Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer
Kenisha O'Connor gaves Aunt Dor a manicure.
THE PROVERB "It's never too late for a shower of rain" came true in the life of Cynthia McDermott Evans, popularly called Aunt Dor.
Imagine at 78 years old and having a birthday party for the first time! The Senior Citizens' Council of St. Thomas, headed by Verona O'Connor, planned this surprise party for her, in appreciation for her care and service to others. And was she surprised!
Big surprise
On a Sunday evening earlier this month she was at the Retreat residence of one of her nephews, Harold McDermott. Mrs. O'Connor and her husband Kenneth came visiting and invited her to go out with them. Instead of going 'out', they took her took her upstairs. Yes, at her nephew's house. And you can imagine her surprise when she saw other relatives and friends there waiting for her. They showered her with praise and thanked God for her life.
She even got an on-the-spot manicure and pedicure. This was done by Kenisha O'Connor.
"My husband use to do this for me," Mrs. McDermott Evans beamed.
" I was told I would be going out with the O'Connors," she said, "I was not expecting this."
Mrs. Evans is a widow for 20 years and is the first of a family of eight. She explained why at age 78 she was having her first birthday party.
"I was the first of seven children and my parents could not afford it."
She is a devoted Adventist and the chief person in the feeding programme at the church. Her task includes going to the market, organising the meal, cooking the meal and she sees to it distribution. She is very committed to the success of this programme.
" I enjoy doing these tasks because for some people this is their main meal. I feel really bad if I can't help to ensure that they receive this meal."
Feeding programme
Aunt Dor's involvement in the feeding programme began in 1992, when she returned from the United States to resettle in St. Thomas.
On Sundays she prepares the meat. On Mondays this is transported to the church kitchen along with the other ingredients for cooking. Oftentimes her own resources are used. Cooking starts as early as 8 o'clock and by 11:30 other members of the team are able to distribute the meal to private homes and to destitute persons for whom the street is their home.
The areas covered in this programme are Dumfries, Lyssons, Red Hills, Church Corner, Prospect and Morant Bay. Approximately 50 persons are served every Monday.
Mrs. Evans thanked everyone who sought to honour her and pledged that she would continue to serve the unfortunate and the outcast in the communities.
Audrie's very first clients were an elderly couple from her church who had a pig who was losing weight. The life of the vet, she says, is great. As a mobile vet, she is always in the outdoors. She also loves to drive, going on long journeys in her 15-year-old car.
Not much bothers this vet, but Mrs Renata McNab, her mother, states, " What she gets angry about is the mistreatment of animals and she will be annoyed with people for years over this. Audrie is quite outspoken and to the point. She is not afraid to show her feelings. I tell her that in dealing with people you have to be a little moiré tactful. But she says it's the truth."
Loves older people
Her mother reveals that the vet also has a great love for older people. "In church she is a every good friend of the elderly."
Retired nurse Elizabeth Rhodd, suffering from a chronic illness comments, "She is very dignified Christian and takes part in a lot of community work. She calls me auntie."
Audrie routinely takes Ms. Rhodd, Aunt Lily, to the University Hospital of the West Indies to see her doctor, often spending the entire day to get this done.
She has also taken Ms. Rhodd and several of her friends on excursions to Emancipation Park in her little car, saying that the cultural space was a must-see for them.
At age 34, Audrie might be a little behind her peers in terms of financial achievement. But, she does not care. She is living the life she wants, finally. "At least I can pay my student loan," she says.
Daily schedule
Her self-made, daily schedule also allows her to visit children who are experiencing hardships and counsel young people, including those of her age who have children. "She always has a good word for them," her mother says.
Outlook was introduced to Audrie by psychologist and farmer Dr. Ruth Doorbar who was intrigued by the mobile, female vet and said "I think she will go far."
Her mother agrees, naturally.
"There are four persons who have come to me and said, boy she loves what she is doing and she seems to be good at it. I said 'yes'. I only wonder why she did not do it earlier. She loves it."
That, as far as can be seen, is the year's understatement.
