Julia's Story
Julia Eglantine Leader resides in Toronto, Canada but enjoys the winter months in her home country of St. Kitts W.I. She was born on Sunday June 16, 1929 at Irish Town Bay Road, Basseterre and is the second child for her mother Lillian Francis, having two brothers Riley Francis and Frank Bodkin.
Julia was widowed at the age of 30 and was left the sole provider for her nine young children. Through those years she worked hard to ensure that they grew up with love, faith and education. She is proud of her children and their families and is happy to see how successful and independent they are. She recalls one of the greatest moments while raising her children was standing at the head of the table having all of them together for dinner. Her role models were her aunt, Marion Hazel and her uncle, Charles Brazier who were of great support to her and the family.
Julia attended the Irish Town Primary School and the Basseterre Girls School, and by the age of 12 she had two standard certificates and was selected to sit for a scholarship to the Basseterre Girls High School. She was recognized as a gifted child from a young age, however, due to circumstances of that time she was sent to perform domestic duties and missed the interview for the scholarship. Julia was determined to do more and be more and started taking various classes at the Girls School in the afternoon. She enrolled in drama, cooking, embroidery, knitting, crocheting and religious knowledge classes.
Julia credits her faith for all of her blessings and for keeping her focused through the many challenges and obstacles she has faced. She is a fighter, a lover of dance and music and a devout Christian who at any given time can be heard singing her favourite hymn Lead Me Lord.
Julia has always stressed the importance of education not only to her children but to her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. Rest assured that at the end of a visit with her she may quote a verse from the popular calypso, EDUCATION:
Children go to school and learn well
Otherwise later on in life you go catch real hell
Without an education in your head
Your whole life will be pure misery, you better off dead
For there is simply no room in this whole wide world
For an uneducated little boy or girl
Don't allow idle companions to lead you astray
To earn tomorrow you got to learn today
The Mighty Sparrow
It is with great pride and pleasure that the grandchildren, great grandchildren and all future generations of Julia Eglantine Leader dedicate this scholarship in her name.
Julia was widowed at the age of 30 and was left the sole provider for her nine young children. Through those years she worked hard to ensure that they grew up with love, faith and education. She is proud of her children and their families and is happy to see how successful and independent they are. She recalls one of the greatest moments while raising her children was standing at the head of the table having all of them together for dinner. Her role models were her aunt, Marion Hazel and her uncle, Charles Brazier who were of great support to her and the family.
Julia attended the Irish Town Primary School and the Basseterre Girls School, and by the age of 12 she had two standard certificates and was selected to sit for a scholarship to the Basseterre Girls High School. She was recognized as a gifted child from a young age, however, due to circumstances of that time she was sent to perform domestic duties and missed the interview for the scholarship. Julia was determined to do more and be more and started taking various classes at the Girls School in the afternoon. She enrolled in drama, cooking, embroidery, knitting, crocheting and religious knowledge classes.
Julia credits her faith for all of her blessings and for keeping her focused through the many challenges and obstacles she has faced. She is a fighter, a lover of dance and music and a devout Christian who at any given time can be heard singing her favourite hymn Lead Me Lord.
Julia has always stressed the importance of education not only to her children but to her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. Rest assured that at the end of a visit with her she may quote a verse from the popular calypso, EDUCATION:
Children go to school and learn well
Otherwise later on in life you go catch real hell
Without an education in your head
Your whole life will be pure misery, you better off dead
For there is simply no room in this whole wide world
For an uneducated little boy or girl
Don't allow idle companions to lead you astray
To earn tomorrow you got to learn today
The Mighty Sparrow
It is with great pride and pleasure that the grandchildren, great grandchildren and all future generations of Julia Eglantine Leader dedicate this scholarship in her name.