HUNDREDS of mourners from across Jamaica showered the late Arnett Gardens community stalwart Elsie Phang with praise for a life well lived during a service of thanksgiving for her life held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, on January 19.

Phang, mother of well-known sports administrator, race horse owner, music producer, and contractor, George Phang, was 75 when she died on December 31 last year.

Family friend Seymour Smith, in delivering the remembrance, described 'Ms Elsie' as a great lover of sport, especially football.

"Whenever Arnett Gardens win a match, she is the happiest person you can find. When it is a loss, she takes it very hard, but she always believes that the team will soon bounce back in fine style.

"Today the Arnett Gardens Football Club would like to return thanks for 'Mama P' for her contributions to the growth and development of the sport over these many years. They just want to say to the family that they will always have fond memories of her," Smith said.

"Collectively, all the children and by extension grand and great grand children remember 'Ma Ma' for her sumptuous meals, her Christian and spiritual awareness and how she believes that everything must be rested in the hands of the Almighty, as he knows best," Smith continued.

"As we reflect on the life of Ms P, we cannot avoid remembering her beautiful smiles, her warmth, her peaceful disposition, and she was someone who always keeps up to date with current affairs, and I know that at this moment she is just there smiling with us saying 'Do not weep for me, it is well with my soul'," Smith added.

Education minister and Roman Catholic Deacon Ronald Thwaites in his sermon urged mourners to fashion their lives off the rich values of the deceased, while describing the life that she lived as exemplary.

A trubute was also delivered by Justice Minister Mark Golding, who spoke on behalf of Member of Parliament for South St Andrew, Dr Omar Davies, while Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell was among those reading scripture lessons.

Several members of the music fraternity brightened the surroundings with renditions of popular items. Among those participating were saxophonist Dean Fraser and singer George Nooks.

Opposition spokesperson on sports Olivia "Babsy" Grange represented former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who is also head of the Premier League Clubs Association and president of Tivoli Gardens Football Club.

She was buried at the Dovecot Memorial Gardens in St Catherine.