Berkel Family Website

My mother, Vera Lillian Spellman (maiden name Berkel) was the youngest of eleven (11) children. She was born on Tuesday, January 24,7936 to Josiah Berkel and Esther Wilson-Berkel on the tiny Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius (a.k.a. Statia). Mommy gave me the impression of coming from a strict household--serious about serving the Lord through Christian education while valuing the importance of independence and responsibility.

Every morning between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock family worship was held at home. Het English speaking parents of West African, Ethiopian, Danish and Javan descent required each child to go to the "county" to help Pa (her father) in the fields before going to school - where subjects were taught in Dutch. The children enthusiastically shared their crops of yam, potato and other produce with individuals who frequently teased them about "slaving away'' in the fields.

While in the frel{ Patunasn't as deruaading oo mommy as he was with her brothers because she was the youngest and a female. Pa, a Marcus Garvey leader and supporter, also realized Statia did not have opportunities for upward mobility, especially for his Vera of dark-chocolate skin tone. He accepted his brother, James', invitation for Vera 1s immigrate to New York. Mommy landed at Idylwild Airport (renamed JFK) on Tuesday, May 15, 1956 to live with her Uncle James Berkel and his wife Vera Euson (ak"a "Big Vera"; "l.{ana'). By the way, the beautiful house at 918 Fast223'd Street in The Bronx became my home-away-from-home until age 15 when Nana died.

Uncle James and Nana were members of St Martio's Episcopal Church ot l22nd Stueet and Lenox Avenue in Harlem since the1920s. Nana however, showed mommy the church where the "seventh-days" worship. On Saturday morning, May 19, 1956, mommy walked through the doors of Harlem landmark-Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church. The LaCondre and Schmidt families of Statia helped make her worship experience at Ephesus a good one. From 1961 she enjoyed having her niece, Verna, attend church services with her. From 1963, uncle Sam was added to her Sabbath worship experience. Mommy sang alto while Uncle Sam sang bass in the Sanctuary Choir, directed by Yolanda Clark. During the Ephesus Wilderness Years moflrmy, Hyacinth Bontsrre, and Msdleo Farquahson, all original Youth Church deaconesss, had fiia preparing 6id 5slling vegeburgers for the church building firnd on Saturday nights after Missionary Volunteer OdV) meetings*-Sisters Sarah Byrd Ruby Cunningham and Palmyra Hinds were the coo*s.

In 1961 she sponsored my cousin Lenora's immigration to New York. Along with academio support she provided spiritual guidance by enrolling Lenora in the Lskeues choir under the direction of the late Sylvia Williams.

Now, when I was a kid, I attended Westchester Area Elementary School. To he$ raise funds for the school, mommy spent time rewriting Bible stories into plays for my friends and I to perform. [n the early 1980s, her talents were admired and led to her consecutive church nominations as leader of the Adventist Junior Youth Society as well as pianist for the Sabbath School Department.

Later, she served with the Medical Corp for many years until illness interrupted regular attendance at Ephesus

In her professional care & her strict upbringing resulted in 45 years of daily dedicated service to Mount Sinai Hospital and the community in which it served. Nana's cousin helped her get an entry level position as a'!ink lady'' delivering bouquets to the patients. While working she attended and graduated from Roosevelt High School on Fordham Road, and began night duty as a nurses aide. In 1966 she graduated with a Medical Secretary certificate from Monroe Business School on Tremont Avenne andlTltt' Sheet in The Bronx. In 1968, she along with a registered nurse Barbara Keyes-Clapp now a dear family friend) and the administrator opened the doors of Mount Sinai Home Care Department. On Wednesday, January 31,2001, mommy was blessed to retire one week after her 65n birthday.

Service to family and community was easy for her because on Statia she was the only little girl working along with adult female members ofthe Dorcas Society rmder the leadership of Elizabeth ("Dee") Gumbs-Berkel. Her brothers gave her the nickname "Lil Dorcas." One of her dreams was to establish a home for'\rayward" young ladies. Althoughthat did not ulrrteliraliz.e, she opened up her home to her children of family and friends interested in furthering their education. Between 1969 through 1971 she housed her Stacy Simmeads of Saba; Cherille Walton of Guyana (my godmother); hs niece Sylvia; rephew Boyce (rny godfather) and nsphew Hwrbert Between 1963 and 1965 Uncle Sarn, Tantie Elme, Gerard and Jackie were sponsored to New York.

As a child the family prayed, worked, ate, played and picnicked together. She looked forward to vacationing in Ithaca, New York with Aunt Marj's family (Pa's sister Marjorie Buncome). In 1966 she took her American cousins lrma, Karen and Ruthann to Statia to meet Uncle Jo. She also enjoyed visits to New Bedford, Massachusetts with Statia fblks who c:lme to America as whalers. She, Barbara (Babs) Houfuan Edwards, Elton Houtman, "Sonny" Bergland, late Elsa Hazel B"tgl*d along with many others slrared happy moments at the annual extravagant Orange Benevolent Society balls including excursions to historical sites and parties at Nana's home. Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation interfered with her dedicated service as secretary to the St. Eustatius Benevol€,rt Association, Inc.-='organized in 1989 to raise fimds for disast€r relid. She eqioyed herself by traveling throughout the Caribbean, Canada, England, France, Germany, ltaly, Zwich, Holland, Morocco, Ghana

This lifestyle continued during her marriage to my father Emanuel ("Mannie') Spellman with frequent trips to spend time with her step children in Elizabeth City, North Carolina InNew York- annual picnics with the Jameses, Penns, Wilsons, and Pitters' families and other friends,

Her final public act of benevolence took place during a dedication ceremony on Saturday August 13,2005, when she donation l.5 acres of her property to the Seventh-day Church. This property now houses the first Seventh-day Adventist School on the Lynch Plantation of St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles.

Mommy was a very good listener and loyal to her friends and family, she never judged anyone. She accepted everyone. She was very patient. She was a thorough organizer.

Her usual quote was, “preparation is opportunity and opportunity is preparation." Mommy has instilled all these values in me and with God's help I will pick up the torch and carry it on.