Andrea Natasha Ogarro Leonard was born on June 27^th 1980 to David Leonard and Anita Ogarro.  She was born on Rohan Henry Street in a house opposite Grace Christian School.  Andrea lived with her grandmother Ruth in Montserrat for a little while after her mother migrated to the States.  She would have been around 3 years old when she came to live with her grandparents Artwell and Violet Leonard in Antigua.

Andrea had a beautiful, signature smile and her laugh that came from deep down in her belly. She was always a happy child and loved to sing and dance. She had a very active imagination and although she played well with others she also enjoyed her own company and that of her imaginary friends. 

Andrea attended the Villa Primary School, the Princess Margaret School and then went on the Antigua State College's Business Department. Her first job was at Pam’s True Value in the Accounts Department, she also did a brief stint at Carib-World Travel mainly in the Western Union as a Front Line Associate.  In her quest for more Andrea moved on to the Antigua Barbuda Investment Bank in around 2009 where she stayed until the changeover to ECAB in 2016.

Andrea worked at ECAB up to the Thursday before she passed.  Some of the customers she dealt with over the years have approached us to offer their condolences and to speak of their pleasant exchanges with her at the bank.   Andrea was mostly a quiet person and wasn’t really into going out. If Andrea chose you as her friend you were a very special person since few were let into her circle. 

Andrea was not a fan of spanking and often scolded those who did much to the joy of the child on the receiving end.  In 2002, Andrea gave birth to her son Jhaheem much to everyone’s shock since she was told she was having a girl.  Yes Jhaheem was supposed to be Tallulah. But she embraced her blue eyed baby boy and they would soon form a bond like no other.

They were everything to each other. Jhaheem was her world.  Andrea left us way too soon, a daughter was lost, a sister was lost, a niece was lost, a cousin, a friend was lost but Jhaheem lost his Mom, his everything. Andrea admonished him to stay close to family and we are definitely sticking close to him.  Andrea was somewhat of a dreamer, she still believed in fairytales. Her fairy tale sadly did not have a happy ending.


Written by Jemima Leonard-Thomas (Aunt)