Obituary of Mavis Derby

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness….Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31: 25-26, 30In loving memory of our dear Mavis Derby (1928-2020), a matriarch of her four-generation family; who passed this life to be forever with the Lord on Tuesday October 6th 2020 at the age of 92 at the Humber River Hospital. Mavis Derby (Mother Derby) was born on April 22nd 1928, to parents, Alberta Wellington and Dougal Derby in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica. Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure. She was our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother!She was loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.Mother Derby dedicated her life to the service of God and the ministry of the Gospel. She served at the Mount Refuge Church of the First Born in Wakefield Savannah for over 40 years. She loved her church family dearly and always felt it a privilege and a joy to pastor the flock. She was a teacher of the Word and believes strongly on the moral standings of the scripture. In her early ministry, the passion for spreading the gospel would take her from parish to parish throughout the island of Jamaica. Her most common mode of transportation would be to walk; that way she would stop at intervals telling hundreds of people about the love of Jesus Christ and His power to save.Those who knew her closely, can profess to her sharp-witted charm, infectious laughter,and her no non-sense glare that demanded corrective action. She loved to share her stories of her times in ministry and various miraculous events that would strengthen the faith and renewed hope in whomever is listening. In her later years, Mother Derby settled in Canada surrounded by family, and friends who she loved dearly. She continued to minister to saints of the church and loved ones, and poured out her wisdom unto anyone that would receive it.The joy of the Lord was truly her strength, as she remained constant in prayer and fervent in worship. She will forever be remembered as “… steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58), and for her continued sermon that “God is real”.She is survived by her son, Pastor Rudyard Walters and his wife Joyce Walters; her 8 grandchildren Samantha, Angela, Ryean, Patrick, Mavis, Natasha, Shawn, and Jeremy and their families; her sisters Inez, Pernell and Merline; numerous nieces and nephews, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.She is predeceased by her son Ruel Singleton, her parents, her brother Clifton Willory, and her sister Lena Roberts. A private funeral ceremony will be held at Glendale Funeral Home and Cemetery on Saturday October 17, 2020. Due to current gathering restrictions, funeral attendance has been limited to invitees only.