90 years and still going

On Sunday, February 27, Kathleen Louise Bryan-Muschett, Jamaican educator par excellence, matriarch, was honoured by Mandeville's Mayor Brenda Ramsay on her 90th birthday, recognising 72 years of unbroken service as secondary school teacher and principal of Mitchell's Prep School in Mandeville.

The day's celebration began with a proclamation read by Mayor Ramsay at the Mandeville Parish Church eucharistic service launching the Clinton and Kathleen Muschett Education Foundation and the Support Educators Now Day campaign establishing February 02-04 as annual recognition days for these educators. The Reverends Dr Ken Thaxter and Seymour Blackwood officiated and music was provided by saxophonist Seymour Heron; Pam Pinto was organist with Olive Haughton and the Mandeville Parish Church choir also performing.

Congrats

Congratulatory messages came from former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. He acknowledged her as a "great Jamaican matriarch". Education Minister Andrew Holness who thanked the "education icon", described her as "an inspiration to all". Her nephew Ambassador Carl Masters shared the latter's sentiment.

Jamaica's United Nations Ambassador Raymond Wolfe said the "close family friendship produced pioneering work in community development"; while Jamaica's ambassador to Cuba, ADale Robinson, noted that the Muschetts' historical antecedents predisposed the family to global service. Joan Thomas-Edwards, Jamaica's deputy high commissioner in London, extolled Mrs Muschett's legacy in empowering others.

The Muschetts have given a total of 204 years to global education: her late husband the Honourable Clinton Muschett, educator for 54 years was a member of the board of the Jamaica Teachers' Association and its 1972 president. Daughters Dr Pauline Russell-Brown is a Tulane University lecturer and international researcher and Carol Muschett-Kirk, school principal and educator in the United States of America, is now pursuing her PhD.

The elder Muschett's numerous awards and citations include the 2001 Prime Minister's Award in Education and Shortwood Teachers' College (Alumni) 2001 Octogenarian Award.

Brunch followed at Golf View Hotel where 100 guests celebrated with fine cuisine, music and family history.

Sharing the occasion were mayor of Mandeville, Brenda Ramsay, Robert and Lorna Williams, Annette Powell-Scott, Denise Muschett-Wray, Peter and Gloria Grant, Charmaine DaCosta, Tony DaCosta, Karin and Howard Cooper, Jackie and Beverly Minott, Carolgene Williams; attorneys Owen Crosbie, Eileen Crosbie-Salmon, and Janice (Pam) Henry, educators Ena Jackson, Joyce Atkinson, Carol Bloomfield and several others.