Year in Review - Those We Have Lost

Last year, Jamaica mourned the loss of several remarkable individuals; from musical geniuses, to business stalwarts and exemplary public servants. The contributions of these prominent Jamaicans to nation-building will be remembered for generations to come. As we grieve their passing, it is also important to celebrate the lasting impact they have made on the society.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Justice C. Dennis Morrison

Former President of the Court of Appeal Justice C. Dennis Morrison died on February 3 at age 73.

Morrison was appointed to serve in the Court of Appeal of Jamaica in 2008 and in January 2016, he was appointed president.

Reacting to the news, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck hailed Morrison, a former Rhodes Scholar, as an “outstanding jurist” who taught “probably most of the lawyers presently in practice”.

Called to the Bar in Jamaica in 1975, Morrison practised for 25 years before transitioning to the Bench.

He also served as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Belize (2004 to 2015) and acted as a judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (January 2015).

He had also been serving as a judge of the Court of Appeal of The Cayman Islands since 2015.

Morrison retired in 2020.

‘Miss Protocol’, Ambassador Madge Barrett

Known for her immaculate dressing and red lipstick, Ambassador Madge Barrett, often referred to as ‘Miss Protocol’, passed away peacefully on her 87th birthday on November 15. She served as chief of protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until her retirement.

Previously, she served as consul general to Miami before moving into protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During her tenure, Barrett oversaw the protocol arrangements for several members of the British Royal Family who visited Jamaica as well as other heads of state.

Lady Patricia Golding,

Lady Patricia Golding, mother of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, has a pioneering legacy in public service. She was one of the first three women to be employed in an administrative category in the civil service. Her contribution to public service also includes her employment as an administrative cadet assigned to the Colonial Secretariat, then to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Central Planning Unit.

She left the civil service to assist her husband, Sir John Golding, in expanding the rehabilitation and commercial activities at the polio centre he had founded in October 1954 in response to a major polio outbreak in Jamaica. Later renamed the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre, it stands as a beacon of hope to the service of persons with disabilities in Jamaica. Lady Golding died on September 26, aged 92.

Betty Ann Blaine

Betty Ann Blaine is remembered as a champion who fought passionately to protect Jamaica’s children. She founded lobby Hear the Children’s Cry in 2002 and Youth Opportunities Unlimited in 1992. Hear the Children’s Cry was integral in the renaming of the Ananda Alert System from its former name, the Red Alert System.

She also served multiple terms on the Child Protection and Family Services Agency advisory board. She served as the pioneering holistic child development coordinator at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology in Kingston, and hosted two former weekday morning radio talk shows, ‘On The Agenda’ and ‘Blaine & Crawford’. She has also served as a university lecturer in Southern African and Black American History, and was a leading spokesperson in the Jamaican Anti-Apartheid Movement. The Jamaican stalwart died on May 13, she was 75 years old.

Pearl Phipps

Retired nurse and prominent golfer Pearl Phipps died peacefully at home on the 4th of February. She was a dedicated nurse who was loyal in her service to Jamaica. She worked as a nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Morant Bay, St Thomas, after returning home from the UK. She also worked at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital and the Kingston Public Hospital.

She was also the captain of the female golf team at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Jamaica for two years. She played in golf tournaments in almost every Caribbean country and won many trophies, and also participated in a golf tournament in Canada.

She is remembered as “a loving wife and mother and one who was always ready and willing to help others”.

Daphne Mahoney

Daphne Mahoney gave distinguished service to Jamaica’s most vulnerable children and families throughout her life. The well-known philanthropist, businesswoman and community leader in the New York Jamaican diaspora, was well known for her more than 30 years association with the Mustard Seed Communities, for which she raised funds through an annual luncheon.

She served for over a decade on the International Board of Directors of Mustard Seed Communities. She was a board member of the 14th Street Business Improvement District, and on the advisory board of the Washington Irving High School, Hotel and Restaurant Institute. As an informal ambassador for Jamaica, she was a source that people called when they needed help, had a problem, or needed information. She died on June 24 at age 91.

Carole Joan Crawford

Jamaica’s first Miss World, Carole Joan Crawford, devoted her life to advocating for education, community development, and the empowerment of young women following her historic 1963 victory. She passed away on December 18 at the age of 81. Remembered as a trailblazer, Crawford was not only the first Caribbean woman to win the prestigious title but also one of the few women ever to claim the crown, standing at just five feet, three inches tall.

Constable Ricardo Fairclough

Forty-three-year-old Constable Ricardo Fairclough, who was assigned to the St Ann Divisional Operational Support Unit, was shot after challenging a gunman who had shot and injured a vendor in St Ann on April 15. He later succumbed to his injuries at hospital. The late deacon at Kingdom Lighthouse Apostolic Ministries International was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for Gallantry.

POLITICS

Carl Miller

His nickname, “Chief,” given by supporters of the People’s National Party in western Jamaica, was a clear reflection of the significant influence and stature former member of parliament for St James North Western, Carl Miller held. He was also an attorney-at-law and a fearless advocate for the people in the West. He died on December 17.

Princess Lawes

Former Member of Parliament for North West St Ann, Princess Lawes, died on April 19. She was 79.

Lawes died after ailing for a while, according to the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which she served in several capacities before retiring some years ago.

In politics, after serving as senator for several years, Lawes became the first Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) member to win the North West St Ann seat, when she beat the People’s National Party’s Arnold Bertram in 1980. The PNP had maintained a hold on the constituency since it was created in 1959.

Lawes was in charge of women’s affairs, during the 1980s, in the Edward Seaga administration.

Jermaine Hyatt

Jermaine Hyatt will be remembered as a champion representative who gave distinguished service to the people of the Denham Town division. He died on November 30. The former Jamaica Labour party councillor served two terms, and was hailed by his colleagues as a promising leader who displayed true bipartisanship.

Christopher Townsend

Christopher Townsend, who served as councillor for the Olympic Garden division, died suddenly on November 13, he was 55 years old. He will be remembered as an outstanding representative who was dedicated to service and advancing the interest of the people he served.

Rohan ‘Washy’ Bryan

Twelve years of service to the people of Morant Bay in St Thomas came to a solemn end on May 1 with the passing of Councillor Rohan ‘Washy’ Bryan. He died at the Princess Margaret Hospital in the parish after ailing with a heart condition.

Andrea Moore Phillips

Charismatic political warrior, Andrea Moore Phillips, the former People’s National Party caretaker for Portland Eastern lost her battle to cancer on August 13. She was also an attorney at law, and is remembered as an exemplary Jamaican who took on her political career with passion.

Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane

Marjorie McLeod McFarlane held the distinction of being the first Jamaica Labour Party candidate to win the Aenon Town division in Clarendon Northern in a local government election. A former teacher, McLeod-McFarlane was a fierce advocate and a voice for the vulnerable, who showcased great compassion and integrity. She passed away on September 1, after battling cancer.

Maxine Salabie

The People’s National Party councillor candidate for the Friendship division in Western Westmoreland, died suddenly after collapsing during a meeting in Savanna-la-Mar on January 3.

She was also general manager at Coral Cove Wellness Resort in the parish and is remembered for her dedication to her community.

MEDIA

Alan Courtney Magnus

Alan Courtney Magnus’s remarkable career as a radio broadcaster, spanning more than four decades, has set a lasting blueprint for future generations. Known as Jamaica’s ‘Good Morning Man’ since 1972, Magnus passed away on February 3 at the age of 80. As the host of Radio Jamaica’s flagship morning programme, The Good Morning Man Show, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays, he captivated listeners with his infectious cheerfulness, calm demeanour, and engaging style, all while informing, entertaining, and educating his audience.

The veteran broadcaster was also deeply passionate about music and is celebrated for his 1971 hit song- Flying Machine. In recognition of his significant contributions to broadcasting, he was awarded the national honour of the Order of Distinction in 1993.

Marcia Erskine

A Trinidadian who made Jamaica her home, Marcia Erskine built a legacy as a public relations guru who had a charitable and kind spirit. She trained as a journalist with a degree in mass communication from The University of the West Indies, Mona. She began her career as a reporter with the Trinidad Guardian and then the Trinidad Express in the 1970s, before joining The Gleaner Company in 1981, and spending four years with the publication.

Years later, she played an integral role as a member of the advisory committee for The Gleaner’s Hospitality Jamaica Awards for a number of years. She also served as the communications consultant for the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. She operated her own public relations firm, Marcia Erskine and Associates Public Relations, located in Kingston, until her death on March 6.

Job Nelson

Job Nelson, a sports journalist renowned for his exceptional work ethic and as a prominent sports editor, tragically passed away in a car accident on May 21 at the age of 53. At the time of his death, he was employed as a sports coordinator at The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited. Nelson was also regarded as a “dedicated and reliable lieutenant” in the industry, having contributed to notable publications including the Jamaica Herald, Sunday Herald, X-News, and SportGlobe. He had also worked at Loop News Jamaica and the Jamaica Observer.

Barbara Gayle

Acclaimed veteran journalist Barbara Gayle was known for her professionalism, compassion, and more than five decades of service with The Gleaner as one of Jamaica’s top court reporters. She chronicled cases across parish courts, circuit courts, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and even the Privy Council in the United Kingdom. Her work earned her numerous awards, including the 1997 Press Association of Jamaica Community Service Award and a regional award from the Caribbean Association of Media Workers.

That same year, she was named Journalist of the Year for her courageous reporting on a Supreme Court case where a rape victim was jailed for speaking “too softly”. Gayle’s exposé prompted widespread protests, leading to the victim’s release and the installation of public address systems in courtrooms.

She was found dead at her home in Caymanas Estate in St Catherine on December 17. She was 77 years old.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIA

Yvette Samuels

Consummate educator Yvette Samuels lost her battle with breast cancer on March 20. The principal of Alpha Primary School will be remembered by students and staff as a visionary leader, who was deeply admired by those she served for more than two decades.

La-Toya Clarke-Nesbitt

Former principal of Allman Town Primary School, La-Toya Clarke Nesbitt, died after a brief illness on August 10. At the time of her death she was pursuing her doctor of philosophy degree in education at the William Howard Taft University in Denver, Colorado, United States. She also lectured part time at The Mico University College She will be remembered as a professional and transformative principal, who was an optimist at heart and was very passionate about education and had a zest for life.

MUSIC

David Augustus Reid, OD

It was David Augustus Reid’s voice that rendered the national anthem of Jamaica for the selection committee in Parliament before it officially became the national anthem. For over 70 years, he headlined and featured in recitals and classical concerts spanning many genres, with Jamaica’s premier choirs and chorales, including the National Chorale of Jamaica, the Operatic Society, the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company, The Diocesan Festival Choir, The Methodist Chorale, and Dem 3 Jamaican Tenors in the diaspora.

Dem 3 Jamaican Tenors brought together three friends – David Reid, Cecil Cooper, and Steve Higgins – all tenors, who started their performing careers in Jamaica. He died on February 12.

Peetah Morgan

Peetah Morgan, the lead singer for Grammy Award-winning reggae group Morgan Heritage, possessed a voice that some describe as the kind that came around once every 100 years. He died suddenly on February 25. He led the group, which he and his siblings formed in 1994, in winning the 2016 Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category for Strictly Roots. In 2017, they picked up a nomination for the album Avrakedabra.

Harris Lloyd ‘BB’ Seaton

A ‘Giant of Jamaican Music’ Harris Lloyd Seaton, more popularly known as BB Seaton, died on March 4 at age 79 in London, England. The reggae singer, prolific songwriter, and record producer was a member of one of Jamaica’s most outstanding musical groups, The Gaylads. The group recorded a series of hits including Lady with the Red Dress, You Should Never Do That, No Good Girl, Stop Making Love Beside Me, Love me With all Your Heart. He also co-wrote Freedom Street with Ken Boothe and wrote Swing and Dine for The Melodians. He wrote songs for other singers such as Marcia Griffiths, and Dennis Brown. He released some 15 albums and received the El Suzie Award as best songwriter and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Award in 1981-1982 for pioneering Jamaican music as a singer and songwriter.

Tony Wilson

Dance legend Tony Wilson, founder and artistic director of the Company Dance Theatre, will be remembered for his profound impact on the dance community as a pioneer, leader, teacher, mentor, and inspirational figure. His career spanned more than 40 years, beginning in his early teens as a student at Kingston Technical High School. Wilson went on to study dance on a full-time scholarship at prestigious institutions in the United States, including The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Martha Graham, and Dance Theater of Harlem. He initially formed the Company Dance Theater in Chicago before returning to Jamaica, where he continued his remarkable journey. Tony Wilson passed away on October 17 after a period of illness.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Architect Patrick Stanigar

Distinguished Jamaican architect Patrick Stanigar, whose work was dedicated to making a lasting societal impact, passed away in January. Born in Jamaica, he studied at the Pratt Institute in New York before returning home in the early 1970s to focus on projects that brought meaningful change. His body of work included architectural designs for individuals in inner-city communities, market buildings, affordable mass housing, residences, and schools. He also contributed to the revitalisation of town centres, particularly downtown neighbourhoods and commercial districts. Stanigar worked on notable educational projects in Jamaica and Barbados, including the Faculty of Law at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, and the Caribbean Development Bank headquarters in Bridgetown. He is also celebrated for designing the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

Dane ‘Blushy’ Foote

Remembered for his deep love for his country, and especially his home parish of Westmoreland, popular hotelier and contractor Dane ‘Blushy’ Foote was known for supporting political parties both financially and in kind, though he always vowed never to run for office himself. Born in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Foote passed away on July 31 at the age of 94. He was the owner of the Foote Prints on the Sands Hotel in Negril and served as a director of DR Foote Construction Limited, where he played a key role in constructing and maintaining numerous roads across Westmoreland and other parishes. One of his favourite sayings was, “You must try and leave the world a better place than how you came and saw it.”

Dr Robert ‘Tony’ Doyley

‘Generous to a fault’, funeral director Dr Robert ‘Tony’ Doyley, owner of Doyley Funeral Home in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland on August 15. He served as an organist and choir director in the George’s Parish Church in Savanna-la-Mar, and collapsed while playing the organ at the funeral of his longtime friend, hotelier and contractor, Dane ‘Blushy’ Foote. He will be remembered for his kindness, as he was always willing and ready to assist needy people in his parish and support worthwhile causes.

Hotelier Glen Bromfield

Hotelier Glen Bromfield, hailed as a “giant” in the local tourism industry, was a founding member of the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA) and the owner of the Medallion Hall Hotel in St Andrew. He passed away in November. He played a pivotal role in organising the transportation sector, ensuring safe and reliable service for both local and international travellers. In 2022, he was honoured by the Jamaica Tourist Board for his outstanding contributions and more than 50 years of service to the tourism industry.

Robert Russell

Robert ‘Ducksie’ Russell, one of the founding fathers of the internationally renowned Reggae Sumfest festival and owner of the popular Montego Bay waterfront eatery, Pier One, passed away on December 11 after a prolonged illness. He was 76 years old. He is hailed as a multifaceted businessman who operated ventures across different sectors. As a youngster, he worked as the assistant director for the 1972 film The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff.

As a versatile businessman, his business ventures included a real estate company, the first all-inclusive hotel in Port Antonio, Portland, called Little Madness, The Dení jerk centre, Feeding Tree Chinese restaurant, and the Central Express newspaper in Manchester. He also co-produced the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival for 10 years.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com