Gallery of Angels

An angel she is! Halo Shining and always on straight!

Vera and I have known of one another since we were little girls. Her mom worked as housekeeper for Dr. Whisnett, who was the first Lee County Health Officer. Sometimes Vera would come to work with her Mom. That was in his big house on Linwood Avenue and I lived in a little house on Cordova Avenue. The streets were a block apart. She was about 13 and I was about 3.

We met again when I was 27. I worked in a special program in the Lee County Health Department and she was a school nurse. Having that experience with Dr. Whisnett influenced her life’s educational choice. There were not many African American RNs around the state in those days. She might have been one of two in Lee County. About two years later, she and I worked in the same program and from then on we were together most of our work lives. Vera became the nursing director for the migrant health/farm worker health program, which became Family Health Centers. I was its president and CEO. Vera went back to nursing school and became a registered nurse practitioner while still our nursing director. The company grew and she had to focus on taking care of patients as a nurse practitioner.

She became my mother’s nurse practitioner and my teen daughter’s nurse practitioner and my confidant. We knew each other’s toils and cares. We had office socials and gatherings as families.

Then twists and turns taught us some of life’s sad lessons.

Vera nursed her son, Kim, through a terminal illness. She taught her husband, “Coach Steve” (big ‘ole sports guy and community leader, Jim Stephens) how to lovingly give that care to Kim also. Kim was an artist, a successful dancer, dance teacher, professor, and graduate in the arts from Wichita State University. He died at home in his parent’s loving care.

I remember when she delivered her first grandchild, a girl, Kiki. This also happened at home. So very much more my heart remembers.

Steve died suddenly and Vera had to be the family rock, at that point grand mothering about 3, one of whom lived with her. The other stayed with daughter, Stephanie, next door.

Vera continued her nurse practitioner work in the women’s heath department of Family Health Centers. She was always my “go to” person for the “real truth” of how things were. I sought her calm, sagacious advice often.

The Dunbar community lovingly knows her as “Miss V”. I met many wonderful people in her family through the years. All are community servants. The James C. Stephens Academy is named for Jim and we all know her favorite sister in law, Melvin Morgan, the first African American (and only, so far) County Commissioner, and the Fredericks, both Senior and Junior.

Vera and I were growing older. She retired for a while. But the next thing I knew, she was serving almost full-time as a volunteer on the alter guild at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, quietly serving God and His people. The people of the church love Vera. She was singled out and sponsored for a Crusillo weekend, interestingly by friends of mine who are fellow members at St. Luke’s.

Vera went back to work part time at the School Board’s nursing department. Back to the future!?

Vera attended my retirement celebration with Melvin and Frederick. It was like a family reunion. We don’t see one another often, but I can guarantee you that she is letting her little light shine for God and His people. She is, indeed, an angel.

If you ever wondered why a light shines out from Kathy, it is because she has the heart of Christ: Loving, Patient, Kind, Humble and Forgiving. For 21 years we have walked, talked, dined, designed, danced, played and prayed together. She is diligent and thorough in her duties as a Judge, is patient and loving as a daughter, as a mother and as a wife. As a friend, she is trustworthy, thoughtful, forgiving and generous. Her faith has molded her to be this Angel that she is and has given her a servants heart; Christ’s heart. That’s why Kathy shines! — Karen Benson

It is such a pleasure to be counted a good friend of such an awesome woman. Her enthusiasm for life, and being involved in the lives of others is contagious and invigorating. To work beside her on a project is to have fun, accomplish a lot, and socialize in a positive atmosphere and makes the time fly.
Kathy encouraged me to stay involved AND to make a difference in the lives of OUR kids. Although our boys have gone in different directions, our friendship remains intact. I count myself blessed to be included in the sphere of the heavenly light she spreads wherever she goes, and her being designated an Angel is a most fitting tribute to this marvelous woman. — Julia Corbett

If a person is judged by the good friends they keep, then Kathy is a true winner. She is loyal, generous, and a friend in deed when a friend is in need. She is trustworthy, spiritually grounded, kind, friendly, devoted mother to our son and a great dancer. She is my best friend. — Rad

Hey, Sis! We’ve made it through… a broken arm (mine when you, er, watched me roll off the bed), putting on plays to entertain anyone who would watch Snow days with Cousin Brucie on the radio, Ballet classes at the Met, California dreaming and California living…in the worst house on the block (sky blue). Family trips, singing, and playing I Spy. 6,000 plus miles in a car with four kids, a cat, and NO VIDEO GAMES! MHC – Mountain Day, Chanticleer cookies, Tab (ugh). Parties at Chi Phi. Marriages, children, careers… half a lifetime, because there’s still so much ahead! After everything we’ve already been through, I can’t think of anyone more worthy of being an Angel than you! Love you! –Andy

I met Kathy at the dance studio, but aptly bonded with her over the jewelery counter at Saks.
Little did I know that she was not just a dancing fashionista, but a life friend; a woman who is articulate, intelligent and involved. Her outer beauty grabs you, but her outstanding trivia knowledge holds you! Thank you, Kathy, for being my friend, during both joyous times as well as trying ones. — Sandra Weintraub

Gay Rebel Thompson was born in the fifties in Tampa when the west coast of Florida was just beginning to take off. In 1953, Gay’s father, William Brown Thompson, recognized this and moved the family to Fort Myers and along with his partner Harvey Woodruff Bamman started Cement Industries.

Gay speaks fondly of her early days in Fort Myers, accompanying her father downtown and shopping with all the well known merchants. She was always dressed smartly and was very proud of her “saddle shoes. ”

The family grew along with Fort Myers and soon included 5 brothers and sisters. Gay was the oldest and always looked after her siblings. To this day, Gay refers to herself as an “eldest child” and brings it up often when making decisions. The family would travel frequently, loading everyone in a convertible Pontiac and touring the country. This is a trait that Gay retains to this day; she loves to travel and is proud to say she has been to 62 different countries.

Growing up in central Fort Myers, Gay went through the local school system and of course was very active at Fort Myers High School and you could sense even then that she was going to be very involved in the community.

Gay left Fort Myers for higher education and Graduated (B.A.) Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1976, Gay returned to Fort Myers and joined the family business on the accounting side. As the company grew so did her responsibilities. Gay took over as President and CEO of Cement Industries in 1987, a role she still maintains today. Four of the family members are still active in the business and share the entrepreneurial sprit and hard work ethic instilled in them by their father.

Gay recently finished her term with the Miami Branch of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, where she was selected as Chairman three times. She was extremely proud of the time she spent with the Fed.

Sometimes you measure an individual’s contribution to the community by asking, “What would we be like without them”? If Gay Rebel Thompson was the subject of that question, the answer is that we would all be missing something. Many people would not have been guided by her intellect, touched by her kindness, aided by her philanthropy, and refreshed by her captivating smile.

She is truly an angel.

Margaret E. West looked at life as the glass half-full, never half-empty! She was raised in Germany by her grandmother with the help of aunts and uncles. She arrived in America at age eighteen, speaking little English.

Margaret loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her home was famous for after-dinner debates by those sitting around her table, which was filled with wonderful food prepared with love. Even with the diagnosis of dementia, she tried to look at the glass as half-full. She got others at the assisted living facility to get up, dance, laugh, and have a good time. She tried hard to enjoy every bit of life. No matter what cards Margaret was dealt, including the terrible card of dementia, she always tried to make the best of life.

She enriched all of our lives. She was a wise lady who gave counsel only when asked, but then always hit the nail on the head, sometimes to our chagrin. She knew how to listen and provide good advice and she knew when to keep quiet and just let us make our own mistakes. She was always there to pick us up and tell us that she loved us. She quietly helped many people.

She was a wonderful lady with many friends and admirers throughout her life. Margareta West lived, loved, and toiled with a zest for life. Her infectious laugh and giggle, and her bright smile made life with her a pleasure.

Everyone has a story and every family has a story.

Like everyone, my parents have many stories too but I am not going to bore anyone with those.

I wanted to honor my parents because they were among the unsung heroes of their time. They dealt with life as it came, not blaming anyone or complaining to anyone. They just got on with it, the British Credo.

I thought my father could do anything, he was a very charming man who knew how to act in every situation and had the best manners. He was chronically ill but he still worked hard. He was a page in the house of parliament at age 14 and then became a butler at a very young age. I remember that he would always explain everything to me and he was a great gardener.

My mother was from Scotland and was the oldest girl of 12. She always wanted an education but because of circumstances it was not available to her so she left home at age 14 to begin her adventures. To ease all situations and tough times my mother would say “Let’s have a nice cup of tea.” She had a saying for all occasions “A stich in time saves nine” “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” and many, many more. She gave me my sense of adventure and that Scottish strong will.

My parents allowed me to be me, and taught me to be responsible. If I joined a group, I had to get myself there and back.

They never made me feel that there was something I couldn’t do because I was a girl. What I wanted was up to me to figure out. I didn’t grow up with any judgements.

I was always a very creative person. When I was in nursery school at 4 years old- my teacher told my mother that I needed to be an artist. So, when I told my parents I was going to art college they weren’t surprised. They never discouraged me or asked me how I would make a living.

They also taught me to be polite and treat everyone with dignity, to be kind and to have empathy.

My parents both had their adventures, and that’s what I always wanted too, was adventure.