AS the remains of Enos Lloyd Barrett lay in the Kingston Parish Church, scores of persons, whom he dedicated his career teaching and mentoring, gathered to pay their last respects to him.

“It was his joy to see young men develop to become future leaders, in their own respects, and so he exemplified discipline and dedication in his work and in his life. It was Albert Einstein who said ‘only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile’. Enos Barrett lived a worthwhile life,” Phillip Jarrett, one of the many students Barrett taught, said at the start of his eulogy.

“He was motivated to see others succeed, even if it meant personal sacrifices for him. He was always driven by this desire to see young men excel academically. He had a love for the environment, and for those who may not have known, he loved plants dearly. He was a writer of short stories and an ardent photographer, for which he earned numerous awards,” Jarrett said with great vigour as he reiterated the life of his former mentor.

Barrett, a teacher by profession, entered the classroom in 1973 after graduating from Church Teachers’ College in Mandevillle. He joined the teaching staff at the Tivoli Comprehensive High School. He then left and joined Calabar High School, where he led a distinguished career in the field of education, for over 25 years at the Red Hills Road-based institution.

Barrett, affectionately called ‘Uncle Ted’, ‘Sir B’ and Enos by his relatives and associates, had a great passion for learning, teaching and mentoring the lives of the younger generation.

“Mr Barrett was not someone driven by money. I always encouraged him to go to a foriegn country and impart his knowledge on students there. But he would never go. He wanted to make a change in the lives of young men in Jamaica,” Jarrett said during his tribute.

The final tribute was offered in the form of songs by the Kingston Parish Church choir, of which Barrett was an active member. After the funeral service concluded, Lamar Rowe, a past student whom Barrett taught in his last year at Calabar, was stricken with grief. He described Barrett to Life Tributes as a role model and father, which Jamaica now severely lacks.

“In Jamaica, we need more characters like him. Characters who will contribute to the development of our Jamaican men. His life made a difference, not only to our lives, but to the life of the human race,” Rowe said.

Barrett was 64 years old. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

At Calabar, not only did Barrett act as a history and mathematics teacher for over two decades, he was also a fifth-form supervisor. One who was responsible for registering each student, within the realms of the classes he supervised. He also established the Calabar Scrabble Club with the aim of helping to develop language skills amongst the boys who were challenged with reading. He also established the Calabar Environmental Club — a club which makes students more aware of reasons to care for the environment.

Upon leaving Calabar in 2007, he taught at the Gaynstead High school. There, he also made a great impact on the lives of his students, as many students represented the school in their uniform at the funeral.

His funeral was held on January 8 and he was laid to rest Dovecot Memorial Park.

The image of his JCDC 2004 award-winning photograph was used as the front and back cover image for his funeral’s programme.