Archer Family – Anderson Street

Captain Albert Archer and his wife, the former Caroline Lightbourn, of Abaco, lived next door to Howin and Zelda.  They were the parents of Zelda, Walter, Alvord, Baltron, Annette, Mildred (Millie), Jenethia, Velma and Durward. Walter, who was a highly skilled boat builder, was married to the former Agnes Lightbourne.  Walter and Agnes lived on Shirley Street just west of Mackey Street.  As a child, I dubbed Agnes Archer as Mother’s “kissing friend” because they embraced and kissed whenever they met.  Agnes’ sister, Mildred Lightbourne-Sawyer was my godmother.  Walter and Agnes had ten children:  Gurth (deceased), Anthony, Florinda (Clarke), Valerie (Smith), Gregory (deceased), retired Rector of Epiphany Anglican Church, Delano, Persephone (McQuay), Rosemund, Angela and Lambert.   Alvord was married to Herman Bethell of Eleuthera and their children were Baltron, Joyce (Maycock, deceased), Iris (Knowles) and Philip.  Baltron and Joyce Bethell came to New Providence to attend GHS and they lived with their grandparents. Baltron Archer was married to the former Patricia Bethell and their children are: retired nurse, Melanie (Farrington), Colin, who is a Psychologist and Methodist Minister, businessman Donald, insurance executive Albert, and businessman Robert, the manager of Archer’s Nursery, adjacent to the family homestead in Chippingham.

Velma married Pastor Ed Allen and they had two children: Ferne (deceased) and Michael. Annette was married to the late Conrad Knowles and their children are Dr. Ronald Knowles, Joan Albury (owner of The Counsellors Limited), attorney Paul, and Dr. Sonia Knowles (dentist). Millie was unmarried and lived in the family homestead on Anderson Street until her death.  Durward married Delores Douglas of North Carolina and they had a daughter, Carolynn.  He was one of the first nineteen students admitted to the Government High School, graduated from Howard University with a degree in mechanical engineering. However, as stated in his obituary, he found it difficult to find appropriate employment in The Bahamas, so he returned to the United States to teach at engineering schools in South Carolina and Tennessee where he passed the Professional Engineers (PE) Board Examination.  He was the first full black member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and later worked for Esso Standard Oil (Exxon) in the United States and for many years in Singapore where he was elected to serve on the board of the Singapore American Schools.

After The Bahamas attained independence Durward took an early retirement from Exxon and returned home in 1974 when he was engaged as the General Manager of the Burmah Oil Transshipment Terminal at South Riding Point in East Grand Bahama.  Upon retirement he became a consultant to BORCO Oil Refinery in and Freeport Power Company.  He was an active Corporate Member of The Bahamas Institution of Professional Engineers (BIPE) and served as a member of council of its Northern Branch in Grand Bahama.

Durward, who died in September 2011,  was involved in the establishment of the First company of Boys Brigade in The Bahamas at Wesley Methodist Church and served for many years as Chairman of the Grand Bahama Regional Branch of The Bahamas national Trust as well as on the board of the Trust.

Mrs. Caroline Archer was an excellent cook and neighbours looked forward to buying her hot bread on Saturday afternoons. Her granddaughter, Diane Dean, inherited Mrs. Archer’s culinary skills and operated a catering business.

Captain Archer’s mother, Susan Jane, was a wonderful quilt maker and she lived with the Pinders. Annette and Velma are the surviving children of Captain and Mrs. Archer.

© Copyright Rosemary C. Hanna 2013