Christabelle Gwendolynelaine Nesbitt

Christabelle Gwendolyn Elaine Nesbitt, aka: Aunt Chrissy and Granny Chris, passed away on January 9, 2012 at age 100. She was born December 24, 1911, in Pembroke Bermuda, the daughter of David Nesbitt and Albertha Whilhelmina Hardtman. Aunt Chrissy's siblings, Selwyn (Frances) Nesbitt, Agnes (George) Saunders, Allison (Robert) Saunders, Ulrica Nesbitt, Vivian "Maisie" (David) Furbert, Charles (Thelma) Hardtman, Florence (Eugene) Burgess all predeceased her and she was the only surviving sibling until her death and lived the longest. God truly blessed her with added longevity.

Christabelle attended Heard Chapel AME Church while living in Bermuda, the Island she loved dearly for most of her life. Even though Aunt Chrissy only had one biological son, Eardley, she raised her sister Florence's only daughter Glenda, as her own. Aunt Chrissy saw that Glenda never wanted for anything, and dressed her as meticulously as herself. Aunt Chrissy was a very good cook and baker, and you could always visit her house on any day and find baked goods. Her family can attest that she assisted in baking wedding cake for some of them. There is nothing that Aunt Chrissy would not do for her family. She was very kind and loving, but also very well dressed and poised.

Even though Aunt Chrissy never went out much, her and her sisters could be found around the kitchen table drinking tea, eating cake or a sandwich and debating what was going on in Bermuda, especially politics, and who was still living and who was dead. On many occasions her neices and nephews would have a good laugh when the sisters would get together and be saying to one another, "No Maisie, Yes, Christabelle, yes I tell you, you do not know what you are talking about. You ask Charles, (their brother) he will tell you." Uncle Charles would say, "I am not getting in the middle of you sisters". The beat went on. This was on a daily basis, but you could not separate these siblings and they protected one another from anyone else outside the family and would come and tell the other if they heard anyone saying anything about the other.

Her neices and nephews remember Aunt Chrissy as the "dicty" one who was always well dressed and was called "Miss Trimmingham's and Miss H. A. & E. Smith's. These were two of the most expensive stores in Bermuda that Aunt Chrissy shopped at. Aunt Chrissy would travel from Ohio to Bermuda, just to get a "well pair of shoes" (according to Aunt Chrissy). Aunt Chrissy would travel to town every day to frequent her favorite stores. Her neices and nephews would just smile.

Christabelle was a world traveller. She loved flowers and gardening. Beside from being one of the best bakers and cook, she loved to sew, crochet and knit. Her neices remember her sewing their school uniform each year when one of the other sisters could not do it. Aunt Chrissy provided hospitality to family as well as friends. She never owed anyone anything but love. She enjoyed the finer things, including Irish linens, bone china, silver and crystal.

Aunt Chrissy also loved family activities. She loved to picnic and in her later years did camping on an island with her niece and their family. Even after her health was failing, she wanted to travel back to Bermuda to go camping, but of course everyone realized that this was not possible anymore.
Aunt Chrissy moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1990 to be with her son Eardley, wife Wilbur and grandchildren. She attended New Life Temple Church where she rededicated her life to the Lord. She was water baptized by her son, Eardley. Jesus baptized her in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. She was a member of the Life Group and attended regularly until her health prevented her from doing so.

Mom, Aunt Chrissy, Aunt Chris, Granny Chris will be missed by all of us. We recognize today that God's Grace was sufficient for her and kept her, even until death. Today we thank God for her life and longevity. She will be missed by the entire family.

She is survived by her only child, son, Eardley (Wilbur) Nesbitt; granddaughter, Derryn (Dwight) Jones; grandson, Kevin D. (Sharla) Nesbitt; adopted daughter, Glenda Burgess; great grandchildren, Caleb Jordan, Dominic Kyle, Jaylin Nicole Nesbitt, Chaya Noelle Jones.