Horace Lawrence was a man of the people

Life Tributes

BY MARK CUMMINGS cummingsm@jamicaobserver.com

Sunday, March 21, 2010

MONTEGO BAY, St James -- Family members and friends of Horace St George Lawrence on Saturday, March 13, packed the St John's Methodist Church to pay their final farewells to the late agriculturist, politician and community activist, who impacted positively on the lives of many.

"Everyone who knows Horace, knows his love for people and his caring ways which contributed to his philanthropic spirit," said Merlette Barrett Fender in her eulogy.

"Quality service was what he gave.......... one wouldn't know Horace as a politician in the Jamaican understanding, nor do I think he was referred to as one, as his work and service was never about party politics but about people, the Jamaican people, the not so fortunate."

A former People's National Party (PNP) councillor for the Welcome Hall division in St James, Lawerence died on February 25 in the Cornwall Regional Hospital after a long battle with prostate cancer.

He was 74.

Deputy mayor of Montego Bay Cecil Davis in his tribute, described the late Lawrence as a very effective and hard working councillor, whose character and integrity were unquestionable.

He said the late councillor had one of the best attendance records amongst councillors at the St James Parish Council, where he served for four years.

A farmer by profession, the former councillor was a member of the All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association and was integrally involved in the All Island Banana Growers Association and the Coffee Industry Board.

Fender added in her eulogy that Lawrence was instrumental in getting the Community Training for Empowerment programme to set up a campus at the Mount Edmonson centre in St James.

"His love for the training of young Jamaicans led him to physically go and collect the forms, have them filled out, recommended the young persons, stamped their documents, returned them and paid their registration fees thereby allowing them to access training in Hospitality," she said. " Because of his generosity there were more persons to access the training that had been anticipated and the Mount Edmonson Centre."

The first son of five children for Egbert and Edna Lawrence, Horace was born in Tucker, St James and spend most of his childhood days in the farming community of Kensington.

In a glowing tribute his sisters Gloria Roberts, Edna McCoy and Madge Mooney remembered him for his writing prowess and his generosity.

" He was renown for his kindness and generosity. He never passed students on the road; and he would put them all in his pick- up truck and drop them off at school," they recalled.

Throughout his lifetime, Horace copped many awards for outstanding achievements, mainly in the field of agriculture sector.

These include : champion farmer for St James in 1984; the Sam Sharpe Award for Agriculture in 2001; a plaque for services rendered to the 4-H Club Movement in 2002 and the Lay Magistrate's plaque for services to Agriculture, a little over three years ago.

Two years ago he also received a plaque for Long and Faithful Service to the People's National Party.

Reverend Michael Llewellyn who delivered the sermon urged the congregation to take a leaf out of Horace's book.

" His generosity; humility; and trust in God come what may, should be emulated," he said.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Geta, sons Horace Jnr and Shane, daughter Marcia, grandchildren, among other relatives and friends.

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Horace Lawrence was a man of the people