The Tribune

VETERAN educator and nation builder Muriel “Finnie” Eneas has died.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson yesterday paid tribute to her legacy as an “outstanding educator”.

Mrs Eneas was among the small group of women who joined with Mrs Mary Ingraham to start the Women’s Suffrage Movement. She taught at the Government High School, St John’s College and St Anne’s High School, where she became principal.

She is the wife of late dentist and former Senator Dr. Cleveland W Eneas, Sr. Her three children are Dr Cleveland W Eneas, Jr, Dr Judson Eneas and Dr Agreta Eneas-Carey.

“Mrs Eneas was an outstanding educator,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said, “by whatever yardstick is used to measure excellence. As well as seeing to it that her students attended to their academics, she saw to it that they learned how to really think and gain life skills.

“Her commitment to a good education, Christian family life and nation building led her to positively impact the lives of the people that she taught; all students at St. Anne’s Anglican High School of which she was a long serving and outstanding principal; the Anglican Central Education Authority; the Girl Guides; the Nassau Festival of Arts and Crafts; the Kirk where she was a Choir member and Elder; the Carver Garden Club of which she was president; the Nassau Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc of which she was a Founding Member and President; and, so many more NGOs and advisory committees.

“And, she was a loving mother to Fritzie, Judson and Agreta and all of their friends. Mrs Eneas availed herself of every opportunity to encourage people, of all walks of life, wherever she met them, to excel and always do their best.”

“She was an adoring and dedicated wife and helpmate,” she continued, “including golfing partner to Dr Eneas, who along with men like Dr Jackson Burnside, Dr Kenneth Rodgers and others were trailblazers as young professionals in the medical and other fields, including politics.  

“Dr Eneas never hesitated to let everyone know that he was blessed with a wonderful wife, also the love of his life, who was the wind under his wings.”

Mrs Allyson Maynard-Gibson said: “Their love for each other enveloped everyone with whom they came into contact.

“May she rest in peace.”

Mrs Eneas was born in Savannah, Georgia. She met her future husband at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.