Oct. 14, 2005 – The territory's first female calypso monarch, Beryl Hill died Sunday. Hill, 78, was best known as the Calypso Bombshell.
She is remembered for her 1950s award-winning calypso spoof, "Ros’-A-Time-Archie," which poked fun at then-Gov. Archie Alexander.
Hill was also a member of what was then called the Elskoe-Roebuck Carnival troupe.
She was honored for her contributions by serving as Carnival parade's grand marshal. Gov. Charles Turnbull said that Hill used both cariso and calypso to create her own award-winning
compositions. He remembered her market woman performance, recalling that Hill carried a tray laden with produce on top of her head.
"It captivated and enthralled audiences all over the world," Turnbull said in a news release issued Friday.
He called her a cultural bearer who passed on to others her love for the territory's traditional cultural heritage.
"Her legacy is well established and will long be remembered in the annals of Virgin Islands history," Turnbull said.
Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone called Hill a trailblazer.
"She served as an ambassador of the Virgin Islands by promoting our culture and customs in distant lands…," Malone said.
He said the St. Thomas Heritage Dancers will honor Hill by commemorating their Oct. 22 program booklet in her honor.
Funeral services will be held Oct. 22. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at John Thomas Funeral Home. A service will held at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. She will be buried at the Raimer family cemetery in Estate Rosendahl.
Her family asks that people attending Hill's funeral wear light or festive colors.
Hill is survived by her sisters Louise A. Vanterpool, Alice Robinson, Ina Chinnery, and Hortense Brathwaite. Her nephews include Lee Vanterpool, Mel Vanterpool, Mike Hill, Danny Robinson, Larry Paul, and Dr. Lind Chinnery.
Her nieces are Lillian "Sadie" Moolenaar, Linda Vanterpool, Charleann Matthias, Donna M. Phillip, Denise Hicks, Lorna Paul, Linda Chinnery, and Dr. Lynette Chinnery.
Numerous great nephews and great nieces, cousins and other relatives and friends also survive Hill.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.