THE WORKERS V ICE Volume 46. No. 13 Monday, MARCH 8, 2021 Price 50 cents Bermuda Industrial Union Tribute to Sis. LaVerne Furbert SEPTEMBER 1, 1946 - JANUARY 31, 2021 Lionel Pearman and when he passed she took over preparing the paper IN OUR OPINION along with the then Editor, the late Bro. Calvin Smith. Brothers & Sisters Trade Unionism opened the door Life is a satisfying experience and for her to encourage persons to a very challenging journey. In display their talents and abilities to the midst of this journey we are express themselves. She was fearless fortunate to meet people like Sis. in her opinions and demonstrated LaVerne Furbert. her ability to take our issues with a determination to make her point. Sis. LaVerne was different than most people, she was open-minded and Working at the BIU truly was the unafraid to speak with conviction perfect job for Sis. LaVerne. Her on issues and topics you and I would office sits right in the middle of not touch. In the last few weeks since the two titular officers, the General her passing many have paid tribute President and the General Secretary. to Sis. LaVerne and have called her Her role was to manage their sched- a warrior, fearless, a drum major and ules, organize press conferences, do many other heroic names. their personal typing but no job was too small, she would drop them off We the staff of the Bermuda to meetings and pick them back up Industrial Union (BIU), Sis. as well. Having a secretary who was LaVerne’s second family would “in the know” and well-connected like to talk about the well-dressed by the union as the Secretary to was a true benefit. Bro. Chris could sister that pulled up to Union Square the Executives on April 12th 2004 call out to Sis. LaVerne at any time in that little blue car on a daily under then President, the Hon. and say “get the Premier on the phone” basis. Sis. LaVerne was not only the Derrick Burgess. Her special mix of or “call Minister so-and-so”, this was Executive Secretary, she was a friend, secretarial, journalist, political and right up her alley. She knew them she was a cook for some, she was an passion for human rights and justice well and on a personal level and advisor, she was a good listener and made her the perfect fit at BIU. She the importance of that cannot be a confidant. also assisted in the preparation of discounted. When members showed the Workers Voice along with Bro. up unannounced to see Bro. Chris, Sis. LaVerne was a union member Sis. LaVerne would come out and from 2002 to 2021; she was hired (continue on page 2) Special Edition THE WORKERS VOICE MARCH 8, 2021 1 She even wrote a full page tribute to Two-J in the Workers Voice. THE WORKERS VOICE Everyone knows that the second PUBLISHED BY THE House of Assembly is directly across Bermuda Industrial Union 49 Union Square the street from the BIU where the Hamilton HM12 Bermuda public bathrooms are located. Well, Sis. LaVerne felt the members T (441) 292-0044 needed to have something to sit on F (441) 295-7992 so she called up the Corporation of E [email protected] Hamilton and within two days two EDITOR benches were put in place. Arnold Smith [email protected] Sis. LaVerne was an immaculate talk to them and by the time she dresser and everything had to be ASSISTANT EDITOR was finished, they did not need to matching from her eye shadow “The Late” LaVerne Furbert see Bro. Chris anymore. Her value to her earrings and she loved [email protected] to this organization was felt imme- bright prints, especially pink and LAYOUT AND DESIGN diately when she passed. African prints. She would always Phaedra Smith compliment someone when they Sis. LaVerne was at the forefront of were dressed well and she really GENERAL COUNCIL assisting people experiencing per- admired Bro. Chris for being a REPRESENTATIVES sonal challenges by using her many well-dressed man and he always Shirlene Simons David Bean social and political contacts to cor- smells nice she would say. rect all injustice. One could not tell PRINTED BY THE the many times she helped her fel- Printed by The Bermuda Press Ltd. low Bermudians and others out of a firestorm of personal challenges. She did not have a problem calling any- body to tell them she had someone in need and if they did not offer some form of support the whole office knew. We would hear her shouting ‘getting on my ‘fackin nerves’ and out the building she went to sit in her car and then she would come back and call whomever again until she got the right answer, she was persistent. Sis. LaVerne was bold, she had a dog named Two-J whom she loved In one of her ‘In My Opinion’ col- dearly, even to the point Two-J at umns Sis. LaVerne stated that one one time slept in the bed with her. of her favorite text in the Bible came In 2007 Two-J died and to the as- from the book of Ruth as follows: tonishment of the Executive Board, ‘Where you go I will go, and where Sis. LaVerne asked for compassion- you stay I will stay. Your people will ate leave to grieve his passing, and be my people and your God my she was absolutely serious, she was God’. All can attest that she lived by told she could take a vacation day. this text to the very end. (continue on page 3) 2 THE WORKERS VOICE MARCH 8, 2021 Staff members spoke of what Sis. passion and presence is a big miss causes she championed. A mother, LaVerne meant to them as follows: in the office, she truly was commit- a grandmother, a sister and a friend. ted to what she was about. May her Rest In Peace, my friend. Sis. Yvette – Sis. LaVerne always memory be a blessing. showed up Monday morning with a Bro. Ronnie Smith – it’s really hard meal for me but I will definitely miss Bro. Scottie – she was a trooper. to believe she is gone, just like that her fishcakes this year, they were we are left with just the memories. I absolutely delicious. Sis. Ronnie Burgess – will miss your am going to be thinking about all the listening hear, popping into my office times I worked with her, I would hear Sis. Melaine – love you dearly, will and asking ‘what’s happening’ and my phone ringing and she would say miss you so much. our talks about the current events no ‘Ronnie can you come here a min- matter the subject and working on ute please’. Guess you cannot take Sis. Shawnee – I love you and miss the Women’s Tea and other events. I friendships for granted, life is but a you. miss you my ‘Senior Friend’. vapor and then you are gone. I am going to miss her. Sis. Pat - a friend is never truly gone. Bro. Arnold – Laverne with an “E “I Their spirit lives on in memories of guess for “Extraordinary” Her spirit Bro. Graham – Sis. LaVerne has those who loved them. The best of was kind and giving. proven she was truly her brother/ friends know that they were loved She was politically astute, a liter- sister’s keeper on a regular basis. She for who they were in life. Saying ary genius, a great defender for the was not afraid to express herself in goodbye isn’t for me. Instead, I will defense of anything she believed in say that I look forward to seeing that was deemed a violation of their my friend again. It’s been an honor rights. I will truly miss this giant of a knowing you, you will be remem- Freedom Fighter. Love always. Rest bered as a legend, rest in peace my In Peace. friend. Bro. George – an ever on guard Sis. Renee - at any moment any one Union Soldier always seeking to as- of us in the office could have asked sist any person in need of assistance Sis. LaVerne for help and she would (continue on page 4) make herself available to us. Her THE WORKERS VOICE MARCH 8, 2021 3 when needed. Sis. LaVerne was the person that listened to them union member or not. Bro. Collin – she was a Sister and a warrior, I could depend on her to assist me especially with our Seniors Division. Rest In Peace. Sis. Molly – as General Secretary of the BIU I would like to express my gratitude to Sis. LaVerne for all the assistance she gave me during her years of service as my secretary. Also her dedication and commitment to the organization. Her loss will sure- ly be missed here, she was a shining example of strength and integrity in our office. The Trade Union Move- ment and the political areas. ‘Gone but will never be forgotten may she Rest In Peace. Bro. Chris - Sister Laverne will be sadly missed by ALL the BIU Staff and the members who she assisted over the years. As President of the BIU I will certainly miss her assis- tance in handling the different situ- ations that arose day to day. I would like to say a sincere thank you to Sister LaVerne for a job well done, I LOVE YOU rest in peace. The Officers, Staff and membership of the Bermuda Industrial Union express our condolences and love to Sis.