St. Louis: --- Residents from both sides of the island as well as elected officials gathered under the tamarind tree in St. Louis on Thursday night to celebrate the life of the island's cultural icon and mom's confidant Laurel Richards better known as Yaya or Red Bird. Yaya passed away suddenly last Wednesday at the La Samana Resort from a massive heart attack.Residents and relatives of the late Richards decorated the area as they would always do for their Jollification or St. Louis fete. Cultural wear were displayed including Yaya's favorite pots, coal pots and plants. A slide show of photographs of all that Yaya did for her village was shown as several speakers expressed their thoughts of Richards. Her immediate relatives were all dressed in their cultural wear that represented St. Cultural Women's Association.
Those that paid tribute were Mayor Albert Fleming, Senator Louis Constant Fleming, Sarah Wescot Williams, Daniel Gibbs and Ruby Bute with her poems. Steel pan players, Ruben from Boo Boo Jam all participated in the night's events. Also among the villagers were Guillaume Arnell, Alain Richardson Louis Jeffry, Jean David Richardson, Maude Gibbs, and several Collectivity workers.Many of them spoke of their experiences with Yaya. She was remembered as being caring and loving. One that meant what she said and would walk to the ends of the earth to get what is needed for the St. Louis Women's Association. Villagers expressed how shocked they were when they learnt of her passing and what that would mean for them and the village in which they live.
Mayor Fleming issued a challenge to the relatives of Yaya to replace her and what she was actively doing to preserve the island's culture mainly that of St. Louis. He said Yaya knew all the plants and bushes that were good for every ailment and that she did her best to make sure the island especially her village shine. While Senator Louis Constant Fleming said the last time he spoke to Yaya was when she went to see him expressing her concerns about the social homes that was rumored were going to be built in her village. Fleming said he promised Yaya back then that as long as he has political power no one would be allowed to build social homes in St. Louis. Fleming also assured the gathering that his pledge to Yaya still stands.
Wescot Williams said the last time she saw Yaya was some Sunday's ago when she attended the St. Louis fete. She said when learnt of Yaya's passing she too was shocked but she has learnt to deal with any type of news. Wescot Williams also called on the residents to carry on Yaya's legacy.
Residents in the area said Yaya would tell them that they had to continue her work whenever she died and on several occasions she would tell them not to forget what she taught them. Young and old were all heard reminiscing on Yaya's abilities to get things done and her achievements.
The funeral service for Yaya is scheduled for Friday at the Marigot Catholic Church.
