The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TEACHERS and students at the Eight Mile Rock High School are devastated by the tragic murder of Sheena Williams-Johnson, a well-loved educator who had a “promising career” in education.

On Monday, classes were dismissed early and students were sent home while grief counselling sessions were held for teachers and administrators.

Mrs Johnson and her husband, Barry, were discovered shot to death at their residence in Holmes Rock on Sunday morning. They both had a gun shot wound to the head, police said.

The entire community is shocked and saddened by the brutal slaying of the young couple described as very “good people” by friends and neighbours.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said officers do not yet know the motive for the double homicide.

The couple had promising careers. Mr Johnson was employed at the Freeport Container Port and was described by a neighbour as a “quiet and hardworking man who loved his family”.

Mrs Johnson, a science teacher for more than ten years, had recently been promoted to senior mistress at Eight Mile Rock High School.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Department of Education expressed deep sadness over the death of Mrs Johnson and her husband.

“We are deeply saddened at this time as we mourn the loss of a promising young educator, Mrs Sheena Williams-Johnson. Sincere condolences are extended to her family, as well as the Eight Mile Rock High School and the community of Eight Mile Rock, as they cope with the untimely passing of Mrs Johnson and her husband,” the statement read.

“Mrs Johnson was a proud alumna of the Eight Mile Rock High School and was determined to return to that institution as a teacher to give back to her community. She was a science teacher for many years and made her science lessons come to life. An innovative and passionate teacher, Mrs Johnson made it clear that she wanted to be a career educator giving unselfishly to her school. Just this past August, Mrs Johnson was promoted to the post of senior mistress at the Eight Mile Rock High School.”

“The Ministry of Education and the Department of Education have lost a stellar educator whose career was budding with promise. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family as well as the Eight Mile Rock High School at this time,” the statement added.

Attempts to reach school Principal Ivan Butler were unsuccessful yesterday.

Quinton LaRoda, area vice president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, said the tragedy is a “devastating” blow for the entire school, which is also facing a shortage of teachers and administrators.

“It is a tragedy on so many levels because here we have someone who was young, energetic, and an aspiring educator who was recently promoted, and who was very involved in the church, and her community,” he said.

Mr LaRoda described Mrs Johnson as a “local hero” for many students at the Eight Mile Rock High School (EMRHS).

“She was a head girl and valedictorian, and so she set a good example for kids in the community to follow,” he said. “It is an incredible loss for her immediate family and the community as a whole. As far as education is concerned, we lost a great educator; someone who was well on the way to being involved in the planning at EMRHS who will now have to be replaced.”

Mr LaRoda noted that EMRHS has had many challenges in the recent years.

“This is yet another major tragedy for the school,” he said. “Principal Butler was very fond of Mrs Johnson, and he was excited of having her work on his administrative team. He was already short in the administrative department and this adds another hurdle for him,” he said.

The double homicide marked Grand Bahama’s 11th and 12th murders for the year.