Issuu

Amy Hyacinth Fergusson-Williams, affectionately known as Nuxi, was born on September 22, 1939, in Kingston, Jamaica to Herbert Fitzgerald Repole and Ida Chloe Repole (Dida), née Jacques. She spent her early years in the family home on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston, and later at Swain Spring in Red Hills, St Andrew where children and grandchildren would come to treasure the sweeping land and beautiful view of the city. Nuxi completed her primary and secondary education in Jamaica, graduating from St. Hugh’s High School in Kingston. She later traveled to Leeds, England, to study fashion design at Leeds College of Art. Her love of learning never left her. In her later years, she returned to school and attended the Atlanta College of Art, where she graduated at the top of her class. One of the family’s favorite stories is how Amy met the love of her life. While in Leeds, she spotted a handsome young man at a social event and pointed him out to her dear friend, Norma Johanneson, née Comrie. He was wearing a green shirt, and from that moment on, he became known simply as “Green Shirt.” As fate would have it, she saw him again at another gathering. This time, determined to meet him, she walked over to greet his friend, Koso Thomas, whom she knew, and was introduced to Rodney Fergusson-Williams. With a touch of charm and mischief, Amy pretended to have a headache and asked if he had any aspirin. Ever the gentleman, Rodney offered to walk her to the store to get some, and somewhere along that walk, a conversation began that would last a lifetime. They were married in Leeds on July 22, 1961, with Norma as Amy’s bridesmaid and Koso as Rodney’s groomsman. What began with “Green Shirt” became a beautiful love story and a marriage that flourished for nearly 65 years. The happy couple went on to raise their three children in Jamaica and Sierra Leone. Nuxi was an avid lover of the arts in all its forms such as dance, visual art, sculpture, poetry, and theater, and she made sure her children grew up surrounded by that beauty and creativity. She also had a deep love for gardening and cared for her plants with extraordinary patience and passion. To say she had a green thumb would hardly do her justice; the family often joked that she could bring even the most hopeless plant back to life. Before long, she became everyone’s trusted source for plant knowledge, always ready with guidance, encouragement, and exactly the advice a struggling plant, or person, seemed to need. Amy worked for several years at the British High Commission in Freetown, Sierra Leone while also working independently as a talented seamstress. Her passion for sewing was nurtured by her aunt, fondly known to all as Dada, who made her dresses. After moving to the United States, she continued her work as a seamstress, creating men’s and women’s clothing, drapery, bridal gowns, alterations, quilts, and so much more. Among her most cherished labors of love were the wedding dresses she created for her daughters, meticulously selecting the fabric, lace, and embellishments for each one with exquisite care. Her hands were rarely still, and whatever she made carried the mark of her skill and creativity. She was especially blessed to unite her gift for sewing with her love of the arts when she began making costumes for films and theater productions at the Fox Theatre and venues across Georgia. Through her work, she brought beauty, character, and imagination to life on stage and screen. In her later years, Nuxi embraced the internet and WhatsApp with enthusiasm. These became meaningful ways for her to stay connected with family and friends across the world, and she used them until her final day with us. She learned to use a smartphone in her own memorable