CANA’s BMW Chapter honors Barbadian Aston Greenidge, African-American Lloyd Griffin

The Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester (BMW) Chapter of the Caribbean-American Nurses Association (CANA) on Saturday, Oct. 12, honored Barbadian-born Aston Greenidge with its Community Service Award and bestowed its surprise BMW/CANA Award on African-American Lloyd Griffin during its 28th Annual Vernese Weekes Scholarship Luncheon at Eastwood Manor on Eastchester Road in the Bronx.

BMW/CANA Chapter also conveyed its Scholarship Award to Jamaican-born nursing student Kenya Simms. 

Jamaican-born nursing student Kenya Simms receives a scholarship award from RN Malvin Groce, left, and RN Wendy Lake-Ricke. Photo by Nelson A. King

In addition, the group presented a posthumous proclamation from New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to the late former president, Hopina Samuel, a Vincentian-born registered nurse, who died in June this year.  Samuel’s elder daughter, Dahniel Samuel, who has just passed the New York State Board Examination to become a registered nurse, received the award on behalf of her late mother.

Dahniel Samuel, RN, second from right, receives proclamation on behalf of her late mother, RN Hopina Samuel, flanked by, from left to right: Brenda Youmans, RN, Dawn Africa, DNP, RN, and Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN. Photo by Nelson A. King

“I didn’t know people were watching what I do,” said Greenidge, after receiving the award, to laughter.

“At St. Luke’s, it’s a home away from home,“ added Greenidge, an active member of St. Luke Episcopal Church in the Bronx, where he serves several committees, including The Brother Hood of St. Andrew, The Stewardship Committee, The Men’s Month Committee, The Annual Dinner Dance Committee, The Usher Board, and the Pantry and Soup Kitchen.

“We thank the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester Chapter of CANA for recognizing what we do,“ he continued. “We didn’t do it alone. We thank the good Lord for doing what we do. I thank God I’m pretty healthy. I’m not on medication yet (laughter).”

He urged the BMW Chapter to conduct biannual health conferences and worships in the Caribbean, stating that his wife, Dr. Christine Greenidge, a former BMW president, treasurer, and director of nursing in Barbados, is “doing the best“ in their native country.

BMW Chapter said in its souvenir journal that Mr. Greenidge — who migrated to New York in September 1986 to join his bride, Christine, for one month — was employed by Verizon Communications for over 28 years, retiring in 2015.

Barbadian-born Aston Greenidge receives the Community Service Award from CANA/BMW Chapter Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN, left, and Greenidge’s wife, Dr. Christine Greenidge, RN. Photo by Nelson A. King

“Known as a kind-hearted individual, he radiates warmth and compassion and makes the hundreds of clients feel valued, regardless of their circumstances,“ BMW Chapter said. “His patience, empathy, and listening skills are among his virtues in how he interacts with the clients and the volunteers at the pantry.

“He moves swiftly and efficiently, serving food, cleaning up, and doing whatever needs to be done without seeking recognition,“ it added. “Pantry work is physically toiling, as many join to unload heavy boxes of food from numerous pallets every Tuesday to ensure that clients get what they need. Yet, Mr. Greenidge motivates the volunteers to expedite this task with grace and understanding of its importance.

“Always thoughtful, he ensures that every meal is served with care, often going out of the way to make someone’s day a little brighter,“ BMW Chapter continued. “His presence and hard work at the pantry and soup kitchen at St. Luke Episcopal Church make both of these missions not just a place to receive a meal and food items but a space of community and dignity.”

Lloyd Griffin receives surprise CANA/BMW Chapter Award from Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN, right, and Griffin’s wife, Pamela Griffin, RN. Photo by Nelson A. King

Griffin, the husband of BMW Chapter’s immediate past president, Registered Nurse Pamela Griffin, a Vincentian, was born in Glen Ridge, NJ. 

He attended Utica College of Syracuse University, where he majored in engineering and minored in computer science. 

While in college, Griffin told Caribbean Life that he joined the BSU (Black Student Union) and, “during that dark time in American history,” he said he “fasted to protest the slaying of children in Georgia.”

After graduating from college, Griffin worked in the environmental service field for Service Master, United Health Serve, and Arramark.

He also worked for Access Communications, gaining over 29 years of experience as a network support and installer technician, including communications and business services.

Griffin, a former member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, NJ, said that since his relocation to the Bronx, he has become and still is a member of Grace Episcopal Church West Farms. There, he is a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s and serves on both the Alter Guild and Alter. He also assists with the church’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry and Good Friday Fish Fry.

Griffin said he was made an honorary member for his continued support and dedication to the BMW/CANA Chapter.

Griffin said he has traveled with the organization on humanitarian trips to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana.

He has also traveled with the Caribbean Nursing Organization (CNO) on biannual conferences in St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda. 

Griffin said he has attended health fairs and helped members in their mission, offering technical support as needed. He also “memorialized their activities“ since, like his father, one of his hobbies is taking pictures of family, friends, and places where he travels.

He said he was “utterly shocked“ – simply because he had no prior knowledge – but “pleasantly surprised“ when he was honored with the BMW/CANA Award on Saturday for his “tireless and invaluable support to and for the organization.”

Griffin expressed his “heartfelt appreciation“ and was “extremely humbled to have been considered and selected for such an honor.”

Simms — who received the Vernese Weekes Memorial Scholarship Award, named after the late Barbadian Registered Nurse and BMW Chapter foundation member Vernese Weekes, who died in 1994—migrated to the United States from Jamaica with her parents and was admitted to Bronx Community College, where she is a student in the Registered Nursing Program. She expects to graduate in June 2026.

Simms said she decided to pursue a career in nursing “because it is a profession that aligns“ with her values of “compassion and service, to help others and make a positive impact in people’s lives.”

From an early age, Simms said she was “drawn to helping others and found deep satisfaction in being there for others during challenging times.”

She said nursing is more than just a career; it is a calling where she “can provide comfort, care, and support to those who are most vulnerable.“

Simms also chose nursing as “an opportunity to engage with both the science and human side of healthcare.“ She is fascinated by “the complexities of the human body and eager to contribute to the medical field by applying scientific knowledge to patient care.”

Additionally, Simms said the ever-evolving nature of healthcare appeals to her desire for continuous growth and development.

“Nursing offers a path where I can challenge myself to learn new skills, stay current with medical advancements, and specialize in areas that align with my interests, such as pediatric or critical care,“ she said, adding that “job security and flexibility are also important factors that influenced my decision.

“Nursing is a respected profession, offering opportunities to work in various settings, from hospitals to community clinics, and even internationally,“ Simms continued. “This stability provides reassurance that she can build a long-term, fulfilling career while making a real difference in the lives of patients and the community.”

Models pose with Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN, center, after strutting their stuff. Photo by Nelson A. King

BMW Chapter Jamaican-born President Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN, also congratulated Simms and the honorees and thanked BMW Chapter members, “who have worked tirelessly to make this luncheon possible.”

In addition, she lauded the “honored quests,” who “have played an important role in this organization by giving us your un-wavered support over the years.”

As the BMW Chapter strives to recruit new members, Dr. Bernard said the group was “saddened over the loss of three of our members within a short space of time“ but added that “it’s times like these which bring out the best in us, as we move forward to do the work of the organization in fulfilling our stated goals.“

BMW Chapter paid tribute with a moment’s silence and recognition in the souvenir journal to the late Winsome Rose Mullings-Robinson, RN, Hopina Samuel, RN, and her husband, Risley Samuel. 

During the five-hour-long ceremony, Dr. Suzanne Mullings, RN, Dean of Nursing at Eastern International College in Jersey City and former BMW Chapter scholarship recipient, delivered the keynote address, and BMW members strutted their stuff in the “Freestyle Elegance“ fashion show.

BMW Chapter said it was “conceptualized“ on May 23, 1994.

“Based on the concentration of professional nurses of Caribbean descent in these communities, it was determined that these individuals would benefit from the unique opportunity to expand the goals and objectives of the national association, namely to serve as a resource for Caribbean American nurses and those practicing in the Caribbean Basin; to provide health education to under-served communities; (and) to participate in health care legislation,“ it said.

The Chapter said it was “deeply honored“ to salute the following founding members: Vernese Weekes, Marjorie Rose, Hyacinth Seivright, Uline Jones, Claudia LaTouche, Catherine Benjamin-Bovell, Claudette Gordon, Maureen Moore, Marcia Thomas, Myrna Smith-Bell, Veronica Niles, Virginia James, Albertha Hibbert, Esther Hunte, Hyacinth Clarke, Shirley Salandy and Virginia Bernard.

Others are Brenda Youmans, Hazel Ramsey, Merlene Howell, Francina Neils, Hopina Samuel, Monica Armstrong, Beverley Cunningham, Mavis Clemison, Camile Moore, Bernice Hurley, Velma Miller, Joan Doig, Sonia Leid, Juliet Fidler, Malvin Groce, June Stewart, Jennifer Carmichael and Nancy Bowlin.

BMW Chapter said the following honorary members are also “worthy of mention”: Patrick Holness, Burchfield Moore, Kenroy Rose, Levi James, Adrian Greenidge and Dahniel Samuel.