Former Speaker Julian Willock, left, and brother Wade W. Tobin view the body of their deceased mother Mrs Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin (inset) at the Sebenth-day Adventist Church-Purcell on September 22, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters

Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA, attended the funeral of his close friend Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin. Photo: Team of Reporters

The sermon at the funeral service for Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin was delivered by preacher from St Croix, US Virgin Islands, Dr Vincent A. David. Photo: Team of Reporters

Former Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands Mr Julian Willock delivered the Eulogy for his deceased mother Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin. Photo: Team of Reporters

Siblings Wade W. Tobin, left, and Persia Tobin-Isaac view the body of their deceased mother Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin. Photo: Team of Reporters

The body of the late Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin being taken out of Seventh-day Adventist Church- Purcell on September 22, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters

The family of the late Bernice L. Leonard-Tobin view the body at the Seventh-day Adventist Church-Purcell on September 22, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mrs Tobin, an indigenous Virgin Islander, died on August 26, 2024, at Dr D Orlando Smith hospital in Road Town, the capital city, after being ill for some time.

She was 80 years of age and born on November 15, 1943, at the then Cottage Hospital.

The deceased is survived by seven children; five boys- Kevin, Julian and Jeffrey Willock, Glenroy, & Wade Tobin, and two daughters- Janice Willock-Watson and Persia Tobin-Isaac.

Her father was the late Captain Joshua Leonard of Sea Cows Bay and her mother was Olive O. Mercer-Leonard of Chalwell, Tortola.

Bernice had three brothers, all of whom preceded her in death; Ludel, Ariel and Samuel Leonard, the latter who resided on Virgin Gorda. The deceased was married to the late Chief Inspector of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Ronald A. Tobin, who preceded her in death. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Woman of faith

Mrs Tobin, an avid Seventh-day Adventist, was involved in the church in various capacities, including as a member of the Senior Church Choir, a Deaconess, and a member of the Women’s Ministry Department, and served tirelessly in the Community Service Department, including the Church’s soup kitchen between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

She also had stints of employment in the hospitality sector, including Peter Island Resort and Treasure Isle Hotel, before her retirement in the 1990s.

Mrs Tobin then moved on to become a successful businesswoman. She first started with a security company, Leonard & Associate Security Services, becoming the first woman to own a security company in the Virgin Islands in the early 80s.

Being an ambitious mother and woman who wanted to ensure the best for her children, she went into the real estate sector and built and rented apartment buildings. A few years before venturing fully into real estate, Businesswoman Leonard-Tobin renovated her own home in Sea Cows Bay to include some downstairs apartment rooms.

She loved her children and grandchildren

Eulogising his mother, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock noted that his mother was a “phenomenal woman, who loved all her children and grandchildren with a big heart.” Mr Willock said that the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 “brought the family closer together and his mother left so many footprints in the sands and taught her children some valuable lessons about hard work, unity, good communication with each other, love, church, the value of education and the importance of being independent and taking care of ourselves as we grow older.” Those lessons, Mr Willock stated, “We will carry with us, on our life's journey until our time on earth ends.”

Speaking also at the service held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church- Purcell was Third District Representative and family friend Hon Julian Fraser RA, who noted his long-term relationship with the deceased and that they enjoyed mutual love and respect for each other. Hon Fraser said in his tribute that growing up on the other side of Sea Cows Bay, he could have looked across the bay and seen Mrs Tobin's home. He said every time they spoke in recent years, the deceased would always say "I am praying for you”.  Mrs Leonard-Tobin, according to her eulogy, was a strong supporter of Hon Fraser.

Big turnout!

There was a huge turnout to celebrate the life of Mrs Tobin and residents came from all walks of life. Government officials in attendance included Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B de Castro (AL), Jr Minister for Culture and Tourism Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), as well as Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr, Justice Angelica Tee-luck-Singh and senior members of the Judiciary, and Senior public officers. Senior education officials from the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists also attended.

Mrs Leonard-Tobin was interred at the family burial ground in Sandy Grounds, in the Hannah's Estate area of Tortola.