DOZ Inspirational Biography
Mercy James
MARY
SEACOLE
DOZ Magazine | June 2019
the British Hotel behind the lines during the
Crimean War.
While no one woman can be all things, every
woman should strive to be all she can be, and
all she was created to be. Do it all before you
die. This was something Mary demonstrated
during her lifetime. She was a quali�ied nurse,
a boarding house keeper, an author with
exceptional writing skills, and a hotelier with
good knowledge and understanding of how best
to provide clients with excellent hospitality.
She was also a world traveler. Mary is what
most people would refer to as a phenomenon
with the abilities of a superwoman because her
achievements made several women realise they
could be more if only they would try.
Service to one’s nation and a commitment to
save lives sometimes costs more than can be
imagined. Sometimes it strips the rich of their
wealth or deprives people of what is most
precious to them, such as family or even their
very lives. Mary lost her money and became
destitute after the war, but the people who
recognis ed her effort never forsook her. They all
came to her aid before she died on 14 May 1881.
After death, she seemed to have been forgotten
for almost a century, yet her good deeds brought
her name and image back to life. She was
awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit in 1991.
And as a sign of exceptionality and extraordinary
achievement, she was awarded the greatest black
Briton in 2004.
Being a woman does not make you inferior; you
can achieve more than a man if only you would
dare to make the right decisions and go beyond
the usual. Know this; women are not weaklings.
Women are strong. Women are wise. Women are
courageous.
12
Preparing to Cleave
by Eturuvie Erebor
About the book
On the 21 st of November 2002, while on a journey from Lagos to Port-Harcourt,
God spoke to Eturuvie Erebor clearly about single women who desired to be
married and were frustrated because marriage was not in view and they were
ge� ng older. He said to her; “You will break the yoke of marital delay that keeps
women single against their desire. You will prepare women spiritually, emoti on-
ally, mentally, fi nancially, physically and socially for a glorious marriage.”
L
iving beyond the colour of one’s skin and
the prejudices that are often associated
with it, is a feat that has been challenging
for many women of colour to attain and
therefore has held them back from maximising
their potentials and achieving greatness. This
is because they have chosen to embrace fear
instead of bravery and courage. Some women
have accepted to be viewed as inferior to men
and behaved accordingly. Nevertheless, others
have decided to take actions that would bring
positive changes not only to their name and
identity but also to their gender and race. One of
such women was the amazing British-Jamaican
nurse Mary Jane Seacole (nee Grant).
This fantastic woman was born in Kingston
Jamaica in 1805 into the family of a reputable
lieutenant James Grant of the British Army and
a Jamaican woman with a high reputation for
using the traditional Caribbean, and African
herbal remedies to heal sick people from various
ailments. Children either follow in the footsteps
of their father, mother or both combined. In her
case, Mary Seacole acquired quality nursing
skills from her mother who had a vast knowledge
of tropical disease and general skills in treating
ailments and injuries, which she obtained from
attending to the illness of fellow slaves on the
sugar plantation before gaining her freedom.
Mary started her nursing practice at an early age
by treating dolls before graduating to pets and
later humans. She slowly embraced the process
of learning and acquiring the skills she employed
in saving lives. She was a unique nurse because
of her abilities in using potent herbal medicines
to cure sickness. Although she is primarily
known for her medical skills, we cannot ignore
the fact that she was also a woman with
exceptional business tactics. She did establish
This vision gave birth to “Preparing to Cleave.” It began as a Bible study group in
February 2004 and has evolved since then. This book was born out of that vision
and mul� ple seminars held over a decade. It uncovers to the single woman
the various causes of marital delay while equipping her with solu� ons, includ-
ing prayer points, to end the delay. If you are a woman who is frustrated by
what appears to be your inability to marry, this book is for you. It also includes
a workbook with ques� ons to help you gain a be� er understanding of your
spouse-to-be during courtship, so, you are certain when you say, I do.
13
DOZ Magazine | June 2019