Montserrat remembers veteran educator and community pillar ‘Teacher Elva’ Greenaway

Manelva Greenaway was an only child who had no children of her own. Yet she impacted the lives of thousands of children. For most of her 90 years “Teacher Elva” educated, motivated and inspired. She was one of the last remaining “old school” teachers, who dedicated their lives to the profession and made personal sacrifices in order to always set a good example. She was also a staunch Methodist who stressed the importance of giving her students a Godly foundation.

Teacher Elva passed away on October 3, 2025, a few weeks after suffering a debilitating fall. She was remembered on Wednesday, October 29 as a community stalwart, dedicated servant, jovial soul and versatile individual. The Bethesda Methodist Church in Cavalla Hill, Montserrat, featured a capacity crowd, striking floral arrangements and several mourners wearing royal blue, Teacher Elva’s favorite color. There were tributes from family members, former colleagues and students, plus a poignant eulogy.

“I knew her all my life,” said Edith Duberry, retired teacher and fellow Methodist who grew up not far from Teacher Elva’s home in Cork Hill. “She was very talented and had skills in singing, piano music, cake decorating, dress making and all sorts of handicraft.”

Teacher Elva taught at eight primary schools over a six-decade career: Salem, Cork Hill, St. Patrick’s, St. Peter’s, Kinsale, Lees, St. Christopher’s and St. Augustine. Her lessons didn’t end in the classroom. She was a Sunday School teacher who also taught music, played the piano and organ in church and directed the choir. As a teacher she was strict, but she utilized the power of her example more so than the example of her power.

TEACHER OF A TEACHER

Manelva Elizabeth Esther Greenway was born Thursday, November 22, 1934 in Cork Hill. Her parents, Bridget and John Greenaway, were known as “Miss Biddie” and “Marse Poopah.” Miss Biddie ran a small nursery school in the family home near Grandstand, just off the side road that led to Delvins Village. She also gave piano lessons.

One of Miss Biddie’s students from the early 1950s explained: “Miss Biddie was a very proper lady and we had to dress well and speak well. We would do our lessons and then she would take us in the yard and have us do exercises. It was mostly girls in the class but I do remember one boy [Edgar Nkosi White]. At that time Teacher Elva was still in school. When she got home she would help Miss Biddie with the children. Teacher Elva was tall and slim and always well dressed. I remember her playing the piano. You can tell she inherited a lot of her qualities from her mother.”

Assisting in her mother’s nursery introduced Elva to teaching, and in 1954 she began her career at Salem Primary School. She attended Erdiston Teacher’s College in Barbados from 1956 to ’58, then Institute of Education at Durham in the UK on a scholarship (1963 and ’64). She earned Head Teacher status in 1966 and served in that capacity at Cork Hill, Salem, St. Peter’s and Kinsale primary schools.

Rosamund Meade, who taught for 48 years, credits Teacher Elva with salvaging her career.

“I started teaching at Wesley School in 1966 right after graduating from Montserrat Secondary School,” said Meade, better known as Teacher Winifred. “I was overwhelmed at first. They transferred me to Cork Hill School in early 1967 and Teacher Elva was head teacher. Edna Baptiste was teaching there at the time. Instead of throwing me into the fire, Teacher Elva let me observe Edna for some time before letting me teach on my own. She helped me to love teaching. It’s so ironic that she and Edna, the two people who helped me so much, passed away about a week apart.”

WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Teacher Elva’s love of teaching was closely rivaled by her love of music. She learned to play the piano at an early age and was a founding member of the Emerald Community Singers, formed in 1971 by Dr. George Irish. She also trained members of a Cork Hill choral group in her home. She was meticulous and adamant that choir members always remain in key, and she could immediately decipher who was not in tune.

“She loved music,” said Shirley James, Teacher Elva’s cousin who delivered the eulogy. “She especially loved the masquerade. I can see her at her 90th birthday party dancing the heel-and-toe.”

James also expounded on Teacher Elva’s kindness, diligence and eclectic talents.

“She could make something out of nothing. She was a thrifty and industrious person. She always had her knitting bag with her. She has turned out numerous doilies, coasters, chair-back covers, bed spreads and table cloths. She was well-rounded. She also loved gardening.”

James said Teacher Elva was also articulate and became irked when she would hear improper grammar. “I never heard her speaking the full Montserrat dialect, but she would stick in a phrase here or there.”

Teacher Elva constantly displayed compassion, James said: “She loved children. We were always debating whether Teacher Elva had the most godchildren in Montserrat. She loved animals. I once saw her feeding up to 10 cats. She would look out for goats who got tangled up and untangle them.”

DECORATED AND CELEBRATED

Teacher Elva was bestowed with several awards, including the Montserrat Badge and Certificate of Honor in 2004. In 2018 she was honored with the Order of Distinction during the Montserrat National Awards for her contributions in the areas of education, religion and community service. In 2021 she was recipient of a Mark Of Excellence Award by the Rotary Club of Montserrat.

On social media, many former students paid tributes and shared stories. Some explained how Teacher Elva tutored and motivated them to pass the Common Entrance Exam. Others lauded her teaching skills and humanity.

Ben Meade, son of Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade, shared a story from his time at Kinsale School. On one rainy day, Aymer’s Ghaut was gushing, making the road impassable and preventing some students from attending class. Some of the boys made toy boats and placed them in the stream. Suddenly they saw Teacher Elva approaching and they assumed they would be punished for playing in the water. Instead she taught them the proper method of making toy boats, then switched the lesson plan for the rest of the day to arts and crafts.

WOMAN OF GOD

Teacher Elva’s career commenced at a time when virtually every primary school in Montserrat was affiliated with a church. The two entities were intricately linked and teachers were expected to always project a moral high ground. For this reason, many female educators of Teacher Elva’s era didn’t have children. Such was their dedication to the teaching discipline.

Teacher Elva’s faith was uncompromising, and she didn’t hide her spirituality.

“She would always tell people to pray and read their Bible,” James said. “She would say, ‘I talk to God all the time. God is my best friend.’ “

During the homegoing service, a contingent of students and faculty from St. Augustine Catholic School delivered a touching tribute by singing My Grandfather’s Clock. The song, originally written in 1876, tells the story of a clock that was purchased at a man’s birth and worked perfectly for 90 years – Teacher Elva’s exact age at her passing. The lyrics were slightly altered to honor an old woman rather than old man.

The clock has stopped ticking for Teacher Elva.

But she leaves a legacy as one of the greatest figures of her time.