STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES
To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.
ROBERT LOUIS SHEPPARD
1920 - 1999
Robert Louis Sheppard was born on 10th March 1920, the eighth child of Charles and Elsie (Gomez) Sheppard's family of 13 children. At the time of his birth, the Sheppard family lived at Stone Street, Port of Spain. But Grandpa Charlie Sheppard later bought a large property at 30 Richmond Street to accommodate his rapidly increasing family. Young Robert and his nine siblings moved in. What an exciting new place that must have been for these children to explore!
My father, Andrew, was the closest brother to Robert in age, born in 1922. Knowing how lovingly he spoke of him, I feel certain that, had he not predeceased Robert by eight years, he would have written a heartfelt tribute to his brother, as he had done for other family members. They shared much of the same childhood experiences, the most traumatic of which was the death of their father in 1931 when they were young boys. Their father Charles Sheppard died when he was only 45 (my Dad was not quite 9 years old, Robert was 11), leaving their mother to raise them all. Their widowed mother took in boarders to supplement her limited finances, and the children understood that they had to help.
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When my father was 66 and living in Barbados, he wrote some stories about family life in the 1930s and, not surprisingly, many of the memories he recalled included his close brother Robert. They were only two years apart and were best buddies. He recalled the days when he, along with his brothers Robert and George were the bread delivery boys, using their big brothers’ bikes. George was the brother just before Robert and Andrew was the one just after him, so they were a close threesome growing up. When George died suddenly at age 43, Robert and Andrew were shocked and heartbroken. I can truthfully say that it was the first time I saw my father cry, the day he received the phone call from Trinidad with that tragic news.
I've transcribed this account from my father's own handwritten stories.
School Days
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"Trinidad was and is a predominantly Roman Catholic Country because of its Spanish and French origins. I was Presbyterian. Being the last of six sons, obtaining a place in the Government-run main secondary school was a problem for my brother Robert and me because we had four older brothers attending that college, Queen’s Royal College, and their regulations did not permit any more than four pupils from any one family.
Consequently, Robert and I found ourselves at St. Mary’s College, otherwise known as C.I.C. (College of the Immaculate Conception), almost entirely Roman Catholic. We were definitely out of place. Apart from studies, the only other activities that we could perform were football, athletics, boxing. We were not allowed to join the Sea Scouts, nor could we join choirs nor drama clubs. Cadets was also on the list of restricted areas. We were also prevented from entering the school chapel. Whenever our Catholic friends attended Mass, we were obliged to remain in our classrooms for the period under the supervision of a Protestant teacher or a Head Boy. It was uncomfortable and confusing to be in this situation. It was not our imagination either that non-Catholics were the victims of discrimination. We were always severely punished for any infringement of the rules of the school. Being late or forgetting poetry or not completing homework always guaranteed us a beating by the Dean of Studies or the Dean of Discipline.
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​“Ten boarders, 6 cousins, 12 of us, Mama and “poor” little friends (usually 2), say 28-30 people to be fed each and every day, breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. We all ate a lot of bread, so Ma employed Harris, Barbadian baker who had a problem with testicular hernia always getting in his way. Harris would arrive home and start baking between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. He supplied us with 100 hops loaves, and 6 pan loaves, plus other sweet breads for tea. He also baked some 30 other pan loaves which had to be delivered to the customers before 7:00 a.m. These were friends of the family who lived in the general neighbourhood. Ma had several bread bags made, some to hold one or two or more pan loaves. Each customer had a nail on the back or front porch to hold the stringed bread bag. The empty bag would be replaced by the full one. Each bag had the customer’s name. Problem – transportation. Andrew, Robert, George borrow Boysie’s, Bertie’s and John’s bicycles, surround the bicycles with bags of bread and make sure you return for the owners to get their bicycles to get to work. We “students” had to eat breakfast quickly and walk to school – and get there in time. Many times we failed as evidenced by the black and blues on our hands or backsides as administered by our school masters. But this was all part of life. We loved Mama and understood the situation.”
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"In spite of everything, Robert and I succeeded up to a point. Our widowed mother could no longer afford to pay the school fees of $12.00 per three month term each, so we had to leave and find gainful employment to assist in supporting our large family of twelve children. Robert got a job with a large, diverse commercial company as an office boy."
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Marriage and family life
Robert married the love of his life on 11 April 1942. He had just turned 22 , his beautiful bride Angela de Souza was 20 years old. Like Robert, Angela's family roots were Portuguese. Her parents were Lucy Xavier and Henrique Rodrigues de Souza. Henrique was known as Henry, and was born in São Roque, Madeira. He was a merchant who ran an alcohol retail business, as well as a bakery and a couple of grocery stores in Chaguanas and Caripachaima. He owned the White Eagle Bar and Grocery, 97 Western Main Road, St. James, Port of Spain,around 1910s-1930s. Angela's siblings were Henrietta, Jacintho “Sonny”, Teresa, Monica, Henry and Sheila de Souza. The Sheppard, Gomez and de Souza families became close, as Angela's brother "Sonny" married Robert's cousin, Angela McCartney. She was the daughter of his mother's sister Edith Gomez and Thomas McCartney.
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Angela Lucy de Souza
1 November 1922 - 19 November 2004
Wedding Day - 11 April 1942
Standing next to Angela is Robert's bestman, my father Andrew, wearing his military uniform. Next to Robert is their sister Sybil, left is Theresa de Souza, the bride's sister Next to my father is another of the bride's sisters, Henrietta de Souza.
Robert and Angela with their children
l/r standing Carol, Bobby, Charlie
Wayne is seated on his mother's lap and Gail is next to him
Robert and Angela celebrated their first wedding anniversary with the arrival of their firstborn, Carol Ann, who was born on 12 April, 1943. Their family quickly grew with the addition of Robert (Bobby) in 1945, Charles (Charlie) in 1946, Gail in 1947 and then 12 years later in 1959, Wayne. Trinidadians would say that Wayne was the "langiappe".
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Robert was first and foremost a family man. I fondly remember him as charming and outgoing, with a lovable personality and infectious smile. He was quite like my father in that respect. He grew up in a home where the piano took centre stage in the living room, and where music was a part of everyday life. He must have seen his father play the mandolin. Robert loved to sing, and had a smooth velvety voice. Luckily, we have a few nice recordings of him singing some of the popular standards of his day, accompanied by his sister Jessie. He loved nothing better than a fete - family parties at his home were often held to celebrate various occasions, with everyone gathered around their piano - the very one given to Angela by her father for her eighteenth birthday.
My Uncle Robert's early days of delivering the loaves of bread around the neighbourhood and his upbringing as a middle child in such a large family stood him in good stead for a business career in management of people. Robert worked for a while with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, followed by a long and successful career with the American Esso Standard Oil (S.A.) Ltd., where he was Personnel Manager, rising to become Regional Manager, with responsibility for Trinidad, Guyana. Suriname and several other West Indian islands where Esso had branches. His negotiating skills in dealing with trade unions were exceptional and recognized by the company. During his working career Esso transferred him to Guyana, where he moved to with his family for a few years before relocating back to his home in Trinidad. Guyanese people being known for their warm hospitality, Robert and Angela fitted right in, quickly making friends and enjoying a vibrant social life. While in Guyana, he quickly assimilated into the business community and became a Member of Council of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce in 1961. After Esso closed doors in Trinidad, Robert worked for the National Petroleum Corporation up until his retirement. After retirement, he became the Manager of The Union Club located on Independence Square in Port of Spain. It was the prime social meeting place for local businessmen. Robert's charming personality and business experience made him well suited to this position.
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Robert made time in his busy working life to enjoy his family and the sports he loved, together with the socializing that came along with that. He played rugby and was also at one time hockey goalkeeper for the Shamrock Club. In his private life, he was a man of faith, having been raised in a staunchly Presbyterian family. He was a Freemason, and belonged to the Royal Prince of Wales Masonic Lodge in Trinidad. He was also an active member of the Lions Club. Angela was Catholic, and as required at the time of their marriage, he promised to raise their children in the Roman Catholic faith. These beliefs and values stayed with the couple through thick and thin.
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Robert and Angela's eldest daughter Carol grew up to be an outstandingly beautiful and talented young lady. Many of my generation would remember her on stage at the Port of Spain Jaycees Carnival Queen show, where she competed as Miss Olympia. Contestants were sponsored by local businesses, and Carol's sponsor was her uncle Sonny de Souza, whose company sold Olympia typewriters. She wore a costume and evening gown designed by John Humphrey, husband of her cousin Helen de Sousa. Her costume depicted a volcano. Click on this link for photos. Carol married Douglas Yuille in 1964 and by 1969 they had given Robert and Angela three grandchildren. The marriages of three of their other children - Bobby to Fatima, Charlie to Anna and Gail to Errol gave them ten grandchildren in all. Of these, several are distinctly musical. As we say in the Caribbean "The mango don't fall far from the tree!"
But life was to deal them the harshest of blows when in 1986, their lovely Carol died after a short illness of cancer. She was just 43 years old. Heartbreak beyond description enveloped Robert, Angela and their entire family.
Carol Ann (Sheppard) Yuille
Robert and Angela remained a devoted couple, until Robert passed away on 16th December 1999 when he was 79. Angela lived on for another five years, passing away at age 82 on 19th November, 2004. They are memorialized together in the De Souza family plot in the Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Port of Spain. The inscriptions on their plaques aptly describe their lives together "Loving husband and father", "Loving wife and mother".
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In closing, I think it fitting to share a video filmed by my husband Meindert at Robert and Angela's home in Diego Martin, Trinidad. It brings to life the warmth, hospitality and family love that they so enjoyed while gathered around the piano. We remember them with love and affection as we listen to the piano music of Robert's oldest sister Jessie (Sheppard) Brash, and Robert himself singing for us "Pennies from Heaven". The clip ends with him telling his beloved Angela "For posterity, kiss me."
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