Enid E Gibbs

Enid Esperanza (the Spanish version for the name “Hope” in English) Powell Gibbs, was born in

Jamaica, West Indies, to Egbert Uriah Powell and Wilhelmina Moffat Powell on June 30, 1937.

Enid was the second of 6 children born to Egbert and Wilhelmina. Sadly, Enid’s mother,

Wilhelmina, passed away when Enid was at the tender age of 7 years old, leaving her and her 6

siblings, ranging from 8 years to just a few months old, and their eldest half-sister, without a

biological mother.

However, Egbert married Irene Violet Glaze Powell approximately 2 years later, and had 2 more

children. Enid was a hard worker both at school and at home. Her quiet exterior and introverted

demeanor concealed a strong internal spirit that her siblings and father experienced when she

was crossed. Enid excelled in her studies and attended Porters Mountain Primary school in early

childhood. Enid later passed her 3rd year Local Jamaica Exams to enter Kingston Public Hospital

(KPH) to train and became a Registered Nurse (RN) in her early 20’s.

In 1963, already established in her career, Enid married Hurby Gibbs, Jr. They had four children,

Andrea, Hurby Jr., Shoreley, and Joseph, before they were divorced in 1973. Enid did not

remarry but continued to work as nurse, not only at Kingston General Hospital in her early years,

she migrated to the United States in 1966 with her then husband, Hurby Gibbs, where she again

worked as an outstanding nurse at hospitals in Brooklyn, New York, including St. Johns, Coney

Island, St. Mary’s, Unity, and Brookdale Medical Center, working many double shifts during her

nursing career. After her divorce in 1973, she returned to Jamica and was the Residential Nurse

at the White House Health Clinic in Westmoreland, Jamaica for 3 years, before returning to the

United States. Enid continued as a Registered Nurse until her employer in the US required her to

get a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing to continue working, which she did, and

graduated with a high GPA and with an additional certificate for “Outstanding Performance”

from the Health Sciences Division of Medgar Evers University in New York, although she was

working and had her two youngest children at home.

Enid was not only an excellent nurse, but she was a caring individual who was always concerned

about the well-being of others, not only professionally, but personally, and this character trait

carried on throughout her entire life even after she took early retirement due to medical advice at

age 57 and half years and even beyond that, as a retiree. Enid was a “busy bee” from childhood

doing house-hold chores without being prompted and working on tasks that others may have

cringed to do and this did not end during her retirement years. Early retirement allowed her to

care for her grandchildren and a number of church and neighborhood children whose working

parents could work with complete peace of mind because their children were with “Granda

Enid.” Enid was a substitute teacher both in the public schools of Cobb County in Georgia during

the 1990’s, when she lived with her daughter Andrea for 9.5 years and later in Orange County

public schools when she relocated to Orlando, Florida to Powers Drive to be “on her own again,”

near her first cousin, Sheila. She loved to travel and went on church tours and cruises and took

her grandchildren and nieces and nephews on bus tours within the US and to Canada, and on

cruises to places like Alaska. She loved animals and had pets including her dogs Abby, Rex, and

Blackie in Jamaica and Ben-G and Shubacka in Georgia, and her tiny pet bird in Florida.

Enid loved God and in her quiet way she served Him and served others in His name due to her

love for Him and for them. She visited the sick in the home and in the hospital wherever she

lived. Although she never spoke of what she did, Enid did much for many around her in her

quiet, unobtrusive way. Even during the last four years of her life while living at the Central

Florida Elder Care Assisted Living in Kissimmee, Florida, Enid was thoughtful of those caring

for her by ensuring she called her children to remind them to make sure they remembered to

purchase and bring cards for Christmas to express her thanks to those who cared for her. Enid

not only gave herself in helping and serving others selflessly in her home and community, but in

all the churches she was a member of, or attended as well. As a Seventh Day Adventist, since

conception into the Powell family, Enid served her Lord as Deaconess, Adult Sabbath School

Teacher, Primary Teacher, Children’s Ministry Leader, Children’s Story Leader, Community

Service member, and a myriad of ways that cannot be numbered or designated—all without

thought of self or of the sacrifice being made, but with a quiet spirit and loving heart, not

desiring to be recognized for what she did. Her physical and financial contributions supported

the churches she attended to include, but not limited to Porters Mountain SDA in Jamaica,

Christian Fellowship in Brooklyn, New York, Shiloh SDA in Georgia, Fairfax SDA in Virginia,

Emmanuel and Windermere SDA in Orlando, Windermere, Florida, respectively.

Enid is preceded in death by her father (Egbert) her Mother (Wilhelmina); Sister (Violet), Sister

(Esther); brother (Edson); niece (Jacquline). She leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished

memories and to mourn her passing: Andrea Gibbs Brooks/Walter (Daughter); Hurby Gibbs,

Jr./Claudette (Son); Shoreley Gibbs (Son); Joseph Gibbs (Son); Mariah Powell (Sister); Lyte

Morris (Sister); George Powell/Nova (Brother); Nella Hayle/Charles (Sister); Orel Powell/

Claudia (Brother); Sheila Budhoo (Aunt Zena) and other Cousins; 11 Grandchildren and 6 Step-

grandchildren; 13 Great Grandchildren and 4 Step-Great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; and a

host of other “adopted” children, family, and friends.

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