Christine Pharoah was born on Sunday 1st, November 1953 in Montine Grandbay. She was the only child of May Henderson and the third of Edward Pharoah, both of Grandbay Dominica.  However,  her upbringing was nutured by her grand aunty, Agnes 'Asay' Liverpool.

Christine Pharoah the youngest sister of Mariette and Samuel Pharoah in France.

She was mother to Sharon and Velda Wade before venturing off to seek greener pastures in Aruba where she spent ten years.  On her return to Dominica to she birthed her only son, Sherman Wade.

She adopted her three step children as her own and cherished her relationship with them. Merlyn Wade whom we all know was her favorite child, Sheila Wade whom she believed was the most beautiful, and Julius Wade are favorite son.

Her offsprings would then go on to bless her with six grandchildren:  Children of Sharon; Keyanna Joseph whom mammy raised in her early formative years, Charlson Azille,  Charvis Azille.and Sharana Azille.

Keyanna believes that she was mammy's best friend, I say that I was.  Sharana, well, the manager, motivator, enabler of granny, in other words, the boss granny, and all mammy ever did was laugh it out.
Together Keyanna and Sharana were granny's army, ready to defend and protect her, at whatever the cause, because mammy loved and spoilt them both.

She had a special bond with the boys. She would beem with pride when she looked up at Charlson and Charvis, often you could catch her blushing at how handsome they are and when she spoke of how they helped her with errands.

Over the last years she was again blessed by Sherman with Sariah and Sayden Wade.  She saw so much of herself in these two, she spoke of them with emence love and pride. These two were the icing on the cake....so there was no need for me to give her any.

To compensate she got the gifts of; one greatgrand son, Giovanni Osei Gordon whom she called Jovani.  Once he wanted his way is "bring me by my granny." Together, I called them Frick and Frack. Mammy's one greatgrand daughter Bae-Ariah Braithwaite, was the apple of her eye.

Mammy shared a special bond with her adopted son Dave Mitchell.  Her home was his home.

Apart from her love for her family,  mammy loved people.  That fueled her passion for vending,  which she did throughout her life.

You should hear mammy speak of the positive feedback she got from her customers.  After years of trying to get her to give up vending,  well  we had to give up our efforts, as we couldn't imagine mammy  being happy otherwise.  She loved feeding people.  Her home was never too small, she always had enough give.

Mammy valued friendship. She lived for people,  she lived for serving people, she lived for feeding people.  Fund raising? She was the number one volunteer for almost everything;  bakes or Johnny cake  pate, lunches,  juices, ask anybody, they'll tell you that Christine's food is the best ,"  " She can cook," "she is always helping "

As a matter of fact if we knew that this was coming, we would have made her stock up our fridge with her meals and made her prepare the snacks for the happy hour first.

Mammy loved Dominica and Dominican culture. That reflected in the meals she prepared,  her persistence in practicing the mother tongue, creole or patios.   She came alive during Dominica's Independence celebration season. She loved to be adorned in her creole wear and let us take a moment to recognize her at her prowess as a long serving member of the Dominica-St.Thomas Association.  She represented her native land proudly through cultural dances, stage dramatization, creole cooking at public events etc.

My mother was what we call, a good woman, a kind hearted lady, a loving and caring human being, a hard working and generous soul, a beautiful Dominican Woman, un Belle Femme Dominik.

During her last days, I experienced God performing miracles with my mother. She breathed and moved on her own, at the call of Jesus, at the very moment that the hospital staff walked in to switch of the ventilator.  The doctor and nurses were amazed.

I witnessed a nurse came down from the ICU to the medical ward to, as she said " Witness the miracle" herself.  Family and friends, there is indeed power in the name of Jesus.

So when God decided to quietly take her home, we trusted His will, and will continue trust, praise and thank Him.

My prayer was that He welcomed her home and that she met her mother, whom she never knew because I appreciated that God  blessed us with a mother,  and I treasure having known her.

And, though she walks among us no more, she lives inside of each one of us. I see her through the perseverance and industrious character of her first born Sharon, through the quiet yet sweet nature of Sherman, through the loud laughters and bold essence of Keyanna, the innate beauty and passion of Sharana, the genuine love and wit of Charlson, the peaceful yet strong spirit of Charvis, her thin curly hair on Sariah and Bae-Ariah's head, the glowing smile on Sayden's face and yes, the spunk and beauty of myself.

To all those who knew her, I thank you all for bringing whatever joy you brought to her over the years. Please honor her by your kindness, compassion,  generosity,  sincerity, dedication, honesty and love, because that is who she was.