Veta Picart passes away at 95, leaving behind a legacy of pride for her sons

Veta Picart was born on January 11, 1929, in Portland, Jamaica. She faced significant hardships early in life, becoming an orphan at the age of 16. This early loss shaped her character, embedding traits like resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in the power of faith. To escape her difficult living conditions, she displayed remarkable resourcefulness, famously stealing chickens from her guardian to afford her bus fare for better opportunities. As a young adult, she moved to London to train as a nurse, specializing in midwifery and psychiatry. While she pursued her career, she also focused on personal healing, allowing her to care for others more effectively. Veta's professional accomplishments were significant, but her greatest achievement and source of pride was raising her twin sons, Richard and Robert, on her own. Balancing long hours at the hospital, she maintained a strict household. Her sons’ education and character development were of utmost importance to her. A firm believer in the value of faith, she ensured that her children attended church regularly. She instilled in them the lessons of hard work and financial management, often stretching her meager resources to create a rainy-day fund. Veta taught her sons that education is a lifelong journey, emphasizing the importance of continual learning regardless of age. Throughout her life, she balanced her roles, exemplifying grit and moxie, ensuring her household ran smoothly while keeping her family connected and strong. Veta later had grandchildren, Kehla, Kiara, Malachi, and Madison, through whom her legacy continued, and her nurturing spirit remained alive. While aging, she retained a sharp memory for stories of her past but sometimes experienced fleeting moments of forgetfulness in the present. Her family cherished her teachings and celebrated her life with the Jamaican expression, "Big up yourself," in recognition of her unwavering support and love.