Constance Marva Arthryn Rayside (nee Benjamin) born on October 19, 1937, was the youngest of seven children born to Henry Hilton and Geraldine Benjamin (nee Weekes) in Georgetown, Guyana, South America. Constance is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Elaine, Geraldine, Clarissa, and Kathleen, her brothers Charlie, Lloyd, and Herbert, and her great-grandson Elijah Adams.
Constance attended St. Angela’s RC School and Central High School in Guyana, South America. She graduated from the Georgetown Hospital School of Nursing in 1960 as a nurse midwife and over the next 4 decades would bring hundreds of babies into the world. Constance married Joynson Fitzgoodrich Rayside on February 1st 1964 and became mother to her beloved daughters Mona Rayside, Danielle Rayside (Ny’Shey, Jacob, Elijah (October 25,2011-December 17,2012), Delys Gribbin and Son-in-Law George M. Gribbin (Laquan, Danielle, Tony, Chian, Samantha, Ricardo, Jr.), and adopted daughters Janice Ryan (Jahvanna) and Bridget Burnet.
Constance emigrated to the United States in 1968 and became employed with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and remained a well-respected and dedicated nurse midwife for 30+ years. Shortly after purchasing a home in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn New York, she began her search for a church home and found one at the Salem Missionary Baptist Church (SMBC) in Brooklyn, NY. Always recognizing God's call in her life, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and in the late 1970’s she was baptized at Salem, and joined SMBC under the leadership of Dr. Thomas J. Boyd and later his son Dr. James A. Thornton. Constance would remain an active member of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church for the next 40+ years (Eugenie Boyd Circle, Willing Workers Club). After 32 years of nursing with New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, she retired from nursing, and relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Broomes Island, Calvert County Maryland.
Encouraged by Sister Edith Mason to visit Brooks United Methodist Church, she decided she had found her new church home and became a member of Brooks United Methodist Church (Reverend Dr. Jason L. Robinson). While at “The Brook” Mom continued her legacy of sharing through her “candy ministry”. There was usually a line of friends waiting to say hello at the end of each service and she would place a bag of specially selected candies in each precious hand.
Always humble, Mrs. Rayside contributed to many church projects and needs throughout her lifetime. The list is extensive but, among those who may never know her but are recipients of her generous spirit are the first group of nursing students trained by Sister Freda in Kitale, Kenya. She also helped to build a church/school in Zimbabwe through City View Baptist Church (Pastor Brian Taitt) in Brooklyn, NY. Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK) also benefited from her generosity as she faithfully donated funds for dorm rooms and bathroom stalls. The list goes on with many other “seed sowing” projects too numerous to list.
Left to mourn and remember her are 8 great-grandchildren Ny’Shey, Endeja, Jacob, Hayden, Erynn, Lia, Elleyla, and Khylen, her sister Joyce Tappin. Sisters-in-Law Gloria Benjamin, Bernice Benjamin, Volda, Venita, and Venus Rayside, Vilma Payne, Jenny Granada, and Valerie Gibbs numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins among whom are Carol-Ann Smith, Carole Bishop, Geraldine Halls, Dr. Peggy Kirkland, Mitzi Mason, Harold, Herbert, Patricia, Christobelle and Mitzi Benjamin, Colin, Mignon, Lloyda Thompson, Paulette, Beverly, Yvette, Marvin, Marva, Everett Benjamin, Rhonna Bonsu (Benjamin James, and Arthur Bonsu), Julian and Jonathan Hinckson and numerous cousins and friends. Special friends include Antoinette and Harvey Winslow, Sarah Gibbs, Shirley Millard, Marion Johnson, Edith Mason, Jane and Virginia Gross, Ephonia Wills, Pamela Mackall, and Gladys Parran.
Forever in her heart and ours are her spiritual pillars Reverend Dr. Jason L. Robinson and Dr. James A. Thornton.
I feel your grief and pain my child for death has walked before me too, it takes away your loved ones to where you cannot follow. But you can choose to dwell in loving moments lived, or cling to sorrow and live a broken life. You can choose to cling to your loss or you can learn to dance again. You can shed tears now that I am gone or you can smile because I lived.
Holy Father comfort all who grieved today. Hold them close til they can feel once again. Let them make the choice for life, then let the dance begin. Amen.
