joshua Manners in 1956, and they had two daughters. Her husband and all her siblings predeceased her.

Mommy was a homemaker for many years and went on to become a paraprofessional in the New York City Public School System working at schools in Brooklyn. Mommy was a great believer in the value of education, and one of her favorite phrases was "Get your education, because they can't take that away from you."

A woman of unwavering faith, she read her Bible every day, until her failing eyesight made it impossible for her to read even her large-print Bible. When she was no longer able to attend church, she listened to religious programming and the Catholic Mass regularly. She loved to sing her favorite hymns. Even in her final days in hospital, Mommy was able to recite the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm by heart.

Mommy was a great sports fan -- the Mets and the Jets were her favorite teams. Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune were among her favorite TV shows, and she was also fond of mysteries.

She was a woman of style, grace, and elegance. She recalled fondly the days when gloves and hats were part of the daily dress code. And, to the end she was concerned about what she was wearing - commenting that she didn't care for the hospital gown and wanted her own nightgowns.

Mommy, also known affectionately as Aunt Olive to her nieces and nephews, was completely devoted to her family. She remembered everyone's birthday, saved graduation cards and programs, and proudly spoke about our accomplishments. Her support, wisdom, and tender loving care have sustained us over the years. We loved her beyond measure and will miss her every day. We thank God for her life and the blessing she was to us and others. Mommy is gone from this earthly realm, but we take comfort in knowing she is in the arms of the angels.

Cherishing her with precious memories are her two daughters Myrna and Phyllis; grandson Akil; granddaughter Hadiya; son-in-law Michael; her dear friend Bernadine; her goddaughter Bernice; nieces and nephews, Gloria, Carol, Spencer, Dawne, Diana, and many other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews, cousins and friends in the Caribbean, United States, England, Canada, and Australia.

We especially thank Dorcas, Paulette and Mary, the Visiting Nurse Service, and the staff of New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital for the care they provided to our dear Mother.