An automobile accident in Florida has claimed the life of a revered Virgin Islands’ educator. Edina Williams succumbed to her injuries just before 11 a.m. on Monday.
According to Fiona Stokes, a family friend and former student, a driver made a U-turn, crashing into the car that Mrs. Williams and three others were traveling in on the Florida turnpike on Sunday evening. The driver and two other passengers were not critically injured.
Mrs. Williams was born on St. Thomas and moved to the island of St. Croix in the summer of 1975 after living in New York for many years. She is described as giving her all as a third-grade teacher. In the late 1980s, she transitioned to teaching the first Academically Talented classes, which she continued teaching into the 90s. Mrs. Williams started the first girl scouts, and was the faculty advisor for Pan Connection—the first school steel pan orchestra started by Stedroy Williams and her husband Eslie Williams.
“She taught her students the skills needed for a strong understanding of reading, writing and arithmetic, but she also showed interest in their lives and taught life’s lessons and how they can be an outstanding member of society,” Ms. Stokes said.
Mrs. Williams is further described as a dedicated teacher who loved her students like they were her own children, and took teaching outside of the classroom on a regular basis. She continued teaching even as a retiree by tutoring in Orlando, Florida.
She is survived by her husband Eslie Williams, and three adult children Kayin, Kasim, and Camille.
Correction: April 25, 2017
A previous version of this story had the deceased’s husband, as well as the family friend’s names spelt incorrectly. It’s Eslie Williams, not Elise Williams, and Fiona Stokes, not Finona Stokes.
Tags: Edina Williams, usvi educator
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