The frail, elderly nun contrasted sharply with the splashes of red, green and gold at the opening of the Island Revolution music exhibition in Seattle, Washington, two years ago. But she was there in her own right: the nun was Sister Ignatius and her story was described as "an important element of the exhibit".

The report from Seattle's world-famous Experience Music Project (EMP) referred to "the inspirational story of Sister Mary Ignatius Davies who provided music and instruments to students at the Alpha Boys School. known for its extraordinary music and band programme".

Sister Ignatius said her farewell to this life at the UWI Hospital last Sunday, but the exhibition continues to draw thousands and her precious collection of music will be preserved for posterity in the EMP Digital Lab. Even more lasting is the effect of her strong, saintly guidance on the young men she raised. The telephones at Alpha have not stopped ringing since Sunday, easy to understand since this loving "Mother" graduated about 200 children every year for the 60 years that she served at the home on South Camp Road.

Sister Ignatius

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw a music video a few years ago on TVJ showing Sister Ignatius shaking hands with one of her many sons, reggae singer Leroy Smart. When I called to tease her, she said in her slightly dry tone, "My dear, Leroy came by to visit and as I greeted him and looked up, there was the camera! I can't believe he did that - what a boy!" But you could hear the pride in her voice - yet another of her boys had done well.

Sister Ignatius was passionate in her calling to be guardian, mentor and advocate to thousands of Jamaican boys, many of whom came from the streets of Kingston. I remember going to Alpha to pick up one of her sons who had just completed his schooling, to take him to his first job. Sister fussed over him, "Here are your new pants and shirts," she tried to say firmly, but there was a quiver in her voice as she sent her boy off into the big, wide world. When things got a little rocky for him she would say, "He's just adjusting - I know he has it in him to succeed."
How very much she loved those children. When she called to ask if anyone knew of a job for an upcoming graduate, you could hear the unspoken plea in her voice. If the reply were positive, she would give her heartfelt throaty "Thank you". Here was a chance for her "big son".

Her "children" included the late great Lennie Hibbert, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook and Leslie Thompson who conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, Cedric "Im" Brooks, "Dizzy" Johnny Moore, Bobby Ellis, Eddie Thornton, "Sparrow" Martin, who now teaches at the school, and the audacious Yellowman.
"Dizzy" Moore, who was a member of the legendary Skatalites, said that he wanted so much to study music at Alpha, that he played pranks at home just to be sent there.

This is how he tells it to journalist Mohair Slim:
"I seen some kid next door to me. Beating off a mean drum. I say,
'Bwoy, where did you learn to do that?' and he said 'Alpha'. I said, 'Where is that?' He says, 'You can't go there', coz my folks they weren't the worst off. They were Seventh-day Adventists, they don't go with the Roman Catholic sentiment of things anyway, y'know? I says, "Whoa, I got to get to that place". Like I said, I had to pull a couple of pranks" (laughs).
The progressive, good-natured approach of Sister Ignatius and her colleagues comes out as the interview continues:
Slim: But, the nuns at Alpha didn't encourage you playing popular music?
Dizzy: Well, I wouldn't say that. Because at one stage in the school there was a
Dance band there. Guys pulled from the regular band and they had a little dance group going.

By his own account, Alpha had trained Dizzy Moore to be one of the best exponents of ska.
Regardless of where life took them, Sister Ignatius' sons rarely forgot her. She toured England and Europe with the late Sister Magdalene, a gift from an Alpha Boys School graduate who had done well in England.

Sister Ignatius took thousands of Jamaica's "marginalised males" into her heart and gave back to the society and the world, proud and productive young men. Surely, there is a message here for those who would rather curse the darkness than light a candle.

Last December at my office, I was told that a young man was asking to see me. The handsome, well-dressed gentleman brought the good tidings that he had completed a training course and was about to take up a job at one of our leading hotels. He was the same son whose clothes Sister Ignatius had fussed over, when I picked him up at Alpha six years ago.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," he said, "but I'm going to see Sister Ignatius first." She must have been so happy. Her faith had saved him.

Jamaican Folk Singers concert season September 6-14

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