Centenarian celebrated as community hero

Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

THE CLAIM that Jamaica has only seven national heroes is one that is readily ignored in Manchester whenever the name of Lister Richards, a master builder, is mentioned in any circle.

Exhausting the Creator's allotted 70 years, Richards clocked in at 101 years old last year, and is well on his way to celebrate his 102nd birthday on October 19.

Richards is described as a hero by the residents of the various communities he has helped, particularly in Waltham district where he was instrumental in having a basic school built, during his sojourn.

The fifth of six children, Richards' life journey is one with many turns and curves, all an important link in his chain of life. Although moving beyond the century mark in age, there were several mishaps along the way which could have easily shortened his life. One such incident took place in his early years, shortly after his parents moved to Greenvale district in Manchester, in 1913.

According to Richards, during a hurricane some years later, he was in his room sleeping when a wall collapsed on him, and he had to be dug from the rubble. He also recalled that he nearly drowned while residing in St Mary - the parish of his birth - when the family dwelling was washed away.

The passing of his father in 1914, a year after moving to Manchester, did not dampen his aspirations to become a doctor, resulting in Richards trying his hands at many jobs to gain the financial resources to achieve his goal. However, it was not long before he recognised that his mother could not afford to finance his medical education.

A disappointed Richards opted to do what he termed the next best thing, applied for a job in the pharmacy at the then Mandeville Public Hospital, where he thought he would receive some exposure to medicine.

That road also proved to be a difficult one, as there was a cost of £8 per month to cover on-the-job training, of which he said he did not have the first "quattie". Not succumbing to hardships or disappointments, Richards, at age 21, changed course and took a job with a contractor who outfitted him with the tools he needed for the job. That move changed his life and fortunes for the better, and gave him the necessary skill capital to earn financially to support his future family. After purchasing a piece of land on which he built a small dwelling, he took the bold step of marrying the love of his life, Claris Brown, in 1937.

Seventy-three years have passed since they officially joined hearts and they continue to hold fast, rising each morning with the surety that they have lived a God-blessed life.

The union produced eight sons, 22 grandsons and 11 great-grandsons.

With a smile, he recalls the joy of owning his first motorcar in 1944, which he purchased for £55, and still has the sales receipt.

During a ceremony at Wesley Methodist Church to mark his 100th birthday in 2009, those in attendance were surprised to learn that Richards drove a car until he was 95 years old.

Massive celebration

Recalling the end of World War II on November 11, 1918, Richards said there was a massive celebration in the town of Mandeville, accompanied by the ringing of bells and the eating of bun and the drinking of sugar and water to mark the historic occasion.

The recipient of many awards, including the Paul Harris award from Rotary International, Richards entered the woodwork and construction business under his own umbrella in 1946. Hailed as one of Jamaica's chief lobbyists for safer and appropriate construction methodology from he entered the sector, he has constructed more than 100 buildings in eight parishes for private persons, commercial use as well as Government. Noted as one of Mandeville's highly respected citizens, his success was not without the support of his wife Claris, who operated her own dressmaking business.

With many stories to tell, Richards has a strong belief that having a good character and doing business with honesty and integrity should all be part of any business transaction.

rural@gleanerjm.com