RESILIENCE: A term that carries connotations of strength, fortitude and an ability to weather life's many storms... Yvonne Rose Lywood also affectionately known as Skirt or Red Skirt was a resilient woman. She was born in small town of Allman Town in Kingston Jamaica on the 18th day of March 1943. The second of six daughters of the late great Kathleen Grant.

Not only was Yvonne a resilient woman but she was also a very hard working, resourceful woman who knew how to survive in so many ways. Her first true test of survival came during hurricane Charlie that devastated her tiny homeland of Jamaica in 1951. During the hurricane, Yvonne and about 8 other family members huddled together in the cellar of the family's tiny home in Allman Town to ride out the storm. Together the family survived that night of howling winds, the violent shaking of the house above them, and the freighting rain and mud that poured in on them nearly flooding the cellar. At first glance rescuers were sad and actually did not know that Yvonne and her family had survived the hurricane in the cellar because their tiny house had toppled over and collapsed. Yvonne and her family were eventually rescued and later lived for about two years in tents that were set up as shelters for those that were displaced during the hurricane.

Her next survival story came during the relocation of her family to a new neighborhood in Rockfort, Jamaica called Rennock Lodge. This neighborhood was created especially for some of the families that were displaced by the hurricane. Throughout the years Yvonne became well known and was highly respected in her neighborhood. It was here that her nickname Red Skirt / Skirt was affectionately created. It was also here that she survived the second phase of toughness in her life in her hard knocks neighborhood. Her resourcefulness became quite evident as she was forced to raise and protect her 6 children as a single mom while her neighborhood raged around them due to political conflicts. Her children often remember the many sacrifices she made while raising them in that tough environment. On many of those occasions Yvonne would unselfishly share even a quarter loaf of bread by cutting it in 6 slices to feed her children. Often times she remained without so that they could eat. As a result of her resourcefulness, she taught herself how to be a farmer by harvesting many different crops and raising chicken that helped her to feed her family. Her children gratefully appreciated and remember these fond memories. The neighborhood was also greatly blessed with her skillful talents of being a top seamstress. Back to school was truly a busy time for Skirt as she often worked tirelessly all night (sometimes with only the aid of an oil lamp) to fulfill her many schools uniform requests.

In August of 1979, Skirt embarked upon a new journey as she migrated to the US to seek a better life and safer environment for herself and her family. Her children later joined her in December of that same year. Skirt worked tirelessly as a supervisor in the hospitality industry until that horrible evening in February of 1989. It was on this dreadful evening that Skirt's faced her biggest and toughest test of survival and resiliency. As she crossed Blue Hill Avenue that evening to head home after work, a hit and run driver sped recklessly and slammed his car into her body. Skirt's body was broken and shattered all over. Her brain was also damaged on that dreadful evening, but her spirit never left her body, and it always remained intact. It was truly miraculous and by God's Grace that she even survived the impact of that terrible accident. Her body had to be held together with multiple pins and a full body cast. For many years Skirt fought hard with grueling rehabilitation and was able to eventually walk again also by God's grace. She was a woman of faith who received Christ as her savior. With multiple pins holding her body together, her willpower, long-term memory and her wits never wavered for the remaining 35 years of her life.

During the last chapter of her resilient journey Skirt was cared for tirelessly by her beloved daughter Karen and granddaughter Kadeja. On the night of October 19, 2024, Skirt's earthly assignments was paid in full as she slipped away to glory to start her heavenly assignment. No more sorrows! Now more pain! She was surrounded by a few of her loving family members.

Yvonne/ Skirt is preceded in death by one of her sons, Montrose Donovan aka Floyd (Courtney) Straw, Mother Kathleen Grant, Sister Beverly Lake Jankee, grandson Rasaan Lywood and husband Eric Lywood.

Left to cherish her precious memories: her daughters Karen Straw and Maria Straw, sons Hugh Lywood, Marlon Straw, and Montrose (Benji) Straw, sisters Mavis Bellamy, Dorrett Martin, Beulah Nugent, Maureen Nugent, and Barbara Rose, 23 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.