When candystripers supervisor Evelyn Latham left that post last month, it was a painful end to another chapter of her life.

But the veteran volunteer -- who declined to discuss her sudden departure other than stating that her resignation was a matter of principle -- has bounced back as she has from several other disappointments in her life.

And she attributed her resilience to her faith in God and a strong belief that one must take a stand for principles.

It is that same conviction that Mrs. Latham has tried to instill in her children, including hundreds of youngsters who she guided as candystripers.

Raised in a wealthy Ohio family, Mrs. Latham recalled that her parents disowned her when she married a black Bermudian in the 1950s.

"Even though we had coloured servants in our home and they (her parents) treated them like family, marrying them was a no-no,'' she told The Royal Gazette during an interview at her Southampton home.

While Mrs. Latham's mother has passed on and her 96-year-old father has come to terms with his daughter's decision to marry outside of her race, she admitted: "Having my parents disown me broke my heart.'' The next painful time in Mrs. Latham's life was when her first marriage ended in divorce.

"I was down on men,'' she said as she reflected on that time of her life. "I had four children and I was just trying to survive and get on with my life.'' Then came along her current husband of almost 30 years, Cecil, whom Mrs.

Latham called a Godsend. "I was working at Sonesta Beach as an accountant in the late 1960s when I met Cecil,'' she recalled. "I found in him my staff in life. He's my mentor.

"I watched him around the kids. He was good with them. I have to praise him to the hilt everyday. He is a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He shows them love, but is also firm.'' It was with those same qualities that the Lathams raised five children -- Neville, Donna Lee Myer, Debbie Stemper, Danny, and Karen Kiger -- and 15 foster children.

Following in the footsteps of Mr. Latham's mother, who had 15 children, Mrs.

Latham said: "His mother Marguerite mentored me in mothering.'' The interracial couple encouraged their children to respect others and be proud of their heritage.

And Mrs. Latham said: "We never encountered racism here. Any racism that exists here (in Bermuda) is because of parents.

"We've always told our children to be proud of your heritage, but don't worry about colour. Colour is not a life line.'' Mrs. Latham has stressed the same message when interviewing candidates for candystripers.

"When I interviewed the youngsters for candystripers,'' she said, "I always interviewed the parents or guardians of those persons and the first thing I told them was there is no colour in the candystriper programme.'' Mrs. Latham -- who joined the hospital volunteer group formerly known as the Women's Hospital Auxiliary in 1987 after being impressed by its members' kindness during her youngest son's illness -- also worked to bring out the best in the hundreds of youngsters under her care.

"I remember each and every one of them and their names,'' she said proudly.

"To me every single one of those candystripers who were under my tutelage were special.

"I would ask guidance counsellors at schools for feedback before taking on students and some of whom they said were not candystriper material. But I took them on anyway and realised they were good kids. They just needed to build their self-esteem and they needed guidance.'' Having served on the Youth Advisory Council for some 20 years, Mrs. Latham said working with youngsters has always been her forte.

"Some of the boys I took in you could see they were on their way to trouble,'' she said. "But I challenged them to try the programme. The programme is a foundation for youth. It is a building process from the time they come in. Just like a building, you start from the foundation and build up. Usually when they leave the programme they are complete.'' Noting that she has witnessed many candystriper successes, Mrs. Latham said some of the youngsters went on to become Rotary Exchange students and to travel with Up With People.

And she said despite her sudden departure, she had no regrets about becoming involved in the candystriper programme.

"It was like watching my children grow up all over again,'' she explained.

"It was not the quality of hours they put in, it was the quality of work.'' However, Mrs. Latham said neither the programme nor the youngsters involved could have been as successful without the support of parents and guardians.

"The majority of parents were good,'' she noted. "They were conscientious.

I'm going to miss them, the day-to-day rapport with the pink ladies, and the experiences with the candystripers and watching them grow.'' Mrs. Latham urged people to take advantage of volunteer opportunities at the hospital whenever they can.

"I don't want anyone to be discouraged because of this,'' she said referring to her decision to resign. "I resigned out of principle.'' She said she lived by a quote clipped from a Good Housekeeping magazine 37 years ago: "The best thing I can do for my children is to take care of myself and model what I truly believe about life.'' Asked about future plans, the soon-to-be great grandmother said: "I don't think I will slow down. I want to stay on the move so death does not catch me.''