Dr. Linneth
Barbara Jennifer
Thomas-Edwards

Dr. Linneth B. J. Thomas-Edwards, PhD, MPH, MS BA, CPM, CHES

 

She lived....if there was ever a phrase applicable for Dr. Linneth Barbara Jennifer Thomas-Edwards; she took a firm grip on the minutes of each day. She pressed, extracted, and enjoyed the essence of every moment called 'Life.' Not a day went by that Dr. Thomas-Edwards, better known to those who intimately knew her as a 'Change Agent.' She understood early on that our time on Earth was limited, so she made the best of her years.

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 Dr. Thomas-Edwards made a peaceful transition to be with her Lord and Savior on August 9th, 2021. She left a legacy through community action, excellent health education, tangible recognition of professional achievements, denotes years of university-level, academic study and a commitment to professional and academic expertise, a nationally certified provider, committed to professional competency, an entrepreneur, co-worker, a mother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, and classmate. A 'Giant' amongst women, a Virgin Islander who truly loved these islands and was determined to make a difference in the lives of generations to come.

Born in 1961 on January 16th in St. Johnston, Village of Antigua, Dr. Linneth B. J. Thomas-Edwards was the first daughter of Beatrice Effield Edwards Petrus and Bernard Thomas from Antigua, British West Indies. Dr. Thomas-Edwards was baptized in St. John Anglican Church in Antigua. She has several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She grew up with her siblings, her only sister Donna Edwards, and brothers Tyrone and Albian Petrus, Terrence, Aliston, Michael, Thomas, and numerous relatives.

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She attended Marcelli Elementary in Annas Fancy and Wayne Aspinall Junior High School, known as Adelita Cancryn Junior High School, and graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in 1981. Dr. Thomas-Edward was active in her school activities, a member of the Girl Scouts, and volunteered in numerous organizations in her school and within her Virgin Islands community. She attended the Salvation Army with her mother, and she was a member of the All Saints Anglican Episcopal Church in Garden Street.

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Dr. Linneth pursued her higher education at St. Thomas of Villanova University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in 1984; and continued to receive a Master's Degree in Public Health in 1988. Dr. Thomas-Edward received her Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.), earning a 4.0 cumulative average in Public Health from Walden University in 2014.

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Professionally, Dr. Thomas-Edwards continued to give her time and expertise selflessly as an employee with Department Health in St. Thomas and St. Croix United States Virgin Islands and taught at the Upward Bound Program at the University of the Virgin Islands. In addition, Dr. Thomas-Edward was a member of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Professional Representatives (2005-2008) and numerous boards to many to mention.

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In October 2008- 2021, Dr. Linneth was CEO of the Thomas-Edward International Consulting, LLC in Conyers, Georgia. In addition, she was an active member of Walden's Global Services in the Metro Atlanta area, raising funds to impact one of Atlanta's two premier HIV/AIDS agencies. Growing up in the USVI, Dr. Thomas-Edwards wanted to give back to her community and conducted research entitled "Condom Use Among Adults Residents In The USVI." to complete her doctorate. She was one of the first HIV/AIDS Clinical Social Worker for the State of Florida Department of Health Rehabilitation Services. In addition, she served three years as executive secretary on Positive Impact's Executive Board. Before her death, Dr. Linneth worked on numerous endeavors to bring about a positive change for the better good of the USVI community.

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Outside of her exemplary career, Dr. Linneth was outgoing, and she loved to travel; she was a great chef, full of laughter, and a natural-born comedian.

Dr. Thomas-Edwards loved her community, she loved her son, Malachi Martin, and she loved her family-passionately. A loving and supportive mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, co-worker, classmate, and friend. She worked hard for what she accomplished in what she wanted to achieve.

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Farewell to a remarkable, brilliant giant among women whose amazing life of servanthood has touched the lives of generations to come. Dr. Thomas-Edwards has selflessly given her time, energy, and expertise to many organizations that continue to serve our community.

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A phenomenal woman with strong convictions, charitable in spirit, and forever respectful. Dr. Linneth B. J. Thomas- Edwards' gift of generosity will live on in our hearts and our community, and its best embodied in the following quote by

 

Alfred Pike: 

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Forever remembered Dr. Linneth Barbara Jennifer Thomas-Edwards. To God Be the Glory!

 

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