I will forever remember my Aunt Berenice as one of the most talented of my aunts and uncles in the entire Reid clan.
Tía, as she wanted us children to refer to her, was born in the former Panama Canal Zone in Paraiso, Canal Zone two years before the world renowned Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914. She was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters, born to Joshua Austin Reid and Fanny Elizabeth McKenly Reid, both natives of Jamaica. This made her a member of the first generation of Panamanian born Silver People who worked on the Canal Zone and comprised the Silver Roll. The Silver and Gold Roll system had been enforced on the American Canal Zone since the Americans took over the construction of the Canal from the French in 1904.
Berenice was a very inquisitive child and seemed to learn quickly. Early on, however, her father died prematurely leaving behind a widow and seven young children. Berenice was seventeen when her father died and any ambitions to continue in school went with his decease. She soon joined the ranks of the Silver Roll maids, cooks and domestic workers serving the Canal Zone families, especially the military men and their wives.
An excellent cook all her life she was, however, talented at other things. She taught herself how to play the organ and read music, a talent she put to good use in Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Panama City's Santana district. She could also sing, becoming a faithful member of that church's choir. Tía often took me with her to Sunday service and I was enthralled by the choir's performance and by the preaching of Rev. Nightengale at the pulpit.
Tía also tried her hand at being an entrepreneur and opened a vegetable stand in the middle of down town Panama City in Calidonia and I was available to help her with it for a while.
She was supportive of my ambition to learn to play the violin when I entered High School and promised to buy a used instrument for me. However, due to adverse economic conditions and general impediments in getting into the national conservatory I had to abandon the idea. But, my aunt's willingness to support my desires and come to my parent-teacher conferences made her one of my most loved aunts.
Since the age of twelve years she battled with a malady called narcolepsy all her life. She was surprisingly strong and alert whenever she had to be and this at a time when there was no real medical treatment for the "sleeping sickness." I discovered as a child that even when she seemed to be sound asleep while she sat with anyone, she was nevertheless conscious and aware of what anyone was saying to her. This was amazing to me.
Tía, the Lord God of Jesus Christ bless you and give you rest in Glory.
This bio was written with much love by her nephew Cobert Roberto Reid.
The Silver People Chronicle
The Silver People Heritage Foundation
Tía, as she wanted us children to refer to her, was born in the former Panama Canal Zone in Paraiso, Canal Zone two years before the world renowned Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914. She was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters, born to Joshua Austin Reid and Fanny Elizabeth McKenly Reid, both natives of Jamaica. This made her a member of the first generation of Panamanian born Silver People who worked on the Canal Zone and comprised the Silver Roll. The Silver and Gold Roll system had been enforced on the American Canal Zone since the Americans took over the construction of the Canal from the French in 1904.
Berenice was a very inquisitive child and seemed to learn quickly. Early on, however, her father died prematurely leaving behind a widow and seven young children. Berenice was seventeen when her father died and any ambitions to continue in school went with his decease. She soon joined the ranks of the Silver Roll maids, cooks and domestic workers serving the Canal Zone families, especially the military men and their wives.
An excellent cook all her life she was, however, talented at other things. She taught herself how to play the organ and read music, a talent she put to good use in Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Panama City's Santana district. She could also sing, becoming a faithful member of that church's choir. Tía often took me with her to Sunday service and I was enthralled by the choir's performance and by the preaching of Rev. Nightengale at the pulpit.
Tía also tried her hand at being an entrepreneur and opened a vegetable stand in the middle of down town Panama City in Calidonia and I was available to help her with it for a while.
She was supportive of my ambition to learn to play the violin when I entered High School and promised to buy a used instrument for me. However, due to adverse economic conditions and general impediments in getting into the national conservatory I had to abandon the idea. But, my aunt's willingness to support my desires and come to my parent-teacher conferences made her one of my most loved aunts.
Since the age of twelve years she battled with a malady called narcolepsy all her life. She was surprisingly strong and alert whenever she had to be and this at a time when there was no real medical treatment for the "sleeping sickness." I discovered as a child that even when she seemed to be sound asleep while she sat with anyone, she was nevertheless conscious and aware of what anyone was saying to her. This was amazing to me.
Tía, the Lord God of Jesus Christ bless you and give you rest in Glory.
This bio was written with much love by her nephew Cobert Roberto Reid.
The Silver People Chronicle
The Silver People Heritage Foundation
I will forever remember my Aunt Berenice as one of the most talented of my aunts and uncles in the entire Reid clan.
Tía, as she wanted us children to refer to her, was born in the former Panama Canal Zone in Paraiso, Canal Zone two years before the world renowned Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914. She was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters, born to Joshua Austin Reid and Fanny Elizabeth McKenly Reid, both natives of Jamaica. This made her a member of the first generation of Panamanian born Silver People who worked on the Canal Zone and comprised the Silver Roll. The Silver and Gold Roll system had been enforced on the American Canal Zone since the Americans took over the construction of the Canal from the French in 1904.
Berenice was a very inquisitive child and seemed to learn quickly. Early on, however, her father died prematurely leaving behind a widow and seven young children. Berenice was seventeen when her father died and any ambitions to continue in school went with his decease. She soon joined the ranks of the Silver Roll maids, cooks and domestic workers serving the Canal Zone families, especially the military men and their wives.
An excellent cook all her life she was, however, talented at other things. She taught herself how to play the organ and read music, a talent she put to good use in Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Panama City's Santana district. She could also sing, becoming a faithful member of that church's choir. Tía often took me with her to Sunday service and I was enthralled by the choir's performance and by the preaching of Rev. Nightengale at the pulpit.
Tía also tried her hand at being an entrepreneur and opened a vegetable stand in the middle of down town Panama City in Calidonia and I was available to help her with it for a while.
She was supportive of my ambition to learn to play the violin when I entered High School and promised to buy a used instrument for me. However, due to adverse economic conditions and general impediments in getting into the national conservatory I had to abandon the idea. But, my aunt's willingness to support my desires and come to my parent-teacher conferences made her one of my most loved aunts.
Since the age of twelve years she battled with a malady called narcolepsy all her life. She was surprisingly strong and alert whenever she had to be and this at a time when there was no real medical treatment for the "sleeping sickness." I discovered as a child that even when she seemed to be sound asleep while she sat with anyone, she was nevertheless conscious and aware of what anyone was saying to her. This was amazing to me.
Tía, the Lord God of Jesus Christ bless you and give you rest in Glory.
This bio was written with much love by her nephew Cobert Roberto Reid.
The Silver People Chronicle
The Silver People Heritage Foundation
Tía, as she wanted us children to refer to her, was born in the former Panama Canal Zone in Paraiso, Canal Zone two years before the world renowned Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914. She was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters, born to Joshua Austin Reid and Fanny Elizabeth McKenly Reid, both natives of Jamaica. This made her a member of the first generation of Panamanian born Silver People who worked on the Canal Zone and comprised the Silver Roll. The Silver and Gold Roll system had been enforced on the American Canal Zone since the Americans took over the construction of the Canal from the French in 1904.
Berenice was a very inquisitive child and seemed to learn quickly. Early on, however, her father died prematurely leaving behind a widow and seven young children. Berenice was seventeen when her father died and any ambitions to continue in school went with his decease. She soon joined the ranks of the Silver Roll maids, cooks and domestic workers serving the Canal Zone families, especially the military men and their wives.
An excellent cook all her life she was, however, talented at other things. She taught herself how to play the organ and read music, a talent she put to good use in Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Panama City's Santana district. She could also sing, becoming a faithful member of that church's choir. Tía often took me with her to Sunday service and I was enthralled by the choir's performance and by the preaching of Rev. Nightengale at the pulpit.
Tía also tried her hand at being an entrepreneur and opened a vegetable stand in the middle of down town Panama City in Calidonia and I was available to help her with it for a while.
She was supportive of my ambition to learn to play the violin when I entered High School and promised to buy a used instrument for me. However, due to adverse economic conditions and general impediments in getting into the national conservatory I had to abandon the idea. But, my aunt's willingness to support my desires and come to my parent-teacher conferences made her one of my most loved aunts.
Since the age of twelve years she battled with a malady called narcolepsy all her life. She was surprisingly strong and alert whenever she had to be and this at a time when there was no real medical treatment for the "sleeping sickness." I discovered as a child that even when she seemed to be sound asleep while she sat with anyone, she was nevertheless conscious and aware of what anyone was saying to her. This was amazing to me.
Tía, the Lord God of Jesus Christ bless you and give you rest in Glory.
This bio was written with much love by her nephew Cobert Roberto Reid.
The Silver People Chronicle
The Silver People Heritage Foundation
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