ST. CROIX — The ashes of Alma Bonelli Ottley, wife of former Senator Earle B. Ottley, will be interred in the tomb at the entrance of the Virgin Islands Legislature on St. Thomas that holds the ashes of her late husband.
Alma Ottley, a mother of five and a trusted partner and confidante to her late husband, died January 20 at her residence on St. Thomas. She was 98.
Senate President Milton Potter said Alma Ottley’s ashes will initially be placed in the existing structure that houses the cremains of Earle Ottley. He said, however, that the Legislature plans to use an estimated $20,000 from its annual budget to build a new structure that would house both Ottley’s cremains.
“We were planning on doing some sprucing up of the area anyway, and it really gave us an opportunity to embark on this project,” he said, adding that Earle Ottley was an iconic Virgin Islander who would have wanted his wife’s ashes to rest next to his.
Potter said the new structure will be built in a different location on the southeastern side of the property where there are benches and a mahogany tree to accommodate family and members of the community who want to observe and pay their respects to the Ottleys.
“It will be a much-improved structure,” he said.
Senator Avery Lewis offered an amendment on behalf of Potter during legislative session on January 12. The amendment, which was not opposed, called for the erection of a permanent structure on the grounds of the Capitol Building to house the urn containing the cremains of Alma Ottley next to the structure containing those of her late husband. The amendment was attached to Bill No. 36-0210, an act appropriating $4 million to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund for the repair, replacement, and operation of streetlights throughout the territory.
Earle Ottley, a native Virgin Islander who served in the legislative branch as a member of the Municipal Council of St. Thomas and St. John from 1946 to 1954 and as a member of the Legislature from 1954 to 1981, died on August 26, 1999. He was 78. In addition to his political career, he also served the people of the Virgin Islands as a journalist, labor organizer, and social, economic, and political leader, according to the legislation enacted that identified the grounds of the Capitol Building as his final resting place.
The Legislature had already named the legislative chambers on St. Thomas in Earle Ottley’s honor when he died. After his death, the Legislature acted on Earle Ottley’s request that his ashes be preserved in a proper place. In consultation with his family, the grounds of the Capitol Building were selected.
Born on October 22, 1927 to Edward Bonelli and Amanda Mercer, Alma Ottley was raised in Savan. She was one of 10 siblings. She and her late husband raised five children — Diane, Judith, Patrice (who preceded her in death), Lawrence, and Linda.
Alma Ottley understood from the beginning what life in public service required, according to her eulogy. As the wife of a senator, she accepted the long nights, the campaign seasons, and the time borrowed from family as part of a larger calling. In public, she was composed and gracious, a familiar presence at community events and ceremonies. Yet much of her greatest work happened behind the scenes, where she carried those sacrifices with grace, patience, and strength. She had once dreamed of a career in nursing, a vocation she loved, but chose instead to devote herself fully to her family.
A tomboy in her youth, she loved sports, played marbles skillfully, and remained a devoted baseball fan throughout her life. She first cheered for the New York Yankees and later embraced the Atlanta Braves. She enjoyed horse racing and trips to the casino but found some of her greatest pleasures closer to home. Gardening, especially tending her hibiscus plants, was one of her true passions. She was a gifted cook and baker, known for her cakes. Nothing brought her more joy than preparing kallaloo on Old Year’s Night, a tradition rich with meaning, family, and hope for the year ahead. Creative at heart, she expressed herself through painting, drawing, and crochet.
In widowhood, Alma Ottley revealed yet another measure of her strength. She carried love and grief side by side, teaching others that devotion does not end with death and that love, once given, remains eternal. After her husband died, she faithfully honored his memory by placing fresh flowers each week at his tomb on the grounds of the Capitol Building. Her life was rooted in faith. She read her Bible morning and night, drawing strength from God’s word.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dan Hurley Home for Funerals and Cremation Centers of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. For online directions, condolences, or to share a special memory, visit www.hurleydavisfuneralhome.com. To plant a memorial tree in memory of Alma Ottley, visit the funeral home’s Tree Store.
Alma Ottley’s memorial service will be held at Frederick Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. on February 12.
