By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – History will not forgive itself if the life of Mary Georgina Charles-George went unnoticed. Her life was one of remarkable service to her country, community and family. This honourable woman of Kittitian soil made a colossal and indelible contribution to the
education sector. Her vocation was teaching; she was passionate about it; it was her life. Her profession as a teacher began in 1926 as a pupil, an untrained teacher at Estridge Elementary School at the age of 13 and was to span some 53 years.
She taught in St.Kitts at Estridge, St.Paul’s, Trinity-Palmetto Point, Molineux and Cayon. She was educated at Leach Infant School and Estridge Elementary School and received her teacher’s training at Spring Garden’s Teacher’s Training College in Antigua.
Her sterling example as a teacher went way beyond the classroom. Her die-hard interest for the empowerment and betterment of the young was seen in the overtime she spent in counseling them about not “wasting their lives.”
In 1995, Sir Probyn Inniss, at a re-union for Trinity School entitled, “An Historical Sketch of Trinity School” stated in part: “The teacher who has had the greatest influence on my life and on the lives of many of my contemporaries has undoubtedly been Teacher
Mary Charles. She went beyond the call of duty and took the keenest possible interest in the advancement of her pupils. There was no formal Parent-Teacher Association at
Trinity School at the time, but ‘Teacher Mary’ had ways and means of reaching the parents to urge them to do what she considered to be the best for their children.”
At a time when gender imbalance and bias was more acute than it is today, Mary Charles dared to be the first female to contest a seat in General Elections. She entered the election the 10th May, 1971 in St.Kitts and Nevis (Constituency #7). She ran against E. St.John Payne. She got 322 votes to Payne’s 1,119. She may have lost the seat, but it was a great feat in setting precedence for other female politicians in the Federation. She believed in the empowerment of women to be equal partners in the development of our country.
Dr. Winston Isaac, nephew of Mary Charles-George said: “Aunt Mary proved to be a
champion of young women especially those ‘who had fallen.’ She didn’t think it fair to condemn someone for their first mistake in life. She believed in giving people second chances. There were cases where Teacher Miss Charles gave the opportunity to girls
who “had fallen” to write the Standard Seven and later, the C.X.C. examination. That has paid off for those individuals, as many of them were later encouraged to “go away” after having their baby and continue their education. She was the eternal optimist with the
thought that she saw every passing moment as a chance to turn things around.”
Dr. Kennedy Simmonds in a tribute for Mary Charles 85th birthday in 1998 said “Mary Charles has earned her place in the history of St.Kitts and Nevis as a pioneer in the struggle for the full empowerment of women to be equal partners in the development of our country.”
Mr.Lindsay Grant, leader of the People’s Action Movement party, in giving a memorial tribute to her said, “ It is bittersweet to lose her, a national hero, just a few months before we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Independence, an event that she as a teacher, politician, and good citizen had a hand in shaping and fashioning.”
What is exceptional about Mary Charles is that she was a humble woman. She never sought any praise or recognition. Mary Charles was involved in the community in many ways. She was member of the St. Kitts Mental Health Association and president of the
St. Kitts Teachers’ Union for several terms. She received many awards and honours. Two of them are the naming of the hospital in Molineux, “The Mary Charles Hospital” in her honour and receiving Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for outstanding contributions to Education and Community development in St. Kitts.
Mary Georgina Charles-George was born on May 10, 1913 to Henry and Frances Ann Charles of Phillips Village. She married Valdemar George in St.Croix in April 1975.
She died on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. She was blessed to have lived such a long and productive life—a life full of opportunities and challenges. She had three sisters, Isa Isaac (deceased 1957), Catherine Nisbett (deceased 1996), Norma (Betty) Charles (deceased 1991) and one brother John Charles (died in infancy).
Mrs. Charles-George did not have any children of her own but she was a mother to many. She raised five nephews: Dr.Winston Isaac, Paget Terry Isaac, Lascelles Isaac, Dr. Burchell Nisbett and C. Terry Nisbett. She was a mentor and counselor for many young
persons as she didn’t want to see them waste their lives.
She was a Christian by the way she lived her life. She was very involved in her church, the Moravian Church in general and the Estridge Moravian Church in particular. Her involved covered many areas of ministry even lay preaching.
The huge crowd that turned out to show their respects at her funeral held at the Estridge Moravian Church on Friday, March 28, gave testimony to the remarkable life of service of this distinguished woman. There were people from all walks of life in attendance. Mr.
Lindsay Grant, political leader of PAM, Dr. the honourable Timothy Harris, elected representative for constituency #7, Rev. Matthias, the SKN United Association of St. Croix and family and friends came to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
