In this the walk of life there are many twists and turns and many people you meet along the way. I am happy that Aunty Julia and my mom (Joslyn Edwards) had the chance to meet all those years ago in Moruga. You see, my mom moved to the area as a nurse and Aunty Julia worked in the library next door. Not before long they became fast friends. A friendship that would last 30 plus years.
 
Through this friendship I have had several interactions with her that speaks to the life that she lived. She was a critical part of the Community Based Rehab Programme a project based in Moruga to help those with disabled family members understand their disability and provide care. Here she placed a commitment into helping the community and the vulnerable.
 
And although I was quite young at the time, I keenly noticed the amount of dedication that Aunty Julia put into this project. So much so that at the fundraising walkathon event I too was determined to contribute and walked from Princes Town to St. Mary’s even at the age of 6! And for those that know that is quite the distance! The amount of passion Aunty Julia had for her community clearly showed as a core part of her life which she continued in spiritual ways as well after this programme ended.
 
As is the case in life, our family moved away from Moruga but their friendship remained strong. In my teenage years my mom, Aunt Julia and I took a trip to Tobago together. All during this trip she would say things like "You want something to eat" or "make sure to eat the red fish, it real good for you". On that trip in everything she did you felt the motherly touch.
 
A couple years later, we attended the wedding of her and Uncle Hector. I remember that on this day she was constantly smiling. It was an incredibly happy moment, and this is where I met all her kids. Since I was quite young in the Moruga days I had not remembered them, but they were all so cheerful and you could tell that they were all so awfully close to each other.
 
And this is point I would like to stress. Aunty Julia made family a priority. It was the core of her life. You can see this in the way that uncle hector, all her children and all her grand children interact with each other. The way the support and care for each other. The way that they love each other.
 
And through them the way this has spread to all in-laws, all friends, and the wider community. Everyone can see and experience pieces of her hospitality, generosity and kindness through her children and grandchildren. Her spirit lives on in them as her lasting legacy.
 
Aunty Julia, you will be missed, but never forgotten.