AGATHA ALLPORT SHILLINGFORD
(August 22, 1917 – May 7. 2007)
DAAS mourns the death of Agatha Allport Shillingford, of Roseau, Dominica and Queens, NY, who died May 7, 2007. We celebrate her life and substantial contribution to Dominica and the Dominican community in New York. She was the wife of the deceased Wilfred Shillingford and was familiarly known as Bam. Professionally, Bam was a highly respected teacher, for many years teaching at the Convent High School from which she had graduated. She was also deeply involved in voluntary community service. She helped establish the Social League of Catholic Women in Dominica, subsequently served as its President for several years, and represented Dominica at the 1961 World Congress of Catholic Women’s Organizations held in Rome. Bam also helped establish the Roseau Credit Union, was its manager for a time and served on its Board of Directors for many years. For several years she was also a member of the Dominica Public Service Commission.
Bam migrated to the United States in 1965. In the US, she taught for a number of years, then worked at the New York Bank for Savings until retirement in 1989. But her calling was always community service. After hurricane David devastated Dominica in 1979, Bam brought Dominicans in New York together to help the island. Out of this effort was founded the Dominica American Relief and Development Association (DARDA), of which she was President for many years, and which today continues its charitable work on behalf of Dominica. In 1981, she was made Dominica’s first Consul General in the United States, a position she served in with distinction. In 1988, she was awarded the Dominica Sisserou Medal of Honor, and in 2003 she was honored by Proclamation of the New York City Council for outstanding community service.
But above all, Bam was always considerate, thoughtful and caring, and a loyal and sincere friend to all her acquaintances. She was a loving mother and wife; and her children Caryl, Constance, Peter, Michael, Lennox, John and Henry, and their families mourn her death.
For the exceptional woman that she was, her selflessness, and her outstanding contribution to her community, DAAS honors Agatha Allport Shillingford.
Contributed by:
Davison Shillingford
May 2007
See also DARDA.
