RUBY Martin, who was best known for her campaign to save the Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston, was the consummate organiser. So much so that two weeks ago, she called up persons who knew her best and planned her own funeral service.

Scores of well-wishers, who gathered at the Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in St Andrew for her memorial service on Saturday, were told by Cedric McDonald, Easton Lee and Vivian Crawford of the last phone call they received from Martin informing them that she did not like long funeral services and that they were to keep their tributes short.

Professor Edward Baugh, who did the remembrance as she requested, said it would be ironic if Martin’s greatest gift to her beloved theatre should turn out to be her passing.

“It would be sadly, but productively ironic if Ruby’s greatest gift to the Ward should turn out to have been her death,” he said.

“It strikes me too, that if that should happen, not only will the result be a monument to her work for the Ward and our cultural life in general, but also a great fillip to the Kingston Restoration Project.”

Baugh recalled Martin’s early days growing up in Titchfield, Port Antonio, where they were both born.

“From childhood, Ruby Williams’ adventurousness and joy of life were active,” he recalled.

Noting that despite being the wife of a custos, Martin carved out her own space in the national consciousness by her philanthropic, community oriented work, most notably with Maxfield Park Children’s Home and the Ward Theatre.

In her tribute, Cabinet Minister Lisa Hanna said: “For us at the Ministry of Youth and Culture, ‘Miss Ruby’ was an ever-present, unrelenting spirit that engaged us daily on the special cause to save the grand old lady of cultural institutions, the Ward Theatre.

“Miss Ruby took on the leadership of the Ward Foundation and gave it her all as she ran the rounds of the corridors of government and private sector in her quest to save this Jamaican jewel.”

Hanna said there can be no greater homage to Martin than if persons pledged their commitment to the cause of the restoration of the Ward Theatre as Jamaica celebrates 50 years of Independence and the Ward, 100 years.

“Miss Ruby will live on every time the doors of the Ward are opened to the public,” Hanna said.

Martin was, for years, active in the Jamaica Cancer Society and the Jamaica Orchid Society. She also had special concerns regarding solid waste management.

Martin’s niece and nephew, Janeen and Andrew Warner, recalled their aunt as the family’s movie star with a ‘lead’ foot, because she was known for her “fast and furious” driving.

They described her as stylish; from her hair to her elegant outfits. She was described as a woman with endless energy, which allowed her to carry out her duties at the office, work at various charities and civic events, while carefully balancing her home life.

Martin was also described as a true and loyal Jamaican who was able to extract the best from people by encouraging them to be the best at whatever they did.

“She set a good example,” her nephew said. “She was a very driven individual who took her causes seriously and gave her absolute all.”

Martin died on April 7 after a long battle with cancer.