Fitting Farewell For Fabulous Friend

AS A NURSING ASSISTANT MARIE THOMAS-PRYCE FORMED PART OF THE
HUB OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM buffeted by the highly contagious corona virus. As
a part of the healthcare system, Thomas-Pryce, 37, and a mother of three, would be guaranteed
the best, round-the-clock care.
Thomas-Pryce’s guaranteed access to nonstop care was insufficient to protect her fully against
the rampaging virus with an insatiable appetite and still wield the scythe of death with
breathtaking accuracy. Unexpectedly, the Nursing Assistant succumbed to the deadly COVID-19
in the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, on the East Coast corridor.
This was the proverbial ‘kick in the stomach’ for her devastated family and friends.
It would be the second such battering from the merciless waves of grief to inundate the Thomas’
family. A few weeks earlier, her sibling, Marcus Julius Thomas, 39 died from multiple stab
wounds. Police arrested three suspects. One of them confessed to the crime. There was an earlier
attempt on the minibus operator’s life in August 2020.
Working in the healthcare system was Pryce’s life’s ambition. She honed her skills for the
profession after pursuing the Nursing Assistant Programme at Woodlands Hospital where she
worked from 2006 to 2010. The mother of three then moved on to the Amerindian Hostel on
Princess Street, in the capital city, caring for visitors and students.
Her passion for the profession was second to none.
As the third child in the family, she grew up in South Ruimveldt with her aunt, Mary Roberts,
and attended Tucville Primary school. She relocated to the East Bank Demerara and completed
her secondary education Friendship Secondary School in 2003.

It was after that she converted to Christianity and it played a major role in her life until her death.
She absolutely loved the Christmas season. She adored her family too, and was referred to as the
“second mother” of her siblings, the glue that held them together, especially in a crisis.
Her Christianity didn’t render glum. Marie, a member of the Church’s Pastor’s Board of
Directors, was also “fun-loving”, Marvini, a younger sister, mentioned during her eulogy. The
late Ministry of Health employee had the unique ability to bring light-up and energise a dark
room, Marvini recalled.

Marvani recalled a conversation between the two when they accompanied their ailing
septuagenarian father to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
“I never knew that was the last I would see my sister on June 15 (alive). I now realise (she) was
giving me a message but I didn’t realize that (then),” a tearful Marvani said.
In the verse ‘Goodbye My Friend’, an emotional tribute done by Onika Bishop, she poured out
her devastation on learning about the sudden death of her cherished friend and the impassioned
longing to “see her again”. In it, she confessed her intense remorse of not investing more time
with her while she was alive and, were it possible, to turn back the hands of time to maximise
opportunities to verbalise how special she was to her existence.
As a member of the Church of the Nazarene at Brickery, East Bank Demerara, since 1991,
Thomas-Pryce never lost her passion for the lost, and championed its Evangelism outreach
programmes.
As her pastor for those two decades, Pastor Albert Isaacs ‘daughter-in-the-faith’ worked
diligently, toilsomely and consistently to “win souls for God”. She would spearhead outreaches
in Kaneville and Supply, both East Bank communities, and where she was popular for hosting
the Sunday School programme for children of those communities.
“Marie stood up for Christ, Marie stood out for God, I had no complaint, no grouse as she stood
out in the Kingdom of God. God is with you the family at this difficult time. I encourage you to
follow in her footsteps in standing up and for God. Marie stood up for God because she had

confidence and assurance that someday God would raise her from the grave and she would be
with Him,” the pastor said in his sermon.
Her anguished husband, Albert, in a brokenhearted message at the emotional funeral service,
expressed gratitude to all for standing firm with the grief-stricken family.
“Thank you all for the love and support given and on behalf of my family and the relatives and
family of my wife Marie. We would like to say thank you very much for everything,” said Mr.
Pryce.
After the fitting farewell for a fabulous friend from all, the late Nursing Assistant Marie
Thomas-Pryce was laid to rest in the cemetery at Kuru Kuru, on the Linden/Soesdyke
highway.