Ada Melvina Joel’s passion for music surfaced early in her eventful life. As a child she started her musical journey by blowing across the tops of bottles, playing drums both on her Mom’s table with sticks and playing her “kerosene can” drums.Ada Melvina was born on May 2, 1902 to Edmund and Augusta Williams, the sixth of their eight children. On December 1927 she married Gladstone Joell in a union that produced three boys and three girls. The Joells opened their home to many foster children, 13 of whom Ada called her own.Harry Foster a renowned musician and music teacher of the time taught Melvina as a girl to play the violin, being her first formal lessons. Later she honed her skills with the assistance of Ernie Leader, the renowned band leader and Mr Young, the director of the North Village Band.Devoting her life to music, Mrs. Joell became a teacher in her own right. She owned more than 43 musical instruments on which she trained her eager students. These included a piano, organ, drums, ukulele, harpsichord, harmonica, tuba, accordion, several clarinets, trumpets, violins, violas, percussion instruments, guitars and saxophones.Mrs Joell became famous for her unconventional instruments which she mastered, such as her “bones” and the carpenter’s saw. She lovingly cared for each of her instruments, and it would not to be unusual to find her playing any one from time to time. A consistent accessory in her handbag was her “bones” which she received when she was 11 years old. She always played them in church and was often asked to play them at various functions. Her favourite song she sang when playing the bones was Something on the Inside, Working on the Outside.An important aspect of Mrs Joell’s music journey was sharing her talents with others. While working in conjunction with Mr Young they formed the North Village Junior Band; she took her grandchildren along to play with her. She mainly played her saxophone in both bands. And she continued playing her violin, particularly in Mrs Gladwin’s violin group, and as a member of the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra.She had a unique way of teaching children, free of charge, inspiring them to play songs in a short period. Mrs Joell often said one of her pupils she was most proud of was Wendell (Shine) Hayward. Throughout her life she always thanked God for the gift of music which He so abundantly bestowed on her.Another of Mrs Joell’s passions was horses. For many years she competed successfully in the Agricultural Exhibition, showcasing her superb horsemanship and the fine buggies her husband made for her; she was bound to take home ribbons. She loved horses so much that on Sundays she could be seen driving them to her church.Ada Melvina Joell was a kind-hearted, soft-spoken woman of profound understanding, and unique. She was blessed with six children, 32 grandchildren, 36 greatgrands and three great-greatgrands.In 1987, Ada was honoured by her New Testament Church of God with a special service packed with many dignitaries, Premier Sir John Swan, family and friends. A short documentary on her life was shown, having been produced by the Church’s Headquarters in the US.On November 6, 1987 the St. Paul’s AME Church’s Women’s Day Council recognised Mrs. Joell for her Christian service. And in December of that same year she received the Queen’s Badge and Certificate of Honour for her dedicated work in the home, church and community.