Memorial Folder for the Late Irma B. King Licorish

OBITUARY Irma B. King-Licorish Sunrise June 29, 1943

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Sunset May 11, 2024

Irma Bernice King-Licorish was born on June 29, 1943 in Leguan, Essequibo, Guyana, South America. She was the daughter of the late Lawrence Alexander King and Muriel Iris King. Irma was their second child and first daughter of this union of thirteen children.

Irma was always a selfless and hard worker. She was a role model to her siblings and excelled in school, obtaining the highest score at the College of Preceptors, an early High School overseas examination. Her high school - British Guyana Educational Trust, honored her with a one-year scholarship. At age sixteen, she passed the prestigious British overseas standardized test, Senior Cambridge Examination, obtaining passes in six academic subjects. Irma also received her Teacher’s Certification from the Teachers Training College of Guyana and taught at Saint Sidwell’s Anglican School.

Irma worked in the corporate world at Arthur D. Little and at W.R. Grace for many years before making the courageous leap to pursue her life’s goal of becoming an entrepreneur by starting her own business. For over fifteen years, she was the sole proprietor of Caribbean African Creations, a specialty boutique where she imported and sold arts, crafts, jewelry, clothing and other products from the Caribbean, Africa, and Latin America. She began this journey by utilizing her connections in Guyana and Barbados to import on a small scale.

After many years, she expanded to a thriving retail business, which first began in North Cambridge and eventually moved to Harvard Square. Irma’s business was her pride and joy and she put her all into it until she retired in 2003.

In addition to her academic and business pursuits, Irma was a proud mother and grandmother. From her union with John, Irma had two children: John Samuel Alexander and Grace Olivia Bernice. Samuel and his wife Lisa have one child: Naomi Faith Addison. Grace and her husband Mahdi have four children: Calvin Ledell, Charles Wesley, Christopher Lawrence and Mahdi Jr.

Irma emigrated to the U.S. where she attended Howard University, graduating with a BSBA degree in Accounting. She met and married John Wesley Licorish, who was also at Howard University. They moved from Washington DC to Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston, Irma continued her professional education, earning her MBA at Suffolk University.

To her siblings, they remember Irma as a trailblazer! She believed her faith in God, hard work, and determination could get her anywhere in life. She not only talked the talk but walked the walk.

To her children, they remember their Mom as a passionate woman who loved them deeply and always pushed them to put God first, strive for excellence in school, their careers and relationships and never settle. To her friends and extended family, Irma was dependable, trustworthy, loving and caring.

Irma was the first of her family of 15 to obtain a master’s degree.

Her desire to be successful extended beyond simply bettering her own situation. She was determined to pave the way for her parents and siblings too. Irma was instrumental in helping her family emigrate to the United States.

Several siblings preceded Irma to the great beyond: Clarence, Noel, Phyllis, Kenneth, and Lennox. She also leaves to mourn: Margaret, Claudette, Patrick, Peter, Andrella, Susette, and Lancelot; Dozens upon dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of good friends in Guyana and the U.S. May her name be found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

ORDER OF WORSHIP Officiating…Pastor Conley H. Hughes, Jr. Organ Prelude

Minister Adam Littlejohn PROCESSIONAL

Hymn

“How Great Thou Art”

Invocation

“When Peace Like A River”

Old Testament

Scripture Readings Psalm 23

New Testament

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Congregation Charles and Naomi Grandchildren

Calvin Grandchild

Prayer of Comfort

Minister Mahdi Wade

Hymn

“Blessed Assurance”

Congregation

Tribute John Samuel and Grace Olivia Her Children Musical Selection Minister Roscoe Mills “Jesus at the Center” Tributes:

Her Siblings

Margaret, Claudette, Patrick, Andrella, Susette, Peter, Lancelot

Hymn

“To God Be The Glory”

Congregation

Tributes

Rev. Dr. Marjorie Jones, Joan Jordan

Her Friends

Hymn

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Congregation

Obituary

Margaret King-Hinds

Musical Selection

Minister Roscoe Mills “The Last Mile of the Way”

Eulogy

Pastor Conley H. Hughes, Jr.

Acknowledgements Closing Prayer Hymn

Elder Claudette King Pastor Conley H. Hughes, Jr.

“When We all Get To Heaven” RECESSIONAL

RES

KING JAMES VERSION

Congregation

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 New King James Version

Congregation

Minister Compton Hinds

Hymn

PSALMS 23 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for your prayers, presence, love, phone calls and all other expressions of concern that you have shown during our time of bereavement.

Never more than now was your kindness needed and more appreciated.

May God continue to shower you with Blessings!

The Family of Irma B. King Licorish

REPAST Immediately following the Memorial Service You are invited to join the family for fellowship in the "Great Room" ~ Concord Baptist of Boston Fellowship Hall ~ FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO:

490 Columbia Road, Boston, MA 02125 www.floydawilliamsfuneralhome.com