JOANNA AGATHA RUSSELL-NEWTON

BOLD. BRAVE. BEAUTIFUL. BRILLIANT. COURAGEOUS. CONFIDENT. DARING. DYNAMIC. FEISTY. HEROIC. LIONHEARTED. TENACIOUS. UNFLINCHING. UNSHAKEABLE. UNSHRINKING.

Committed to Church. Community and Country. Consummate Chef. Coin Collector. Stamp Collector. Full of Laughter, Fun & Optimism. Meticulous Historian. Event Planner Extraordinaire. Shrewd Businesswoman. Lifelong Learner. World Traveller. A Woman Before Her Time.

In the words of Cleon (your one son): A very unique woman; one-of-a-kind! The template for what a traditional modern woman should be. A woman of unwavering faith.

Journey as we follow Joanna Agatha’s footprints over the 75 years of her life in the words of Caline Gillian Newton (your baby).

The Journey Begins

God in His gracious mercy granted Samuel and Esther Russell their 8th child on March 30th, 1947 in the settlement of Lewis Yard, Grand Bahama, which they named Joanna Agatha.

A Young Joanna

Joanna Agatha gained her early education at Pine Ridge All Age, Eight Mile Rock All Age and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Grand Bahama. The late 1950s and 1960s saw an inquisitive, instinctively inspired and energized Joanna; eager to learn and to share her knowledge with anyone especially her young nieces Marian Russell and Sandra Russell who lived with the family.

In the words of Marian Russell (Niece): Aunt Joan was a risk taker and an ambitious soul.

Aunt Joan and I experienced one (1) year at St Vincent De Paul Catholic. She was in her last year, and I was just starting. She stood up to the principal of the school because she felt that her side of the story was ignored (boy did the principal give her a whipping.)

After finishing primary school, she then went on to attend Xavier’s College in Nassau. I remember many of the trips, getting on the boat to make a sometimes rough journey. When we returned home after her sister Cynthia’s graduation, she was left in the care of a very nice lady whom she admired and respected (Aunt Flo).

After Aunt Joan graduated, she returned home eager to share her knowledge. I was taught proper etiquette in every sense of the word, not leaving the dinner table until you were finished eating and she brought with her new food ideas, and an introduction of new veggies, especially (brussel sprouts). Oh. I forgot to mention that all of the dishes were taken out of the China closet.

As she was a young adult now, being inquisitive intensified. Aunt Joan would jump on a bulldozer and drive off (no experience) once the keys were left in the ignition. Another time our cousin rode up on his scooter, he got off, she jumped on, riding to the end of Lewis Yard (again no experience) well you can only imagine what happened upon her return.

Aunt Joan also taught me how to drive at the ripe old age of 12. She had bought an olive green Fiat (stick shift) and can you imagine she barely knew how to handle that car herself.

Aunt Joan was energetic, curious, large and in charge, giving directives to her older siblings and whomever she thought needed to rethink their planning. Taking on new adventures was her favorite thing.

She went on in life taking that same style and grace and did what she thought was best.

Rest on my dear Aunt Joan. Don’t try to take over where you are. Until we meet again, keep dancing and singing.

Love you always. Marian.

In the words of Sandra Russell (Niece):

At the age of two, I began living with my grandmother “Solie” and two aunts, Joan and Cynthia. We lived in Nassau while Aunt Joan attended Xaviers and aunt Cynthia Aquinas . Marian and I were attending Sacred Heart Catholic School, off Shirley Street. Saturdays were like a matinee in the house in Nassau. The music blasted and Aunt Joan and Cynthia danced to their hearts content while they sang songs.

When they were done with their schooling in Nassau, we returned to Grand Bahama. Marian and I continued at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School. Aunt Joan was working with Daddy, her eldest brother (Audley Russell).

While in third, fourth, and fifth grade, Aunt Joan made sure I did my homework and that I knew how to recite my weekly poem. You see, at St. Vincent de Paul, we had to recite a poem from memory every Friday. I remember this one poem that I could not get in my head. I just couldn’t get it. It was called, The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wardsworth Longfellow.

I went to school that day, while in fifth grade knowing that I did not know it that well. My time came to recite. I went up, said the first line and fainted, knowing that I could not go home to report to Aunt Joan that I was not able to recite the poem.

Under a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate’er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow; You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, With measured beat and slow, Like a sexton ringing the village bell, When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school Look in at the open door; They love to see the flaming forge, And hear the bellows roar, And catch the burning sparks that fly Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church, And sits among his boys; He hears the parson pray and preach, He hears his daughter’s voice, Singing in the village choir, And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice, Singing in Paradise! He needs must think of her once more, How in the grave she lies; And with his hard, rough hand he wipes A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing, Onward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night’s repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, For the lesson thou hast taught! Thus at the flaming forge of life Our fortunes must be wrought; Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Each burning deed and thought.

The Journey Continues

Upon completion, in the mid to late 1960s, Joanna was afforded the opportunity to pursue Secondary and Tertiary education. On Monday, June 14th, 1965, Joanna first etched her mark with excellence in education at Xavier’s College, Nassau, one of the oldest existing Catholic Schools in The Bahamas, where she obtained a Diploma & GCE “O” Levels in Mathematics & English. She continued on to the Freeport Hotel Training School and matriculated as a Hotel Switchboard Operator in 1966. The 1960s saw her last steps at The Canadian Securities Exchange where she completed a Diploma in 1969.

Joanna Walks Down The Aisle

On Tuesday, February 29th, 1972, a 24 year old ambitious soul walked down the aisles of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Hunters, Grand Bahama to Leo Calvin Newton; before Rev. Preston A. Moss in the presence of Elva Russell (Rolle) and Clifford Newton. The union of Joanna Agatha and Leo Calvin created Cleon Myron born on September 5th, 1973 and Caline Gillian born on October 12th, 1975.

Although the union was dissolved in December 1987, the foundation of Faith + Family, Education + Excellence, Stewardship + Service, Fairness + Philanthropy were at the core of Joanna’s values which she ensured was evidenced and taught to her children Cleon and Caline and any other child that she nurtured as she continued in life.

Joanna Agatha’s nurturing nature allowed her to open the family’s home to Catherine Russell-Osanu, Sharon Mackey, RuthAnn Newton, Esther Martin-Lyons, Moya Russell, and Sharell and Sheryl Lockhart who lived and grew there during different times throughout the 1970s to 2002.

Through the eyes of Sharell and Sheryl Lockhart: Thank you for seeing us.

Joanna Russell-Newton, our Nana was blessed with the gift of spiritual sight which allowed her to see a pair of sisters from the Eight Mile Rock community, who had undiscovered talents and skill sets that needed to be pruned.

Nana’s heart and wisdom drew us in. Although we were not kin by blood, she ensured that we were reared and loved by her, aunt Caline and uncle Cleon without reservation.

Her sight allowed her to see that Sheryl and I were remarkably different; however, our differences were our greatest strengths, as they made us unique and she developed her own bond with us individually and as a pair.

It is because of Nana, Sheryl and I are young women, who maintained a standard of excellence. She saw that we were more than a pair of sisters from “the Rocks” who were predestined to become another “pretty girl” statistic.

Nana believed in us, never judged us and even though we had missteps along the way, she encouraged us to learn and grow from them.

Nana, the quality of your impact on our lives cannot be quantified, you have selflessly done for us what others would not and our gratitude to you, aunt Caline and uncle Cleon knows no bounds.

We are grieving the loss of you but not without hope, as you were a mighty woman of God, who fulfilled her assignment, is now taking her rest and once we prove faithful, we will meet again in the sweet by and by.

Thank you for seeing us Nana, taking the time to love on, educate and inspire us to be women our parents, grandparents, children (Jhada and David), family and community can be proud of.

We love you now and always, your granddaughters Sharell and Sheryl.

The Journey Continues

Joanna Agatha’s belief in and desire for learning saw her continuing education with the Bahamas Jaycees in 1982 in the area of Business Management, the University of Miami in 1986 with an Advanced Management Certification, the College of St. Benedict in 1988 – 1990 where she pursued a Business Degree and the College of the Bahamas in the year 2000 with a Human Resources Certification.

Joanna Agatha always had a natural inclination for Business and Leadership & Management were always Joanna’s area of expertise as exemplified in her career history spanning over 5 decades and included West End Power & Light as Office Manager (1965-1968), Draper Dobie & Company Ltd as Office Administrator (1968-1978), East Sunrise Food Store as Manager (1979-1987), Strap Leather Goods & Accessories as Manager (1987-1996) and One World – CoOwner & Manager (1985-1997)

Armed with the valor of previous successes, Joanna Agatha retired in 2017 as the Manager of Prestige Perfumes (The Perfume Bar); which she had been since 1987.

JOANNA AGATHA - A WOMAN OF FAITH, FEARLESSNESS & FORTITUDE

Standing firmly on this foundation, Joanna Agatha Russell-Newton set her life to be a legacy of Faith, Fearlessness and Fortitude.