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Farewell, George!

Published:Tuesday | September 15, 2015 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Erica Lewis, Krystal Pitter and Stephanie Bibeau at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas at the Montego Bay Convention Centre last Saturday.
From left: Murine Clarke, Joan Lee and Coleen Samuels at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
From left: Anna-Kaye Russell, Sandra Molyneaux and daughter Kellie at the repast for George Thomas at the Ironshore Golf Course in Montego Bay last Saturday
Best friend of the late George Thomas, Thomas George Tavares-Finson and his wife, Rose.
From left: Businessman Deon Dujon, attorneys-at-law, Michael Erskine and Lambert Johnson.
Myrtle Dwyer (left) and Rose Lee at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
From left: Attorney-at-law, Natalie Messado-Reid, regional manager at the Jamaica Tourist Board, Janice Allen and Resident Magistrate, Natalie Hart at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
Ali McNab (left) and Dr Cecil Aird, chairman of the Cornwall College Board in conversation at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas.
Attorney-at-law, Courtney Hamilton and his wife, Judy, at the thanksgiving service for George Thomas at the Montego Bay Convention Centre last Saturday.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

George Thomas built his offices at the corner of an inner-city community, five minutes away from his alma mater, Cornwall College, and two-minute walk to the courthouse, in the heart of downtown Montego Bay.

It was obvious that the man who was conferred with sixth-highest national honour, the Order of Distinction (OD) in the Rank of Officer, in 2010, for his outstanding contribution to community development, never wanted to lose touch with the common man. This was evidenced by the cross section of persons he represented within the legal system.

The late Cornwall Bar Association President, was sent home in style last Saturday (September 12) during a service of thanksgiving celebrating his life at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. His farewell function remains the talk of the town, and will go down in the history books as one of the largest funerals to take place in the Second City.

Friends from all corners of the world flew in and paid tribute to the man tagged 'Timo'. As painful as it was, to see him go, Thomas would probably have preferred to be toasted over a glass of white rum and Ting.

This was a fact, everybody accepted, so the celebrations were joyous and filled with camaraderie, no matter what political party you belonged to. In fact, George Thomas was a staunch 'Labourite', and the error of naming him a 'comrade' (friend) did not go down too well with those who knew how much he loved his green party.

"His political views were tempered by his love for country," was how opposition leader Andrew Holness described the man who has left a legacy that his family can take comfort in.

"A gentlemen, a consummate professional," was how judge Glen Brown, speaking on behalf of chief justice, Zaila McCalla described the late attorney-at-law, who was the 1965 DaCosta Cup team captain for Cornwall College.

"He participated in Pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and ran the 4x100 metres relays. He was an all-rounder sportsman," said Dr Cecil Aird, chairman of the school board.

Thomas also served as head boy of the noble institution, before gaining a scholarship to study in the United States.

Director of Public Prosecution, Paula Llewellyn in her tribute, read by young attorney, Adley Duncan, noted that the legal profession had lost one of its most sincere and positive exemplars. The country, has lost a really proud Jamaican man who loved his community. His family has lost a wonderful father and brother. His colleagues have lost a brother, confidant and a great friend.

George Thomas was killed in a collision on the Flankers main road in Montego Bay on August 20, 2015.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com