Celebration of Live for Merna Ellis Woollery

Order of Service

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023

Prelude

Processional

Welcome and the Words of Grace - Rev. Noel Chin

Opening Hymn - In the Great Triumphant Morning

Prayer - Bishop Anthony Long

Old Testament Scripture - Job 14:1-14 Jennifer Woollery (Granddaughter)

New Testament Scripture - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Bryce Woollery (Granddaughter)

Selection

Tributes - Sharon Phillips, Nadia Woollery, Andrea Woollery, Trevor Woollery (Merna’s children)

Open Tributes - Fray Ellis (Brother) Wyane Ellis (Brother) - Pastor Sonia McKenzie

Offering to be collected in aide of the Crawford Methodist Education Scholarship Fund

Acknowledgments - Minister Annemarie Sadler

Eulogy - Joe Cleary & Theresa Rochester (Merna’s friends)

Selection

Sermon - Rev. Noel Chin

Prayer of Comfort - Pastor Robert Calnick (The Refuge Temple Ministry)

Benediction

Recessional

Repast will be held downstairs, All are invited.

IN THE GREAT TRIUMPHANT MORNING

1. In the great triumphant morning, When we hear the Bridegroom cry, And the dead in Christ shall rise, We’ll be changed to life immortal, In the twinkling of an eye, And meet Jesus in the skies.

Refrain

We shall all rise to meet Him, We shall all rise to greet Him, In the morning when the dead in Christ shall rise We shall all rise to meet Him, We shall all rise to greet Him, And shall have the marriage supper in the skies.

2. In the great triumphant morning, What a happy time ’twill be, When the dead in Christ shall rise, When the Lord descends in glory, Sets His waiting children free, And we meet Him in the skies. [Refrain]

3. In the great triumphant morning, When the harvest is complete, And the dead in Christ shall rise, We’ll be crowned with life immortal, Christ and all the loved ones meet, In the rapture in the skies. [Refrain]

4. In the great triumphant morning, All the kingdom we’ll possess, Then the dead in Christ shall rise, Reign as kings and priests eternal, Under Christ forever blest, After meeting in the skies. [Refrain]

MERNA E. WOOLLERY Obituary

OBITUARY OF MERNA E. WOOLLERY

On March 25, Merna E. Woollery, more fondly known as “Miss Cherry”, beloved mother, and friend, passed away at the age of 79 years young at Montefiore Hospital, Bronx, NY. Miss Cherry was born in the town of Roehampton in St. James Parish, Jamaica, the daughter of Edna Bernard-Daley and Leslie Lynch Ellis. She settled into adulthood in the corporate areas of Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica. She met her husband, Lloyd Hendricks Woollery as a young teen and they married when she was sixteen. They had five children together, over a ten-year period, before separating and officially divorcing in 1980. Unfortunately, one of her sons, Michael Wayne Woollery, passed away at the age of sixteen from a chronic medical condition. After her emancipation from marriage, Miss Cherry blossomed into the amazing woman, mother, parent and champion of growth and advancement through education that defined her legacy and sojourn over the remainder of her life. She successfully and triumphantly raised four accomplished children, Sharon, Nadia, Andrea, and Trevor.

Miss Cherry’s passion for learning drove her to enroll at Excelsior Community College in Kingston, Jamaica to complete an Advanced level GCE Certificate in 1977 that bolstered her role as an Accounting Clerk within the Bursars Office at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Merna’s passion for global adventure drove her to take the bold step to undertake travels to the UK in 1978 and 1980 and the United States in 1981 to ascertain where would be the best fit for her next life transition. Ultimately, she chose NY and found her way to The Bronx to begin the next phase of her life’s journey. In America, Miss Cherry completed a certificate in Business Communications at Betty Owens Secretarial Systems, Manhattan, NY, that enabled her to launch her a career in the financial services industry as a Full-Charge Bookkeeper and Portfolio Administrator for several financial securities firms such as The Starwood Corporation, Himmel Equities, Draper Associates Inc., Walker Street Investors Inc., and Atlantis Equities Inc. Her last job before she retired was at the New York Theological Seminary.

Merna was known for her “fierce” independence, strong opinions, and meticulousness in everything that she undertook. She was dedicated to keeping her family together regardless of the challenges confronting her and demanded that her children think outside of the box, committed to excellence in all their endeavors, and consistently pursued growth through education.

She also strongly believed in charitable giving, especially for educational endeavors. Let’s not forget her passion for political discourse, which we will leave at that!

Miss Cherry LOVED The Queen, Prime Minister Michael Manley, The Rev. Robert H. Schuller,

OBITUARY OF MERNA E. WOOLLERY

and the Clintons! They could do no WRONG! She was also a VERY PROUD Jamaican that basked in the country’s accomplishments, small and large; individual, educational, track & field, social, and political. She often stated, “we might be small, but we have global reach!”

We’d be remiss if we omitted her exceptional culinary skills that fused Jamaican flavors with Italian recipes. She was an innovative and amazing cook, and she had a beautiful singing voice that could hold a musical singing note like a well-trained soprano!

Miss Cherry was very proud and protected her personal space. She maintained a small circle of friends that she trusted, kept close, and invested in her friendships over the long term. Joseph Cleary, Theresa

Rochester, and Patricia Parris, lifelong friends for over fifty years, were cherished because they understood her.

Miss Cherry leaves behind four strong children (Sharon, Nadia, Andrea, and Trevor), five grandchildren (Ronnie, Shayne, ShariAnn, Jennifer, and Bryce Michelle), her sister Cynthia, her brothers Tony, Wayne and Fray, and several nieces and great nephews, and daughter-in-law Maggie.

MERNA WOOLLERY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Merna was an avid supporter of youth education. She made it a point to donate to worthy educational causes throughout her life. In honor of her memory, we request that in lieu of flowers, an offering or donation be made on behalf of Merna Woollery to the Crawford Methodist Educational Fund.

● The Scholarship Fund of Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church provides financial support to college students each year.

Contributions to the Education Scholarship Fund can be made online or by mail.

Online Giving:

● Zelle Cash transfers using the church's email address: Crawford@cmumcnyc.com

Please click “Add Message” and write that this is for The Merna Woollery Education Scholarship Fund

● You can also go directly to the Church’s website, https://give.mycrawford.org

Please indicate that the donation is for: The Merna Woollery Education Scholarship Fund

Mail: Checks can be made payable to the church and mailed to:

● Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church, 3757 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY 10467

○ On the check's Memo line please write: The Merna Woollery Education Scholarship Fund

GREETINGS

FRAY ELLIS

FINALITY has always been a means of gathering families and loved ones in a place of worship to commemorate life, and in our case, the life of Merna, Our mother, our friend, and our sister. For some of us, this is the gateway way to eternity because we have a hope, a hope entrenched in the written promises of HE who commandeth Lazarus to come forth, He who spoke and Jairus' daughter, who laid dead, was infused with life, that one day we will all be united in a spiritual world. Weep, for weeping endureth for a moment, grieve, this too is temporary but never forget that Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose HOPE is in the Lord their God. Rest well, my sister.

WAYNE ELLIS AND FAMILY

Good morning. Before I begin, I want to take the opportunity, on behalf of our entire family, to thank all of you for being here today in person, in this beautiful, church that my sister loved so much, or virtually—to help us celebrate Merna’s life.

Merna Ellis- Woollery my sister, a person I have grown to learn about over the years.

I met my sister, while living in Kingston, Jamaica. She would always visit my father and she held a special place in his heart.

Overtime, I became acquainted with her children, Sharon, Nadia, Andrea, and Trevor. Her work, dedication, and devotion over the years were for her children. She seemed to be a very stern mother; going about her duties raising four children, in Jamaica, while working and living in the USA.

My youngest brother Fray and I would visit their home on weekends in Valentine Gardens, developing a bond that strengthened our relationship and shared interest. Those are days I will never forget.

What was surprising was that where I live today, was two houses from where she and the children lived when they migrated to join her here. We became members of the same congregation, Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church. Some of my fondest memories of her were:

1. Attending Trevor’s wedding in Miami.

2. Meeting her mother and seeing the similarities in their countenance.

3. Spending time with her and family members over the past several months.

Attending her 75th Birthday celebration with my son, Kareem and the challenges, which started because of her illness. It was a wonderful celebration of her journey then, and now I do celebrate her resilience, character and the off-springs, she has contributed to this world through her children and grandchildren.

On behalf of the Ellis family, some of who were not able to be here today, my deepest condolences to the family. Rest in Peace Sister until we meet again.