Obituary of Lauvenia Broomes

LIFE SKETCH FOR LAUVENIA EMELIA BROOMES

Lauvenia Emelia Broomes was born to Victoria Jack on the beautiful Caribbean island of Tobago, the smaller island of Trinidad and Tobago, on January 18, 1933. During her formative years, her mother married Mayhee John and to their union, seven other children were born. Lauvenia’s early years were spent in the rural village of Lanse Formi, Scarborough, Tobago. She gave her life to Christ at an early age and was baptized. She attended the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) school operated by her village church. After completing her early years of education, she left home at 14 years old to apprentice with a woman in Trinidad to learn how to become a seamstress. When that plan did not materialize, she returned home and worked by learning to cook and clean a family’s home. A year later, the President of Caribbean Union College (now Southern Caribbean University), in Trinidad, needed someone to work in their home. Lauvenia took the position. While working for President Percy Manuel and his family, she observed students working on the campus and attending classes. Deciding to do the same, she began working to pay for her tuition. Even while working, Lauvenia was determined to learn how to sew and taught herself how to do so. The Manuels returned to their home in Canada, but she remained in Trinidad and completed the Senior Cambridge examination (the equivalent of a high school certificate). The Manuels later extended an invitation to Lauvenia to move to Canada to live with them where she completed pre-nursing courses at Oshawa Missionary College (now Kingsway College).

Lauvenia later moved to California to attend the Glendale School of Nursing. While there, she became reacquainted with Lloyd Rudy Broomes, whom she met several years earlier in Trinidad, and they married soon thereafter. While Rudy completed medical school, Lauvenia worked as the charge registered nurse on the surgical floor of the San Bernardino County Hospital. After the birth of their first child, Lloyda, Lauvenia’s youngest sister, Christine, came from Tobago to live with them. She completed high school, and helped care for Lloyda before starting college. The family relocated to Northern California while Rudy completed his first two years of psychiatry residency training. While there, their second daughter, Melissa, was born. The family moved to Riverside, California for Rudy to complete his psychiatry residency. Lauvenia was very involved in teaching Sabbath School classes for the youngest children at church and participated in vegetarian cooking class demonstrations.

In 1972, the Broomes family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee where Dr. Broomes joined the faculty at Meharry Medical College, in the Department of Psychiatry. In addition to being a champion homemaker, Lauvenia engaged in community work as a volunteer for the Riverside Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and continued to teach children’s Sabbath School. In 1975, she became critically ill, was hospitalized for two months, and diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. Her request to God was to be able to live to raise their two daughters. After prayer and anointing, she recovered and focused on training her daughters to care for themselves and live as faithful servants of God. Lauvenia learned how to continue her interests at a slower pace and in doing so, she was an inspiration to many. As a couple, Rudy and Lauvenia enjoyed fellowship with others in the community through the Tom’s Couples Club and the Lupus Foundation. They mentored and advised students as they attended Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Middle Tennessee State University, Hillcrest, and Riverside SDA Churches. They also helped to establish the Maranatha SDA. Church in Columbia, Tennessee. She took pride in her skills as a homemaker and instructed her daughters regarding cooking and sewing. She had a “green thumb”, and her home was full of many indoor thriving plants.

Rudy’s employment carried them to Dublin, Georgia, and later to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from where he retired. Wherever Lauvenia and Rudy lived, they mentored many “children” from the young to mature adults. Rudy adjusted his work and social commitments which allowed him to be a highly attentive spouse to care for Lauvenia. Lloyda, Dennis, and Jonathan moved to Tuscaloosa to be near them, and Grace joined their family soon thereafter. Joyfully, they intimately participated in the daily lives and formative years of their grandchildren, Jonathan and Grace. Lauvenia and Rudy presented marriage seminars in multiple locations across the Southern United States. They co-authored a self-help book entitled, “Let’s Make Lemonade.” Lauvenia took joy in educating her friends, family, and anyone else around her regarding healthy living and vegetarian cooking. They strongly believed in Christian education and often supported individuals who attended school at various levels of education.

In 2015, Lauvenia and Rudy moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area, residing in the same subdivision and a short walk from Melissa and Richard. Lauvenia and Rudy became faithful members of the Berean SDA Church. Lauvenia enjoyed attending gatherings at Melissa’s and Richard’s home, especially when her instructions were to “just come” and not to fix anything. Lauvenia was often involved in Rudy’s woodwork and outdoor gardening projects. Lauvenia continued to excel in providing healthy meals and found relaxation in doing word puzzles. In March 2021, Rudy was laid to rest after a brief illness. Special appreciation is given to Verna Harrison for the attentive care she provided to both Lauvenia and Rudy prior to his passing, and for additional support in caring for Lauvenia after he passed.

Lauvenia spent her final years in Nashville, Tennessee living with Lloyda and her family. As her illnesses progressed, she was a faithful member of the Hillcrest SDA Church, attending virtual worship services weekly. As a woman of few words, she maintained her quick wit, twinkled eyes, keen memory for many events and people, and kind and compassionate heart. She will be remembered for her consistent independence and steadfast determination to use all opportunities God provided to her to improve her own life as well as the lives of those around her. Throughout the decades she endured illness she never complained. She was content to live by the Word of God and through His strength. From a child, she memorized chapters of the Bible and would often recite Psalm 91 or Psalm 121 during family worship on Friday night to welcome the Sabbath. Her favorite text was Proverbs 3:5, 6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.”

Lauvenia peacefully went to sleep in Jesus on March 25, 2023, with both daughters at her side. Family and friends faithfully await the second coming of Jesus when Lauvenia and Rudy will be resurrected and united. She is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 57 years, Rudy, her mother Victoria John (Mayee John), and brothers: Karl John and Frederick John. Lauvenia is survived by her daughters: Lloyda Williamson (Dennis) and Melissa White (Richard); sisters: Shirley Blake, Christine Charles, and Maudlyn Robley (Jonas); her brothers: Berton John (Margaret), Seburt John (Brenda), and Martin John; sister-in-law Paula Alcide (John); grandchildren: Jonathan, Grace, and Acacia (Thomas); great-grandchildren: Marley, MaKenzie, and Thomas IV; Addis Smith-Clarke, Verna Harrison, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Sleep on Lauvenia and take your rest. See you in the morning!

  “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,

even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NKJV)

  Please keep the Broomes family in your thoughts and prayers.