Yvonne Adlyn Shelford-Vanterpool was the third child born to Pastor Robert and Mary Shelford. She was born on the island of St. Kitts on Aug. 14, 1942. In 1943, her family relocated to Trinidad, where she lived until she was 13 years old. She returned to St. Kitts in 1955, completed high school, and started her teaching career at Sharidale High School at the age of 15.
In 1964, she migrated to St. Thomas, where she met her husband, William Gainesville Vanterpool; they were married for 55 years. This union produced five children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Yvonne was family-oriented. She was a kind and loving spouse and parent, and she extended her generosity and affection to her siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends. Yvonne was always there for the family. She was a woman of God. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and continued to live by the motto “God First.”
For many years, this motto sustained her through trials, toils and sneers; God was her stronghold and anchor. Yvonne was a life-long member of the New Testament Church of God; she transferred her membership from St. Kitts to St. Thomas to the Savan New Testament Church of God and was a member at Mount Zion Church of God since its inception. Yvonne’s interaction with the church includes obtaining an Associate Degree in Theology from the Bible School, being a Sunday school teacher, and serving as a school board member.
Yvonne was a retired educator who taught for 59 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the College of the Virgin Islands in 1976. She received a Master’s in Education in 1986 from Nova University in Florida. A devoted teacher, she was overjoyed when her former students met and greeted her sharing their accomplishments.
She is survived by her husband, William Gainesville Vanterpool; children: Carol Vanterpool Martin, William Ricky Vanterpool, Joy Vanterpool Hodge, Myron and Michael Vanterpool; adopted daughter, Annette Cooper; grandchildren: Malcolm and Milan Martin, Asriel and Amori Hodge, and Daveena, Zuri and Micah Vanterpool Jason and Seanna Cooper; great-grandchildren: Dior and Du’Jour Vanterpool; sisters: Kathleen Richardson, Althea, Shirley and Valdez Shelford; brothers: Edward and Dennis Shelford; sons-in-law: Malcolm Martin and Lerone Hodge; and daughters-in-law: Nastosha Johnson and Taliah Bryan.
She is also survived by brothers-in-law: Kenneth and Austin Hodge, and Joseph Vanterpool; sisters-in-law: Aleasa and Janice Shelford, Maude Richardson, Almira Emile, Egla Rogers and Cascilla Dumas; uncle, Melwyn Shelford; nieces and nephews: Randolph and Janelle Thomas, Karen and Glen Revan, Augustus and Jasmine Shelford, Dichi and Glenville Henderson, Djalna McSween, Clyde and Christine Richardson, Carl and Reva Richardson, Curtis and Susan Richardson, Aaron and Khisha Shelford, Jasmaine, Akeem, Tameka and Takiel Shelford, Eboni and Jerome Sewer, and Delia Miller; and bonus daughters: Deborah Dawson and Chelsea Connell.
Other survivors include cousins: Kenroy “Saheed” and Mickey Webster, Patricia Webster-Gumbs, Alphonso “Ali” and Paulette Nibbs, Icilma Parris, Cletus and Patricia Andrews, Ann Turner, Slim and Ulysses Parris, Griselda Bradshaw, Patrick, and Judy Looby, Bernadette Shelford, Romeo and Sonia, Emilie and Anne Joseph, Dennis and Rachel Estridge, Eileen Rawlins, and Ianthia Vanterpool; special family and friends: Isa Westcott-Scatliffe, Zelda Hull, Doriel Connor, Sylvia Caines, Earl and Gloria Pinney, Ashmae Fergus, Marilyn Rabsatt, Vida Daniel, Frank and Amelia Rey, Verna Claxton and many other relatives and friends, including Matthew, Carey, Halliday, Hart, Julius, Rogers-O’Loughlin, Connor and the Hodge, Rogers, Vanterpool, Webster, Lloyd and Richardson families of Anguilla.
The first viewing will be on Friday, April 9, at Blyden Memorial Chapel. The second viewing will take place Saturday, April 10, at Mt. Zion Church of God the viewing will be held from 9-10 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m.
