Vanessa Inniss d'Arville's Obituary
An Island Girl with Global Dreams
Vanessa Marie embodied determination, persistence, and resilience. Born in Berlin, Maryland, to the late Cadmus Inniss and Maude Richardson, and then was raised in Nassau, Bahamas. She embarked on a remarkable life journey of knowledge and exploration. Her early education at Wilton Albury Primary and H.O. Nash Junior High School laid the foundation for her future endeavors. Vanessa's mother, the late Maude Richardson, epitomized hard work and tenacity as a single parent. She sacrificed tirelessly to provide a better life for her children.
In 1977, Maude and her four daughters—Deborah, Patrice, Vanessa, and Jennifer—packed their bags to permanently relocate to Snow Hill, Maryland, to be closer to her only son, Boccaio, and Father, Arthur Ferguson. Vanessa later graduated from Snow Hill High School. Undeterred by challenges, she pursued higher education at Morgan State University in Baltimore, matriculating in 1981. By 1984, Vanessa had joined the ranks of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a sisterhood with 18 other young women. She became a charter member of the Upsilon Epsilon Omega chapter in Baltimore County. In 1986, she proudly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
Renaissance Women
"Nessa"** possessed an insatiable curiosity and a creative mind. She fearlessly broke barriers, exploring uncharted territories. A leader, thinker, and creator, she left an indelible mark on her community and the world. Vanessa defied stereotypes, nurturing her intellect, creativity, and compassion. She traveled widely when the opportunity arose and was no stranger to China, Australia, and large parts of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. She was an open-minded and curious traveler who delighted in experiencing different cultures. Her love for fashion was evident—always classy and elegant. Nothing was too good for her loved ones. When her daughter Sasha welcomed her first child, Mia, Vanessa embraced the role of "Nana" with pride and welcomed Myles later with open arms.
While working as an accountant for several years, Vanessa's interest in the law grew. Witnessing injustice fueled her passion. She transitioned to a legal clerk position in the law chambers of Jeanne Thompson. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to obtain a Master of Laws (LLM) from Manchester Metropolitan University, in the United Kingdom. After completing that course, she signed up for a further course to study for the UK Bar Exams to become a barrister. Her illness started to affect her during this course, but she strove to complete it, while also studying for a Diploma in Maritime Law. As a Bahamian, she had a close interest in maritime matters and was ambitious to work for the International Maritime Organization. Vanessa being the person she was, she would undoubtedly have succeeded in this aim, but would probably have derived just as much satisfaction from saving an ordinary citizen from some legal injustice in a lower court as she would from clinching some big international maritime treaty.
Health-conscious and committed to wellness, Vanessa advocated for good nutrition and taking supplements as a daily regimen. She generously shared her insights, ensuring those around her made informed choices. When she became ill, she turned her energies towards researching and seeking treatments for her own condition. She explored every source of information she could find and almost became her own physician, especially when Covid limited access to support. Every
therapy, behavior, exercise, diet and supplement came under her scrutiny, and it seemed she frequently found herself informing and suggesting treatments to the 'experts' who were treating her.
On February 21, 2024, after a valiant battle with cancer, Vanessa peacefully transitioned, surrounded by her loved ones. Her legacy lives on—a spirited, loving, and determined soul who touched hearts and minds with her grace, elegance, insatiable appetite for knowledge and truth and an unshakable commitment to fairness and justice. She will be missed by many, but especially by those who benefitted from the fierce loyalty she showed to family and friends.
In lieu of flowers please send live plants.
What’s your fondest memory of Vanessa?
What’s a lesson you learned from Vanessa?
Share a story where Vanessa's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Vanessa you’ll never forget.
How did Vanessa make you smile?