Miriam Eliza Hanson (Mir) was born on June 10, 1925 in the quiet seaside village of Happy Grove, Portland, Jamaica. She was the 9 th child of Alfred Agustus and Annie Theresa Nugent. Being born the day after her mother's 36th birthday she was truly a birthday gift for her mother, a gift to her family and to the world. The Nugent family were active members of the Friends Church (Quakers) in Happy Grove and it was there that Miriam received her early religious training and spiritual guidance. Miriam attended Seaside Elementary School where she was tutored by the venerable Teacher V. H. Percy. In 1934 at the tender age of 9 tragedy struck the family when Miriam's father Alfred Nugent passed away unexpectedly. Miriam was very attached to her father so this was a major blow for her. Some of her experiences after the passing of her
father gave her the resolve to always move forward regardless of the challenges.

In the 1940's Miriam along with her mother, sisters and youngest brother moved to the parish of St. Mary, Jamaica. They resided in Harmony Hall, Port Maria and Islington where she along with her sister Ettie were self-employed as seamstresses. An important milestone in Miriam's life took place in St. Mary, Jamaica where Miriam, her sister Ettie and her brother Fred were introduced to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and they became baptized members amid the protest of their mother. Their witness, however led to the conversion of their mother who became an ardent member of the Seventh-day Adventist church until her passing in 1972. It was while she was in Saint Mary that she met the young and handsome Reginald Giscombe a police officer in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The amorous young man swept her off her feet. Their relationship resulted in the birth of her son Hilbert who turned out being her only biological child.

Miriam always aspired to and had dreams of being a nurse. She related to her son Bert and daughter in law Claudette that:
"My good friend applied to a hospital in England to do nursing. She gave me the address and I also applied. However because she had applied before I did she got through and was accepted as a student nurse and would be leaving at a certain time. I was determined that she would not leave me in Jamaica".

Without acceptance from the nursing school and the means to purchase the ticket she booked her trip to London. Thank God for a supportive family, so with the assistance of her Sisters Charlotte and Vie and her brother Fitz she was able to purchase her ticket and sailed from Jamaica to England in pursuit of her dream. It was quite providential and God's leading that she started in the nursing program. Milestone after milestone was achieved she would quite often be at the top of her class. Miriam completed her training as a Registered Fever Nurse (RFN) then completed general nursing training as a State Registered Nurse (SRN). She later completed her midwifery training gaining the State Certified Midwife (SCM) designation. Miriam practiced as a RN and midwife in England after completing all her training.

While in England love came knocking again when she met Glenton Hanson. They were married in November 1961. Shortly after their marriage they migrated to the United States where she continued her nursing career at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey.
Glenton and Miriam returned to Jamaica in1964 and they settled in Mandeville, Jamaica. Their union did not produce any off springs but the merged lives brought together Tony, Glenda and Bert as step siblings. Miss Miriam was loving, kind and compassionate to Glenda and Tony. had a very special place in heart.

Miss Miriam or Mom as Tony would refer to her had a special place in Tony's heart. Tony would quite often express his gratitude for her kindness and love and her impact on his development. In Mandeville Miriam became a member of the Mandeville SDA Church where she served in a number of capacities. After moving from Mandeville to Walderston she became a member of the Christiana SDA Church. She cherished her work with the Sabbath School, Children's and Health Ministries. Miriam was employed at the Mandeville General Hospital in 1965. After leaving Mandeville Hospital she settled into a life as a snow bird travelling to New York where she worked in the summer months mostly at Lefferts General Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. When in Jamaica in the winter months and after giving up regular work in New York Miriam worked at Hargreaves Hospital and with the Jamaica Cancer Society in Mandeville traveling the hills and valleys of Manchester, Clarendon and Saint Elizabeth providing care to cancer patients. Miriam would quite often spend time with her son Bert and his family in White Plains, New York. She enjoyed working with children so was gratified working in the Pediatric unit of the Westchester Medical Center. Sister Hanson developed a bond with the members of the First SDA Church of White Plains resulting in lasting lifelong friendships.

In 1993 Miriam relocated to Evansville, Indiana where she could be close to her son Bert and his family. She later relocated to Coral Springs, Florida in 1999 where she resided until September 2019. Due to declining health she relocated to Palm City, Florida to reside with her son Bert and his wife Claudette. In Evansville Sister Hanson was an active member of the Metropolitan SDA Church and was instrumental in developing and leading the church's outreach program for inner city children. The Eliatha Seventh-day Adventist Church was her home church in Coral Springs where she was an active member being involved in Sabbath School, Prayer and Women's Ministry. Sister Hanson with the assistance of her son and caregivers continued joining her prayer line every Monday night until March of 2022 shortly before her latest illness that precipitated her eventual demise.

Miriam enjoyed cooking and hosting family and friends to enjoy her sumptuous meals. Miriam participated in the programs offered by the Broward County Senior Citizen Services and the Adult Day Club at the Kane Center in Martin County. She was an avid Wii bowler at the senior center in Broward County, winning a number of awards. When in Jamaica she enjoyed visiting Milk River Bath with her friends Esmie (Lottie) Melbourne and Naomi Morgan (Telthia). Mama was hospitalized on April 19, 2022 and for the next 7 months she was cared for in the Port ST Lucie Rehabilitation and Nursing; Palm City Nursing and Rehabilitation and Treasure Coast Hospice. On November 30th, 2022 at 11:59am she fell asleep in the Lord resting until the golden morning when Jesus comes.

Miriam was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Glenton, all her siblings and her stepson Tony. She leaves to mourn her passing her son Hilbert Giscombe and his wife Claudette, step daughter-in-law Ingrid Hanson, grandchildren: Kamilah Smith (Ainsworth) and Omari Giscombe (Maranda); step grandchildren Peta-gaye Sinclair, Shari-ann Hanson and Bryan Hanson; great-grandchildren Ainsworth Jr., Keegan, Marissa and David Marilyn, loving sister in law Roslyn (Bibs) Sugihara. Miriam, Mir, Aunt Mir, Miss Miriam also leaves a number of nieces and nephews, friends and church family members.

Mama we say good bye and will miss you as you take your rest. We have the assurance that you will answer the call of the Lifegiver Jesus Christ when the trumpets of heaven will sound and the dead in Christ will be resurrected to
immortality and eternal life.

The funeral service will be live streamed and can be viewed at any of the following sites:
Church website:
https://firstportsaintluciefl.adventistchurch.org
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCH_C36AnZDrWOtIDBb976Sw
Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/tulipfirstsda