Verna Bertram

Verna Claire Bertramwas born in Spanish Town, Kingston, Jamaica, where she was raised by her grandmother and parents. She gave her heart to the Lord Jesus as a teenager at a church revival. As a young woman, she left Jamaica to attend Zion College in Chattanooga, TN and graduated with a Liberal Arts degree in 1954. In 1956, she married Eric in New York City. She returned to Jamaica in 1959, and devoted herself to raising their two children, Hugh and Kathy. The family immigrated to London, England in 1964. Verna trained as a nurse and earned a position as a staff nurse in the British National Health System. The family returned to the United States in 1968, at which time Verna went back to school and earned an associates degree from Philadelphia Community College and eventually a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Medgar Evers College, New York City. She worked at Mount Sinai Hospital for 17 years, primarily as a Senior Clinical Nurse in Psychiatry. In addition, she worked as an Administrative Supervisor for 15 years at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, NY. She retired in 2005 and moved to Florida. Verna became a member of The Faith Center working with the nursing home group for 14 years. She loved dancing, singing, and fellowshipping with her friends and family. Most people were drawn to her warm and cheerful personality. Verna’s favorite two things were showing her love for the Lord Jesus through study and sharing the Gospel and vacationing with her family. She is preceded by her husband, Eric; son, Hugh; parents, Joseph and Lucille; brothers, Lionel, Carlton, and Winston; and sisters, Elaine, Pearl, and Norma. She leaves behind to cherish her memories: her daughter, Kathy (Thomas) Bryant of Aurora, CO; grand-daughter, Stefanie (Edson) Mukundwi of North Las Vegas; 4 grandchildren, Ethan, Elle, Evan, and Emery; sister Marjorie (Lionel) Hewitt of Leeds, England; Hillary Jordon, (Carlton), Kingston, Jamaica and Pauline Jordon, (Winston), New York City and numerous nieces and nephews.