Tucked away on Kent Avenue in Devonshire, the Matilda Smith Williams Home for seniors has, since the early 1970s, quietly continued to fulfill a dream of four members of the Conference Branch missionaries at St. Paul's AME Church in Hamilton.

There, amid the serenity of a suburban neighbourhood, where South Shore breezes brush the landscaped gardens, elderly citizens in need of intermediate care have passed their days under the watchful eye of the caring staff.

But now the main building is closed and a major fund-raising campaign is about to begin.

The story of the Matilda Smith Williams Home goes back to February 1957, when church members Mrs. Bernice Cann, Miss Helena Williams, Mrs. Isabelle Ratteray, Mrs. Gladys Stowe and the president of the Bermuda Conference branch missionary society learned, in a meeting with St. Paul's AME trustees, that a property bequeathed to the church by the late Mrs. Matilda Smith Williams was available to them for adaptation as a seniors' residence.

Through hard work and intense fund-raising, the original, modest home on Union Street opened in May, 1963. When finally it outgrew its usefulness, another property, `Ashford' on Kent Avenue, was purchased in 1971.

With time, this too would grow in size and capability, and ultimately the name would incorporate a second residence next door.

As with all properties, the time came when the Matilda Smith Williams Home needed upgrading in order to keep pace with the ever-growing demands placed upon it. So, in November last year, the main building housing female residents closed, and work began on completing all the formalities necessary to begin the renovation programme.

It is anticipated that contractors will soon set to work bringing to fruition Phase I of a two-phase scheme designed by Mr. Oue mmonde Brangman of Brangman Associates.

When work is completed, there will be a larger kitchen, more bedrooms and bathrooms, and a geriatric bath.

"We will be able to house up to 40 persons -- nearly double the present capacity of 25,'' immediate past president of the board of governors Mr.

Calvin Christopher said.

The projected cost of the Phase I renovations is $700,000 and all branches of the AME church in Bermuda are committed to a major fund-raising drive, which will be taken to all parts of the community, business and personal.

"We have a record of receiving very favourable assistance from the Bermuda public, and this is another occasion when we will be going back to them and asking them to join us in accomplishing our present goal,'' Mr. Christopher said.

In fact, efforts to meet this debt have already begun, with a special radio campaign, pledges, and other schemes underway.

"Our goal is to obtain at least $100,000 a year,'' Mr. Christopher noted.

Revenue from the church's annual banquet, luncheon and tag day will further swell the coffers, and more fund-raisers are in the pipeline.

Phase II will incorporate the second building, which was purchased in 1987, and which currently houses male residents of Matilda Smith Williams Home.

It calls for, among other things, a community room where services, socials, activity classes and other events can be held; a multi-purpose room for hairdressing and doctor's visits; a coffee shop with kitchen, an elevator, courtyards and more bedrooms.

"We have to project what we deem the needs might be for the next 25 years, and how we can meet those needs,'' Mr. Christopher explained of this phase.

"We believe that we should not just meet the physical needs but also the spiritual needs of the residents.'' The estimated cost of the second phase is over $1 million, but first the Church will concentrate on financing and completing Phase I.

"All our plans are designed to help the residents remain as active as possible so that they retain their ambulatory skills and thought processes for as long as they can,'' Mr. Christopher said.

"We are also mindful that Government is presently trying to look at what is being offered to seniors, and to put in place standards by which such facilities will be governed, so we are attempting to pre-empt what will become the official criteria.'' Mr. Christopher estimates that Phase I will take "about nine months'' to complete, and hopes that the main building will re-open before the end of the year.

"A time frame for the second phase has not been worked out yet,'' he said.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS -- Architect Mr. Oue mmonde Brangman of Brangman Associates (third from left) goes over plans for Phase I renovations to the Matilda Smith Williams Home in Devonshire. Looking on are (from left) St. Paul's AME Church presiding elder Rev. Malcolm Eve; Mrs. Marva Phillips, chairman of the home's board of governors; AME first district Bishop Phillip Cousin, and financial advisor Sir Richard Gorham.