BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON

Life Tributes writer

cecelial@jamaicaobserver.com

THE Biblical story of Job tells how all his children were killed in one fell swoop and how, as if that were not enough, sickness ravaged his body. In spite of it all however, Job rejected his wife’s advice to ‘curse God and die’, choosing instead to rely on faith.

Fast forward to this century and see the parallels, though not on the same scale, with Aline Smith — a quiet, unassuming woman who, while fighting her own battle with cancer, lost a daughter to the dreaded disease, but who never gave up her faith in God.

At the thanksgiving service for her life at Phillippo Baptist Church in Spanish Town on Saturday, May 21, Smith was described as a “fearless fighter”. Officiating pastor Reverend Jeffrey McKenzie, who is the husband of Smith’s sister Esmelda, described her last days and spoke of her bravery in dealing with what was to come.

“She understood the terminal illness she was going through, (but) the reality of her life was established in Job’s words: ‘For I know that my redeemer lives and I will stand with Him on that day’.

“It was that hope and certainty that resonated on the lips of Aline,” he said, adding that Smith asked him to “put her away nicely” after she was gone.

Tributes flowed aplenty during the service, beginning with Coleen Edwards’ powerful rendition of Glacia Robinson’s It’s Not Over Now.

Administrators from Ardenne High School, Smith’s former place of employment, rendered Dottie Rambo’s Too Much To Gain To Lose, while family friend Ian Hird lulled the audience into an almost blissful state with the reassuring notes of To God Be The Glory flowing from his saxophone.

Smith’s brother Renford Bailey brought smiles to the mourners’ faces as he recounted some fond memories of his big sister. He spoke of his many visits to see her in Kilmarnock, St Elizabeth where she lived with her grandmother, the way she enjoyed playing the piano, and how proud he felt when she played for the whole church.

There was no mistaking the depth of his love as he quoted from one of her favourite songs: “Will you meet me at the fountain, when I reach the glory land? Will you meet me at the fountain, shall I clasp your friendly hand?”

Smith’s daughter Claudette, whose remembrance was read by family friend JJ Gumbs, described her mother as “the most brilliant, elegant, decent, honest, wonderful woman (she) ever knew”.

She was a hard-working woman who did whatever was necessary to ensure that her children were taken care of. It was no picnic for Smith taking care of her children, but through her resilience and self-reliance, they never went to bed hungry. At one point she operated her own restaurant.

“She was an excellent cook,” her brother recalled as he reminisced on the many delights she would serve up.

Smith was born Aline Bailey in Kilmarnock, St Elizabeth and later gave birth to five children — Sharon, Ian (sports editor at Jamaica Observer), Claudette, Joan and Dave. When it came to them, there were two things on which she didn’t compromise — church and school.

It dealt a blow to the family when Smith was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, but it also served as a motivation for middle child Claudette to change her career to nursing. Another, more severe punch to the family came in 2007 when Smith’s fourth child, Joan, lost her fight with the disease. During the ordeal, Smith, although facing her own battle with the terminal illness, which resurfaced in 2006 after a period of remission, kept the faith and was there for her ailing daughter.

Late last year the cancer hit with a vengeance, this time taking it’s toll on Smith, who, friends agree, “had fought a good fight, finished her course and kept the faith”.

Aline Smith was laid to rest at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St Catherine.