Edwina Ivy Dyett

Sketches and Reflections of a Life of Faith and Service 

Edwina Ivy Jessica “Eddy”, “Punteye” Dyett née Nixon

March 5, 1930 – September 5, 2025

With deep sorrow and heartfelt remembrance, we announce the peaceful passing of Edwina Ivy Jessica “Eddy”, “Punteye” Dyett née Nixon, beloved mother, devoted caregiver, and cherished community member. Edwina departed this life on September 5, 2025, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy defined by unwavering love, faith, and service.

Edwina was born in the town of Plymouth, on the sunny Caribbean island of Tobago, West Indies on March 5, 1930 to the late Jeremiah Nixon and Magdalene Williams née Friday. She attended Plymouth E.C. School and ended her formal education after completing standard six – the final year of primary school under Trinidad & Tobago’s British school system. Quiet strength and resilience from an early age are qualities that came to define Edwina’s long, purpose-filled life.

Edwina was a loving sister to older maternal sister Rubina Glasgow (deceased), younger sister Eutil Toppin, and late brothers John Nixon, Colin Nixon, Leo “Ivan” Williams, and Victor Nixon. Her formative years were shaped by her parents, maternal grandmother and maternal great grandmother, who instilled a deep reverence for family.  Nevertheless, painful, traumatic and unhappy childhood experiences, which left a lasting impact, culminated in her being sent; at the formative age of 17, to live in Trinidad, West Indies.  In order to seek a more fulfilling life for herself and her children, Edwina daringly immigrated to Ontario, Canada in her early forties and after living in Canada for approximately one year, she relocated to New York where she lived, loved, labored, and ministered for the next 30 plus years.

Edwina obtained training at Cashier Training Institute (CTI) in New York, New York.  However, after completing home health aide training with PATH in New York, New York on August 4, 1978, she embarked on a certified nursing assistant (CNA) career and spent almost 30 years in dignified, patient, compassionate care and service to young, elderly and hospice patients.  Former employers included People Care, Able Care, Long Life Home Care Services, Inc., and Partners In Care where she worked for 10 plus years before retiring in January 2006, at the age of 75.  In February 2006, Edwina relocated to Stonecrest, Georgia to live with her middle daughter, Carol. Edwina’s ministry of service touched countless lives, and her selfless devotion left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Beyond professional contributions, Edwina was an active and devoted member of her faith community.  She attended the Anglican Church before her father-in-law Nelson Dyett and mother-in-law Ethel Dyett introduced her to the Seventh-day Adventist faith.  After hearing a sermon during an evangelistic meeting titled ‘The Prodigal Son’, Edwina took her stand and was buried in baptism, at age 33, on July 20, 1964 and was baptized in San Juan, Trinidad by Pastor Arthur.  Edwina stated: “I gave my heart to Jesus and never regretted it.” Rain, shine, sleet and snow never kept Edwina from weekly attendance at her beloved Hanson Place Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brooklyn, New York where she faithfully worshiped and served for 35 years and spent 25 of those years serving on their diaconate board. Following her relocation to Georgia, Edwina fell in love with the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlanta, Georgia and became an active member of the diaconate board and Disability Ministries.  She’s warmly remembered by various cohorts of the East DeKalb at Bruce Street Senior Center in Lithonia, Georgia, and some have recalled that she always brought food and desserts to share during birthday and other special celebrations. Although the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed Edwina’s service, church attendance and community involvement and rendered her homebound, she looked forward to viewing Sabbath services online and always remembered to let Carol know when her Sabbath School Quarterly didn’t arrive by mail in a timely manner.

Edwina’s spiritual journey led her to affiliate with a women's group and after inviting all of the women to church, she gave them Bible studies and stated: “Some came with me and after some time they gave their hearts to the Lord and were also baptized. I gave others Bible studies and was delighted when they gave their hearts to God and were also baptized.” Edwina’s favorite scriptures, Psalms 34 and 27 reflect her deep trust in God's Providence, protection and love and having given her heart to the Lord, she’s declaratively stated: “I look forward to the day when I will be with my Savior.”

Those who knew Edwina would tell you that she was always well-dressed, and many have recalled her smile, kindness, compassion, and dedication. Edwina was prayerful, faithful, and hard working.  She was determined to help her children in the many ways that she could; looked forward to Jesus’ second coming, and encouraged her children to remain faithful. Edwina’s offsprings not only inherited her beautiful voice, but they were beneficiaries; along with many friends, of her culinary gifts and specialties which included dhal puri roti, escovitch fish and zucchini, apple, and carrot cakes. She lovingly put her heart and soul into every creation and was the best at it.

Edwina is lovingly remembered by her three daughters: Diane Heskey (G. Allison “Allen”), Carol Hollie, and Karen Nixon; stepdaughters Barbara Augustin (Horace) and Hyacinth “Gloria” Dyett, stepson Leslie Dyett, and stepgrandson Andell Dyett; brothers-in-law Malachi Dyett (Maisie) and deceased brothers-in-law Richard Dyett, William Dyett, and John Dyett; sisters-in-law Jenny Williams, Evangeline Dyett, Germaine Dyett, and Norva Dyett, and late sisters-in-law Henrietta “Duts” Deazle, and Elizabeth “Baby” Moore; nephews Winston Nixon, Ian Williams, Wendell Williams, Earl Williams, Delano Toppin, Hovis Thomas (deceased), Andy Toppin (Jean), Ricky Nixon, Dale Nixon, Otis Nixon, Preston Nixon, and Hayden Nixon; nieces Carol Nixon, M.D., Marilyn Williams, Maria Williams, Sandra Williams, Leandra Williams, Teshia Price (James), Charmaine Nixon (deceased), Cheryl Ann Alfred (Roderick), and Crystal Nixon; her 10 grandchildren: Seldon Heskey, Mahlon Heskey, Chimene Heskey, Cohlene Diana Heskey, Anson Heskey, Chonté François, Janellé François, Brittany Potts, Ashley Rabattini (Anthony), and Abiola Nixon; her 14 great grandchildren: Chemoy Toussaint, Jai Henry, Kemari Heskey, Cheyenne Heskey, Kagan Heskey, Talmai Donadell, Chennai Donadell, Myaisha Hodge, Brooke Potts, Braylen Potts, Benjamin “Alsten” Potts, Ashaad Heskey, Adonis Heskey, Adonai Heskey, and a host of other great nieces and great nephews including Sabrina Toppin, Lauren Toppin, Sean Toppin, Anna Toppin, Alexis Schultz, Iamme Price, Isaiah Price, and Gaielle Price.

Edwina Ivy Jessica “Eddy”, “Punteye” Dyett’s legacy of kindness, grace, faith and service will live on and her light will forever shine in the hearts of those she graced with her presence.  As we mourn her absence, we also celebrate a life well lived – a life exemplified by gentle strength, enduring faith, and unconditional love. We, her family, are grateful for her exemplary life and contributions. We look forward to the day when we’ll be reunited with her around God’s throne. Until then, sleep on Mommy, Auntie, and Grandma/Gahma.

Edwina’s celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at Maranatha Seventh-day Church located at 2730 Browns Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.

Mother to Son

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps.
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

~ Langston Hughes

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