Christmas season was ‘selfless’ Lorna ‘D Dancer Gyirl’’s favourite time of year

SANDRA L BLOOD

The St. Theresa’s R.C. Church situated at 6th Avenue, Malick, Barataria, Trinidad was graced with the family, relatives, friends, and other loved ones of Lorna Rogers-Corbie on December 9 at 10am, to celebrate her rich, inspiring, fun-loving, fulfilled, culturally-infused life. The celebration was officiated by Deacon Terrence Cezair.

Loaned to the earth on April 24, 1939, she was taken back on December 3, 2023 where she would have been welcomed by her parents De Wilton Rogers and Pearl Alleyne, first two children Patti and Sharon, and husband Gilbert Corbie – ardent long-serving parang musician and singer.

Among her trail of relatives, Lorna is survived by her sole full sibling, Mona “Bunny” Goddard; paternal siblings: Roger Rogers and Juditha Fitzwilliams, and her generations:

two last children, Denyse and Johann; grandchildren, Toya-Mae, Jason, Damien, Emmanuel and Kristoff, and great-grandchildren J’Kobe and Niré.

Deacon Cezair said the only way we can demonstrate love is we must be connected to the source of God. He drew reference to how Lorna treated people:

“She demonstrated first and foremost, love.” He apprised, “It is a privilege to be children of God” and asked, “If we are children of God, how do we demonstrate it?”

This calibre of life was painted throughout the eulogy on Lorna that was penned and delivered by her first grandchild, Toya-Mae McIntosh (Toya), who made it quite clear that “Lorna was always willing to make sacrifices for everybody,” stressing: “EVERYBODY!”

“I was always in my granny’s place, space and face, and I don’t think two days ever passed without me seeing me. My granny was so important to me, I’m sure she knew it,”

so it goes without say, that Toya knew her granny Lorna, inside-out.

Recollecting Lorna:

Toya said she recalls her granny as being born to midwife (nurse) Pearl Alleyne and sociologist and headmaster (school principal) De Wilton Rogers, and being sibling to Mona “Bunny” whom she (Toya) loved calling sister-sister or Bim & Bam; a sister with whom she shared 84 years of love and closeness. She also recalled her granny’s other siblings, Roger, and Juditha (mother of T&T’s second Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam), from her granddad’s other union.

Regarding Lorna and Bunny, Toya said she always absorbed their unconditional love for each other that was so strong. “Do not call aunty Bunny and complain on granny. That never worked.” This drew laughter from the mourners.

Lorna D Dancer Gyirl:

“Granny loved socializing and never stopped loving as well. Mummy (Patti) used to pull her along to gatherings and events, much to her delight. She loved going dancing. Granny would always tell me how much she wished there was a way she could’ve recorded herself dancing back in the day. From stories told to me by her and others, she was ‘D Dancer Gyirl’. She told me when she walked the streets, people would point and say, ‘look d dancer gyirl’.”

To the approval of many mourners via nodding their head, Toya unraveled her granny’s story of uncle Russel (Russel Audain) spinning her above his head, passing her around his waist and between his legs without rehearsing. She said Russel would just say, ‘Now!’ – showing off that they were that good.”

Lorna’s selflessness; love-moves:

“Granny raised her daughters single-handedly – an accomplishment oh so well – and loved looking at her creations (daughters) with pride. In the mid-60s granny migrated to NY leaving her children with her mom – a love move – one with sacrifice and heartbreak in the name of betterment. She landed a job at General Cigar Company. She followed the trendy styles of fashion. I heard about the miniskirts granny wore to work. Mummy told me while being in NY for summer, she woke up early to look at granny dress for work daily; admiring her styles.”