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Edina M. Williams, 64, of Orlando, passed away Monday, April 24, 2017. Edina is survived by her loving husband, Eslie Williams; son, Kayin Williams; son, Kasim Williams (wife, Ginelle Williams); daughter, Kamille Richards (husband, John Richards, III.); mother, Claristine Claxton; many brothers and sisters; and grandchildren, Nathaniel and Layla. There will be a visitation for friends on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 from 4PM - 7PM at Good Life Funeral Home, located at 8408 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32817. There will be a second visitation on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 10AM at Quest Church, located at 1450 Citrus Oaks Avenue, Gotha, Florida 34734. Services will begin at 11AM at the church. Burial services will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Gotha. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou Edina Minerva Blyden was born on December 6th, 1952 on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, to Edward Wilmot Blyden IV and Claristine Albertha Claxton. She was raised on the Island of Nevis until the age of 11, when she moved to New York in 1963. Initially educated in Nevis, then New York, Edina, with her passion for education, received a Bachelor in Education from Hunter College in New York City in 1974. Edina furthered her education and received Master’s in Education from the University of the Virgin Island (UVI). Edina was joined in matrimony to Eslie Nathaniel Williams on January 25th, 1975. Their union bore 3 wonderful children: Sons; Kayin & Kasim, and Daughter; Kamille. Kasim is the husband of Ginelle Williams. They have two children, Nathaniel and Layla. Kamille is married to John Richards. Edina has two siblings on her mother’s side; Errol Blyden who is married to Valarie Blyden, and her best friend and sister, Elaine Blyden Hutchinson. Errol and Valerie’s children are, Joy, Justin, Jordan, and Jewel. Elaine has one child, Jamel, and her grandchildren are Zariya and Koby. Edina, much loved by her students and well respected by her supervisors and administrators, was a compassionate teacher. She began her career in 1975, teaching third-grade. Recognizing her exceptional teaching skills, Edina became the first teacher for academically talented classes in the late 1980’s and continued working with exceptional students through the 1990’s. She then became the assistant principal at Ricardo Richards Elementary School, and served in this role for many years. She exercised ‘tough love’ with her students, who appreciate her strength and resolve to this day. She started the first Girls Scouts troop at Ricardo Richards Elementary School and was the faculty advisor for Pan Connection, the school’s first steel pan orchestra, started by her husband, Eslie Williams, and Stedroy Williams. Edina accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a child, and led a life guided by Christian love and principles. She was a member of Grace Point Church in Orlando. Mrs. Williams, a loving, generous, thoughtful, giving, and spiritually minded woman of God, never made a decision without first asking God for direction and guidance. She was not only a loving mother to her own children, but Edina was a mother figure to hundreds of children on the island of St. Croix; all of whom have high regard and respect for her. She was always in contact with her many family members, friends and former students. Edina was the ‘glue’ that kept her family together and bonded her to her friends, students and colleagues. Edina was a stylish woman whose dress and demeanor, would light a room. She spoke with a voice that was both calming and compelling. Every word and every gesture was spoken and delivered with poise and grace. No matter what the situation, Edina would calmly and gracefully find a solution to a problem, and bring harmony to discord. Edina was very close to her mother Claristine, and also to her first cousins, Jaslene, Diana, Urena, and Karyn. It was a blessing that they were able to go on a cruise just two months ago where they reminisced about old times and made plans to continue the tradition of traveling together. When Edina made a friend, those friends became family to her. Everyone who has crossed her path has had a positive, not-able-to-be-forgotten or removed impression on their life. On April 23rd, Mrs. Williams was the victim of a fatal car accident on the Florida Turnpike. She succumbed to her injuries on April 24th after several attempts to resuscitate her. She leaves to mourn her, her husband, Eslie, her children; Kayin, Kasim & Kamille, her sisters and brothers on her mother’s side – Errol and Elaine, and on her father, Edward Blyden’s side: Irvin, Vernon, Shirley, Vincent, Edwin, Maureen, Clarice, Edward, Lois, Karen, Evalee, Yvonne, Lynn, Edison, Pearl, Corene and Ensworth, who are living in Florida, the Virgin Islands, Georgia, New Jersey, Tortola and Texas, as well as a host of nieces and nephews and friends. Edina, having left her footprint on everyone’s heart, will be dearly missed. “… when great souls die, after a period, peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” Maya Angelou, from ‘When Great Trees Fall”

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Edina B. Williams

December 6, 1952 - April 24, 2017