Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
News
By DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Observer staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com  
February 16, 2010

Some never met him … But came to say bye-bye

GLORIA Johnson had never met Professor Rex Nettleford.

But the elderly woman would not let yesterday pass without saying farewell to the University of the West Indies (UWI) vice chancellor emeritus, simply because she “heard he was a good man”.

Johnson, who journeyed from Portmore, St Catherine, had to be directed to the UWI Chapel in Kingston — where the thanksgiving service was being held for the late professor — by someone she met on the bus.

“I don’t know him personally. But my daughter used to dance with him. From what I know he is a pleasant person who doesn’t pass you anywhere without saying ‘howdy do’,” Johnson said.

Her sentiments were shared by scores of other persons who turned up at the Mona chapel yesterday.

For Heather McGrath, it was her admiration of Nettleford’s brilliance that brought her to the chapel.

“I really, really admire him for his brilliance. He appeared to be humble, regardless of his accolades, and I appreciate that,” McGrath said.

One full-bodied, bleached-face woman — whose extra-short black-and-white dress drew the attention of many — confessed that she was there because he taught her dance at the Holy Trinity Primary School in the ’60s. Since then, she has had no further association.

“He taught me dance back then,” she said. “That, plus I hear that he was a good man.”

The chapel, which accommodates some 600 persons, was filled to capacity. Among the mourners were Prime Minister Bruce Golding and wife Lorna, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and husband Errald, former prime ministers PJ Patterson and Edward Seaga as well other local and overseas dignitaries, politicians, educators, cultural icons and relatives of the late professor.

Two large, air-conditioned white tents draped in red and blue and equipped with big screens and speaker boxes at strategic points, allowed those who could not be accommodated in the chapel to participate in the service.

With the exception of one person complaining about a “stiff neck”, the medical tent erected to the left of the chapel remained empty.

However, it was the media who felt cheated. After being presented with press passes, journalists were blocked from entering the chapel. Crews from television and radio stations had to do broadcast from outside, where possible, or aborted their efforts in some cases. While there was a media tent, this was soon packed with well-wishers, and reporters had to rely on the television screens and sound systems to know what was happening inside the chapel.

“This is really a very private, public affair,” one observer remarked.

That aside, others would have stopped at nothing to be a part of the function, especially those who said Nettleford impacted directly on their lives.

“He was my supervisor on my MPhil and PhD in cultural studies,” Alice Berry-Gayle told the Observer.

“He was phenomenal, down to earth and people who knew the other side of him would know him as shy, humble and very rooted,” she added. “No matter what he said or did, the fruit of our culture came out in that.”

“I haven’t missed anything with his passing because he prepared me well,” she said proudly. “He was not a superficial person and so we connected spiritually.”

Lois Osbourne said she first met Nettleford in 1970 when he was guest speaker at a graduation ceremony at the Moneague Teacher’s College. She was 10.

“He believed in the culture that everybody was running away from,” she reminisced.

“When I met him he told me I was a beautiful black girl and that I should accept myself the way I am. My sisters, who were light-skinned, used to beat up on me and tell me they would get further in life because they were brown. But he taught me to accept myself and gave me self-confidence,” she said. “I am here today because I want to celebrate his life. Jamaica has lost the brightest person this side of the Caribbean, and I doubt there is anyone who can replace him.”

As the service ended two hours later, the procession exited slowly from the chapel and tents. The urn with Nettleford’s remains was taken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force Bearer party to the university’s registrar’s office.

As the crowd gathered outside the chapel, persons got the opportunity to meet and hear stories of Nettleford as a boy from his

sister Daphne Riley who resides in England.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Nigerian military rescues 31 worshippers kidnapped during Easter church masses
International News, Latest News
Nigerian military rescues 31 worshippers kidnapped during Easter church masses
April 5, 2026
LAGOS, Nigeria (AFP)—The Nigerian military said Sunday it had rescued 31 worshippers seized from Easter celebrations in northwestern Kaduna state, tho...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gordon steps aside from PAC, shadow cabinet amid JACDEN probe—Mark Golding
Latest News, News
Gordon steps aside from PAC, shadow cabinet amid JACDEN probe—Mark Golding
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Leader Mark Golding has announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JACDEN Dennis Gordon has been instructed to step ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Irie Feelings’ hitmaker Rupie Edwards laid to rest
Entertainment, Latest News
‘Irie Feelings’ hitmaker Rupie Edwards laid to rest
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Rupie Edwards, the singer/producer who entered the British national chart in 1975 with Irie Feelings (Skanga) , was laid to rest on ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gov’t promises tech-driven, seamless experience at Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference
Latest News, News
Gov’t promises tech-driven, seamless experience at Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference
BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer writer 
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaican government has promised a delegate-friendly atmosphere for the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, scheduled for June...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica’s medal tally stands at 27 after Sunday’s first session at Carifta Games
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica’s medal tally stands at 27 after Sunday’s first session at Carifta Games
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica added five more medals- a gold, two silver and two bronze- on Sunday morning’s session at the 53rd Carifta Games, being held...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Leeds beat West Ham in shoot-out to reach FA Cup semis for first time in 39 years
International News, Latest News
Leeds beat West Ham in shoot-out to reach FA Cup semis for first time in 39 years
April 5, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Leeds reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 39 years as they survived a dramatic penalty shoot-out after s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump appears to extend Iran deadline in cryptic post
International News, Latest News
Trump appears to extend Iran deadline in cryptic post
April 5, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to extend by 24 hours his deadline for Iran to make a dea...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JTTA set to shine at Caribbean and Central American Championships
Latest News, Sports
JTTA set to shine at Caribbean and Central American Championships
BY KEDIESHA PERRY Observer writer 
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) continues to strengthen its position on the regional stage as Jamaica participates in a ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct