TWENTY persons from across St James were recently honoured by the parish’s Baptist Association for dedicated and meritorious service to their communities.

Presentations of citations and certificates of appreciation were made at the association’s annual awards banquet, which was held at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay.

Topping the list of awardees at the ceremony was retired educator and community worker, Sidney Haye Finnikin, a member of the Sudbury Baptist Church and the Adelphi community.

Finnikin, who has been the recipient of several awards from numerous organisations across Jamaica, was honoured by the Baptist Association for over 40 years of dedicated service to education and the church. He received the St James Baptist Association Parish Plaque and Citation.

During his vibrant years in the classroom, Finnikin served in nine schools within five parishes and was principal in four of these. And according to his citation, even though he had retired from the classroom some 25 years ago, he continued to be a valiant soldier for the Lord and his fellowmen, nurturing many young and older ones into becoming successful and valuable citizens.

“Truly, your success is not determined by accumulation but by contribution… you seem energised by any activity that fosters the upliftment of humanity,” said Vanessa Binns who read the citation. “Your indomitable and jovial personality has endeared you to the members of your community and you have shared your life well.”

In his presentation, guest speaker, Hixwell Douglas, urged other society members to always strive to give quality service to their fellowmen.

“We should all strive to get rid of all obstacles and reach out to others, doing our best for humanity… as service is an investment in our own destiny,” he charged. “Seek for the invisible, feel for the intangible and make sure to achieve the impossible… What we do for ourselves alone, dies with us; but what we do for others remains and is immortal.”