By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the women’s national softball team, who finished third at the World Games in 1981 in San Jose, California, showed up to pay their last respects to their team-mate - the late Cheryl Maria Turnquest.

Turnquest, 76, was funeralised on Friday at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in a service officiated by Father Junior Calixte before she was laid to rest in Woodlawn Gardens. She left behind three children, Alexis (Warren) Cartwright and brothers Erin (Donna) and Jayson (Dr Kitiboni) who played softball and baseball.

A host of other family members and friends were in attendance, including the women’s national team, which included Turnquest, were all honoured during the Bahamas Softball Federation’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Government House last month.

Oria Wood-Knowles said when they were inducted, Turnquest was thrilled to be around her former team-mates.

“She was happy to see the team come back and her friends in softball all in one place again,” Wood-Knowles said. “She enjoyed this group. She’s sometimes the first one to come on in the morning in the group and make a prayer.

“We came together since we first came together in November when the initial activities got started before the induction was postponed until January. These ladies just enjoy being together. I can’t wait to retire so I can get to do what these ladies’ are doing.”

Daisy Walker, who served as the captain of the team, said she never imagine to see how the ladies came together as one. “We are doing some wonderful things together,” she stated. “God has been faithful to us over the years. He’s brought us back together, so I’m so grateful that the BSF thought snout us after more than 40 years. Cheryl was such a wonderful member, but she has left us. She has left us with a dream for us to stay together.”

Flo Rolle, who shared the catching role with Turnquest, said when they traveled on the national team, they got the nod based on who was pitching. She recalled how if Ernestine Butler-Stubbs was pitching, Turnquest was her catcher, but when Linda Ford pitched, Rolle said she was the catcher.

“Since they announced that they were honoring us, we just started to jel together,” Rolle said. “But we will miss Cheryl because she played a key role in what we did. We just wished she was still here, but she’s gone. We will t=continue to remember her in whatever we do.”

And Naomi Ellis said Turnquest could be considered her “great friend” with their relationship spanning to the days when they were growing up in Mt Royal Avenue.

“We used to drive to the game just to try to make the team,” Ellis said. “Cheryl was there for me and Patsy. Whatever she had, especially mangos when they were in season, she would call and tell me to come get mine. She also told me to tell Patsy to come and get her own too.

“Not only will I miss her for the fruits, but for her comradery because she was gem of a lady. I will truly miss her. I also proud to be a part of this group of ladies’ We hope to stay together until we join Cheryl on the other side.”

Robert ‘Bobby Baylor’ Fernander, who served as the manager of the team, said Turnquest was a top-notch catcher, who came to play night in and night out.

“She was a catcher who was very articulate. She would get on top of the pitchers and she was would get on the umpires. That is what I remember about her as a leader behind the plate,” Fernander said. 

“This team came third in the world. We just played for our country and so we deserve that third in the world. I just wish these young guys like Richard Bain Jr could get some more plyers like Cheryl to carry on the legacy.”

Bain Jr, one of the talented players in the New Providence Softball Association, said he’s just thrilled to see the women who made their presence felt as the third best team in the world.

“It’s good to see that group of young women still around,” said Bain Jr, who indicated that he’s no longer a member of the NPSA. “I use talked with Flo (Rolle) and she was moving young better than m=some of the young plyers in the league.

“I just think we need to honor them a little more because it’s no small feat that they were number three in the world.  lot of people still don’t know that.”

Bain Jr took it even further and said he was disappointed that the NPSA wasn’t represented at the funeral, considering what Turnquest did for the sport and as a member of the NPSA, along with her son Erin, who was a manager in the men’s division.

“Why are they not here?” Bain Jr asked.

Erin Adderley, who managed Bain Jr in the NPSA, was not deterred from those who didn’t show up. He said he was just thrilled to see the women’s national team, whom he had “the most respect for,” considering the fact that his mother, Cheryl, was a vital part of their success.