Michelle Williams (nee) Godfrey was an old-fashioned girl with a modern-day attitude to life and business. She encouraged her husband Clive, and son Chris to take business risks, and had no aversion, or fear of initiating change or embarking on new adventures. She was physically and spiritually beautiful. Her eyes, which alternated between hazel, grey and brown sparkled when she smiled, and danced when she moved to the beat of life. Even though Michelle was a Miss Jamaica contestant in 1970, she remained unfazed by the publicity and remained one of the most affable persons to meet. Despite her affability she never took a backseat to anyone, she quietly, but assertively partnered with her husband Clive in almost every venture, business, or otherwise, that he pursued.
She was fearless in the support and defense of her family, and enthusiastically supported the upliftment of women and children. It was therefore a given that she was a co-founder of the former Caribbean American Mother of The Year Pageant, which led to the development of WhereItzAt Magazine and later, The Business Innovators & Game-Changers Awards Gala – (B.I.G Awards); she tirelessly worked behind the scenes to ensure the success of these events as a fundraiser and organizer.
Michelle was the Lioness who actively protected, enabled, and supported every project her family undertook while doing the bookkeeping to ensure its survival. A Jamaican girl with a high school education, she became a highly respected Florist and businesswoman in Jamaica co-owning Kencot Supermarket, and Portmore Supermarket in St. Andrew, and St. Catherine. Michelle never approached anything lightly. When she decided to become a florist, she studied Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement, which gave her an edge in style. A lover of the arts, Michelle was also a trained dancer, who later taught contemporary dance to adults and children. On arrival in the USA Michelle created a business model offering a hosting/catering service to wealthy bi-coastal families who entertained regularly. In a short time she was able to offer her husband part-time work while he went back to school; always the first person to open her home, and wallet to anyone in need, Michelle lived by our family credo – “we are our brother’s/sister’s keeper.”
Michelle leaves behind her husband of 52 years Clive, her son Christopher (Chris Love), daughter Syreeta, and grandsons Stone & Jonathan, and friend and care-giver Annette Gordon.
Sunrise: December 10, 1950 – Sunset: April 14, 2024.
A memorial service for Michelle will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428.
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