Driven to achieve
Alverine Morales Richards was placed in the lives of her parents, Juliet and Theophilus Richards, on July 25, 1946.
She spent many of her years living on Duke Street, where she lived with her mother and grandmother. Richards was always the type of person to stay inside and keep up to date with her soap operas or read a novel; she knew how to enjoy her own company.
Alverine was always kept in the latest garments by her mother, who wanted her to live the best life possible, and would often say that “Alverine must always be better than her”.
Richards was, therefore driven to achieve as much as she could in her lifetime.
Her calling was in teaching, and Richards joined the teaching staff of St Theresa’s Preparatory School in March 1964. She was given the nickname ‘Miss Richie’ while working there and taught Grade Four.
In September 1964, she chose to teach the younger ones and started in the ‘B’ Grade. She taught grade one for a number of years upon retirement.
Throughout her career, Richards continuously updated her skills in her chosen profession through a variety of courses. Among them was a course in early-childhood education at the University of the West Indies, where she was successful upon completion. She was a member of the Brownies and received a certificate for completing three levels of guide training.
On July 15, 1975, Alverine’s most prized possession, her daughter, Camille, came into the world.
Camille was her only child, and if asked why she only had one, Richards would simply reply, “Bwoy, me take what I can manage”.
Richards raised Camille the same way her mother had raised her, that she must be better than she was.
For years, it was only the two of them, until grandchildren Nichele and Nickoy were born.
Richards loved children, so she took care of her grandchildren and the four of them were inseparable.
Unfortunately, health issues arose in August of 2015, and just two months later the Lord called Richards home to a life of neverending happiness.
She is now resting in the arms of God.