A tale of love and determination

Deborah and Voorhees Joell are the winners of our Valentine’s Day promotion — dinner for two at Muse and a bouquet by Flowers by GiMi.

Twenty plus years and living in two different countries couldn’t keep this couple apart. And today, on Valentine’s Day, they are the winners of our special love day promotion.

After reading through the entrants, one couple stood out with their amazing love story.

Deborah and Voorhees Joell met 35 years ago when she was visiting the island from Atlanta. She was staying at the Inveruire Hotel and he was a server there.

Telling the story, Deborah said: “We saw each other every day and became friends. After I went back to Atlanta we wrote to each other by snail mail. 

“I would write to him about football and he would write about cricket. 

“I returned the next year on a cruise and we got together one time for a dance at Forty Thieves. For whatever reason, I lost his address and we didn’t communicate after that.”

But of course, that’s not the end of their love story. Deborah returned to the island in 2002 on a cruise with her daughter and a few friends. She decided to try to find Voorhees.

She found a number in the phone book and called three times with no luck. But Deborah was persistent.

After spending the day at Horseshoe Beach, she tried one more time in Hamilton to reach her old friend.

“Much to my surprise, the phone was answered by a female voice,” she said.

It was Voorhees’ mother who told Deborah where he worked and how to get there. Deborah headed to the old Stewart’s and on the way she realized she didn’t remember what Voorhees looked like.

“I entered the store and saw a gentleman waiting on an elder couple and when he looked up and smiled, I knew it was him.  I waited patiently and when he walked over to me, he said: ‘Deborah’ and I said ‘Junior’.

Long story short, the pair hung out a few times and said “I love you” before Deborah left. They kept in contact via phone calls.

When Voorhees flew to Atlanta to visit Deborah, he proposed and they were married September 10, 2003.

Congratulations to Deborah and Voorhees, the winners of a three-course dinner for two at Muse Restaurant and Sky Bar and a beautiful bouquet of flowers courtesy of Flowers by GiMi.