Our aunt, Avis Viola Campbell — affectionately called “Auntie,” “Aunt Avis,” or “Shorty” by the adults — was born on April 12, 1936, in Hanover, Jamaica. She was the youngest of five daughters born to Annetta Forbes.

Raised in the peaceful community of Askenish Jamaica, Auntie’s early life was shaped by the strong faith her mother instilled in her children. She often shared how, during her childhood, the family attended the Presbyterian Church until her mother dreamt about the Sabbath-keeping church. After sharing the dream with a friend who was a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, the family began attending a four-week evangelistic series. At the close of the meetings, twenty souls publicly accepted the Lord, including Auntie, her sisters, and their mother. Auntie was only 18 years old at the time.

Her commitment to Christ remained steadfast throughout her life. She faithfully served the church in several capacities, including Sabbath School Secretary and Deaconess.

As a young woman, Auntie ventured away from home and began working at a ball factory. She often told us how exciting it was to know she was making toys for children. Many years later, we benefited from those same skills, as Auntie would lovingly make balls for us herself.

In the early 1960s, she joined her sisters in the tourism industry at Tryall Beach Club and Golf Resort. She first worked with her sisters at Round House before moving to Sea Grape, where she worked for the Penson family for many years. There, she mastered the art of hotel management and became an exceptional cook and baker. Auntie made the best chocolate soufflé, banana bread, shortbread cookies, lemon meringue pie, and coconut cream pie — some of my absolute favorites. As children, we eagerly waited for her to return home because she always brought goodies for us.

Auntie was also our first teacher of the Seventh-day Adventist message. I vividly remember going into her bedroom as a child to look through the picture version of The Great Controversy. She showed us the illustrations. I purposed in my heart then and there that I would serve God.

Auntie was our safe place. We could talk to her about anything and receive honest answers to even the most unusual questions. Some of my fondest memories are our Friday and Saturday night “pow wows,” when we were allowed to sleep in her bedroom — as long as we promised not to move around too much while in her bed. During those conversations, we learned about her dream of becoming a teacher, her desire for us to do better than they ever had, her commitment to prayer, and her expectation that we are respectful and well-behaved children. Auntie often said, “I cannot deal with a child who have no manners.”

In 1979, Auntie visited Dallas on vacation and attended City Temple Church. After three months, she returned to Jamaica with a renewed commitment to follow Jesus more closely. In 1987, after receiving her permanent resident status, she migrated to the US. A few months later, she met another Seventh-day Adventist woman, and together they traveled by taxi to City Temple Church.

It was there she met Pansy and Billy Evans. Through their kindness and fellowship, Auntie quickly found what she often called her “forever family.” She loved her church deeply and often spoke warmly about the worship services and the sense of belonging she felt there.

Unlike her four sisters, Auntie never married or had children of her own. However, anyone who knew our family understood that she helped raise four children — Ricky (her favorite), Gene, Marvia, and me. She was fully present in our lives and played an active role in decisions affecting both us and the family. She helped us with homework, encouraged our education, and supported us in practical ways.

I remember once needing a textbook that could not be found anywhere in Jamaica. Auntie reached out to her friends and had it shipped from the United States. Whenever one of us became sick, Auntie always had a “bush remedy” ready — leaf of life for colds and allergies, cerasee for stomachaches, lime leaf tea for headaches, and many others.

Her bedroom was every little girl’s dream. Auntie had beautiful handbags, perfumes, watches, and fancy shoes. My nieces and I spent countless summer days playing dress-up after she left for work. She loved mangoes, sweetsop, breadfruit, and ackee and saltfish. One of our favorite pastimes was sitting on the front porch after dinner, eating mangoes, and listening to stories from her childhood.

As the years passed, Auntie’s faith only grew stronger. She constantly encouraged us to pray and reminded us that we were living in the last days. In one of our final conversations, while discussing current events and political news, she calmly told me not to be surprised. She reminded me of the signs of the times and encouraged me not to be afraid, but instead to keep my eyes fixed on Christ.

I have many treasured memories of our dear Auntie — Sunday morning beach trips, extra lunch money for school, and evenings filled with laughter and storytelling. But perhaps the most memorable moment came after her first trip to Dallas. Upon returning home, she told me there was a poem she wanted me to learn and recite at AY (then MV). Even now, I can still hear her voice repeating its message.

No Time

I knelt to pray, but not for long,

I had too much to do.

Must hurry off and get to work,

For bills would soon be due.

And so I said a hurried prayer,

Jumped up from off my knees.

My Christian duty now was done,

My soul could be at ease.

All through the day, I had no time

To speak a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They’d laugh at me, I feared.

No time, no time, too much to do —

That was my constant cry.

No time to give to those in need;

At last, it came time to die.

And when before the Lord I came,

I stood with downcast eyes.

For in His hand He held a book;

It was the Book of Life.

He looked into the book for my name and said,

“Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down —

But never found the time.”

That poem reflected the very heart of Auntie’s life — a reminder to keep Christ first, to pray often, and to make time for what truly matters. Her love, wisdom, faith, and quiet strength will remain with us always.

Auntie leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews, niece in law; grandnieces, grandnephews and host of others as well as church family. We will miss her terribly! May her soul rest in eternal peace.