Carol Ann Marie Branker of Princesse died on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at her residence on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She was 63 years old.
She is survived by her son, Hayden Branker; daughter-in-law, Racquel Branker; daughter, Teri Helenese; son-in-law, Alexander Cyril DeAbreu; grandchildren: Gabrielle Alexis DeAbreu and Crystal Loren DeAbreu: brothers: Wayne and David Branker; sisters: Helen “Althea” Branker, Annette Branker Watson and Dawn Branker; brother-in-law, Clinton Watson; sister-in-law, Janet Branker; and nephews and nieces: Michael Villafane, Wayne “Aaron” Villafane, Lumumba Branker, Wayne Branker Jr., Dwayne Branker, Shwayne Branker, Sade Branker, Shana Branker, Jaleesa Branker, Keeda Branker, Michael Howe, Reuben Watson, Veronica “Annie” Branker, Kendra Branker, Kiera Branker, Briana Branker, Ayana Branker and Horace Crooks.
She is also survived by cousins: Anthony Branker, Cathy Ann Branker-Diamond; Kathleen Matthews, Avion M. James, Yeisan Huyghue, Kirlice Lett, Brendon and Bria James; the children of her Uncle Roy Branker from Point Fortin in Trinidad and special friends and caregivers: Ingerborg Hendricks, Angela Jerome, Heather Stephenson-Proctor, Cherry Sherwood, Faith Harrigan, Arnold and Eastlyn Helenese, Arlene Helenese-Beard, Valerie DeAbreu, Enriqueta “Katie” DeAbreu, Sen. Terence “Positive” Nelson and Carol Burke; as well as other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Carol Ann Marie Branker was born on Aug. 8, 1952, in San Fernando, Trinidad. She was one of six children of Oswald and Vera Branker. She attended elementary and middle school in San Fernando and immigrated to St. Croix as a teenager with her parents and siblings.
Later she attended the College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) and Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. She received a Teacher’s Certificate from CVI and earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Hofstra University.
American Airlines recruited and hired Carol and Miss St. Croix that year in the early 1970s to be flight attendants; however, the oil embargo started while their recruiting class was in training in Texas. American Airlines halted hiring during the oil embargo and completed a Reduction in Force in the careers of airline stewardesses and pilots.
Now called flight attendants, stewardesses at the time were hired primarily based on rigid beauty standards, physical attractiveness and height/weight conformity. Having already been trained by American Airlines and fitting its “beauty” brand, Trans World Airlines (TWA) handpicked Carol as one of its first black flight attendants. During and after the oil embargo, based upon their years of service, TWA reimbursed flight attendants, customer service representatives and other employees for their education at Hofstra University, Long Island University and the University of Missouri.
Keen as ever to be taken seriously as a skilled professional, Carol obtained her federal certification as a flight attendant and was promoted a few times over the next 22 years from stewardess to flight attendant to customer service representative, and then into management as a manager and director. She worked on campaigns in the 1970s that fought against discrimination based on sex, beauty and age in the airline industry. Her activism led to better compensation for flight attendants, looser restrictions on age and weight, and men joining their ranks.
Carol was also tapped to participate in TWA’s accelerated training program for vice presidents where she would have a tour of duty across the globe. Having already traveled the globe while she was a flight attendant, she opted to retire on St. Croix where she opened Beachy Things at Hotel on the Cay, Bon Chance, Island Imports and Gabrielle’s in Christiansted, St. Croix. She enjoyed the boon years of business on the island and remained steadfast in the down economic years too.
Carol Ann Marie Branker will be remembered for her business savvy, strong spirit, striking beauty, big heart, deep love for her grandchildren and family, and activism that led to the end of the tiny, colorful shift dresses in the skies, which were replaced by professional attire.
At her request, cremation has taken place. Family and friends participated in the blessing ceremony and final rites where she was laid to rest at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Kingshill Cemetery on St. Croix.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Arrangements are by Schuster’s Crematorium and James Memorial Funeral Home.
