St. Vincent and the Grenadines has lost one of its stalwart educators, Ms. Grace Eustace. Ms. Eustace died quietly at her home in Mesopotamia last evening at around 6pm. She was 82 years old.
Ms. Eustace was the longstanding principal of the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia (EHSM). She started out as a teacher at that school at its inception in 1963. Subsequently, she rose to the office of principal and occupied until her retirement in 2007.
The EHSM was founded by Ms. Eustace’s illustrious father, Dr. John Parmenas Eustace. Dr. Eustace is expected to be named a National Hero of St. Vincent and the Grenadines because of his contribution to the education and spiritual development of this nation.
Ms. Eustace built on her father’s legacy and made a profound positive impact on the education and life chances of thousands of Vincentians in her own right.
She presided over the growth and expansion of the EHSM. Current principal of EHSM, Mr. Curtis Greaves, said in an interview that “SVG owes a debt of gratitude to Ms. Grace Eustace.” Mr. Greaves lauded Ms. Eustace for her “deep interest in the education and welfare of children and the way she embedded Christian values in the curriculum.”
Prominent Attorney-at-Law, Theodore Browne, paid tribute to Grace Eustace in the following terms:
“I fondly recall my days teaching at the EHSM with Ms. Grace Eustace. We were the only 2 teachers at the school when it was started in 1963. Ms. Eustace was a very good teacher of Mathematics, Spanish and Religious Education. She was a disciplined person and provided a good example by the chastity of her life to the boys and girls at the school.
Ms. Eustace was not only a “say-so” Christian. She was a “do-so” Christian. She promoted the best interest of the school at every opportunity and during her tenure the school produced many distinguished students.”
There has been an outpouring of heartfelt online tributes to Ms. Eustace from past students since news broke of her death. She is celebrated for the role she played in creating a local education system that left no one behind.