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I photographed Merlita about three years ago. Sadly, I found out this week that she has passed away.
Merlita was an extremely elegant and dignified woman who always spoke with such eloquence. Here’s her story again.

Merlita is originally from Barbados. She answered the call from the UK asking for nurses to come and work for the NHS.

“When I was at the airport in Barbados all the other nurses cried except me. My mother made me take two coats even though it was so hot while we waited for the plane. None of the other girls had coats and they were all freezing by the time we got to NY and then the UK. I gave a coat to one of the girls and she became the girl that my brother married.

Merlita went on to work for most of her life as a nurse in South London and in doing so, contributed so much to this country.

RIP Merlita Hayes 1941-2026
Credit Steve Reeves Facebook

Condolences to the friends and family of Melita Haynes.

Thank you for your service to the National Health Service

🇧🇧 How well do you know your Bajan proverbs? Have you ever heard this one?🐦‍⬛🐦



Source: De Mortar-pestle: A Collection of Barbadian Proverbs by G. Addinton Forde.