Forever in our Hearts
When we received the call that our dear WLI sister, Marcia, had died, our sisterhood was rocked to the core. We spent the next few days in disbelief. Even now as we commemorate her life, the pain is fresh as the morning dew on the wild chaconia, the pride of Trinidad and Tobago.
Our sisterhood refuses to speak in the past tense in reference to Marcia, and so our tribute to her aims to keep her alive in years to come.
Marcia Erskine, one of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) founding members and former Chair, and at the time of her passing, Chair of the PR, Fundraising & Events Committee, boasts a rich background in journalism and public relations spanning 36 years. She also serves on the Board of United Way, the parent organisation for the WLI.
She is the Managing Director of Marcia Erskine & Associates and has held esteemed positions such as President of the Public Relations Society of Jamaica and the International Association of Business Communicators. A graduate of the University of the West Indies, she holds certificates in marketing management, total quality management, and graphic design. Marcia has received numerous awards for her contributions to Caribbean tourism and PR training services.
But all of the above is simply her professional life. In June 2023, our sisterhood sat down with Marcia to chat and get a peep into what makes this dynamic woman tick. We thought it apt to share with you, in her own words, as she chatted with us.
Foremost, Marcia revels in her family. She indicates she was determined to raise her two children properly, even if that meant they accompanied her to work events and conferences. She would also give the same attention to her husband, not taking for granted what was required to build that relationship. Undeniably, she adores her grandchildren and relishes the time she spends with them.
The WLI’S association with Marcia was love at first sight. She constantly emphasizes her passion for “working alongside compassionate and accomplished women who support various programmes aiding abused women, scholars, educators, and adolescent boys.” Her decision to volunteer with WLI was influenced by “its compelling vision and invitation from the founding members.” Looking back, she recalls that “balancing work, home life, and volunteerism has been challenging but achievable, with a focus on spending quality time with family, despite a demanding schedule.”
Marcia defines her greatest strength as “flexibility and a can-do attitude,” which sometimes, she chuckles, “leads to over commitment.” Our sisterhood is continuously amazed at how Marcia gets it all done. The definition for Superwoman is Marcia. Yet in all this, she finds time for herself.
A lover of going to the beach, music, movies and reading, Marcia was fascinated by the book, “Twenty-eight Pounds Ten Shillings, A Windrush Story” by Tony Fairweather, which narrates the experiences of the Windrush generation and the challenges they faced. For her, a “glimpse into the sacrifices of these brave souls and a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Caribbean people to the development of Britain, a fact that is often discounted.”
We asked Marcia to identify one mentor in her life and she fondly identifies her sister. “My only surviving sibling. She is the oldest of four children of my Mom and Dad, and I am the last. She is 12 years my senior and has always been like a second mother to me. I have always looked up to her and marveled at her quiet, calm demeanor – totally opposite to mine.
“She has always been judge and jury in disagreements as we grew up as children in Trinidad and the sounding board for every hare-brained scheme and smart idea I have ever had. She has never steered me wrong.”
For many WLI sisters, Marcia serves as mentor, never steering us wrong, guiding us with her insight and her sense of humour and despite her own beliefs, her calm demeanor.
Marcia is remembered, Marcia is loved and Marcia is alive, forever in our hearts.