Pastor Mary Forbes was born in South Caicos, the fishing capital of The Turks and Caicos Islands. She is the firstborn of two children of Richard and Esther Stubbs (both deceased)., She received her High School education in Jamaica, at the William Knibb Memorial High School, through the sacrifices of her parents and efforts of Baptist Missionaries Rev. Winston Clemetson and his wife Zadie (Both deceased), and Rev Lester Carruthers (deacesed) and wife Myrteline.
She married William Forbes in 1978 and has been married for 42 years. They are the proud parents of three children Dr. Vancelee Forbes, Mr. Jarrett Forbes, Director of Sports for the Turks and Caicos Islands and Mr. Darian Forbes, past athlete and Physical Education Teacher. She has two grandchildren.
Mary, then Stubbs, grew up in the Baptist Faith and became a member at a young age. In 1989, she became a member of the Church of God of Prophecy on Cox Street, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. There she served as CPMA Usher, Sunday School Superintendent, Care Group Leader, Bible Study Teacher, Assistant Women’s Ministry Leader, Member of the Prayer Team, Lay Minister, Associate Pastor and Member of the National Finance and Appropriation Committee.
In 2003 Mary Forbes was appointed Senior Pastor for the Cox Street congregation of the Church of God of Prophecy in Grand Turk and currently serves in that position. She is also appointed as District Overseer, and is a member of the Church of God of Prophecy Caribbean Conference Committee, where she serves as assistant secretary. In October 2009, she started a bi-weekly radio prayer programme “Take Time to Pray” on Radio Turks and Caicos 89.1 FM. She has preached the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Caribbean and the United States of America. She has completed several bible Courses.
Pastor Forbes’ professional background is in nursing. She received formal nursing training in Jamaica, Barbados and The United Kingdom. She was trained up to the Bachelor’s level, and worked in the area of General nursing, Midwifery, Nursing Education and Nursing Management. She served as Chief Nursing Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands for 14 years Following this, she retired from the Public Service in 2008.
In 2009 Pastor Mary Forbes was called out of retirement to work in the Ministry of Health and was appointed as the first full time Health Disaster Coordinator during the Swine Flu Pandemic. She was responsible for the Operations of the National Health Emergency Management Unit within the Ministry of Health. She retired from this position in 2016. In March 2020. When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Pastor Mary Forbes was called upon by the Ministry of Health, to assist the Health team in its efforts, given her experience in Pandemic Management.
Pastor Mary Forbes is a recipient of many awards. Notably she received the Meritorious Service Medal National Award for outstanding service in the field of Nursing in 2016.
Mary believes that the most important thing in life is walking in the will of God. She is grateful to God for her family and all those who have helped to mould her life. One of her favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Blessings