AINSWORTH MORRIS

Life Tributes writer

morrisa@jamaicaobserver.com

DELZINE Martin was remembered as a caring, selfless individual who always displayed dignity and strength.

The 87-year-old Martin was sent off in style during a thanksgiving service at the Bethel United Church of Christ (Apostolic) located off South Camp Road in Kingston.

Dr Lee Martin, one of nine children for his deceased mother, repeatedly used the adjective ‘great’ to describe her during his tribute.

He dubbed her a disciplinarian, who laboured hard for her survival and that of her children.

“I have a lot of memories of my mother. If I was asked to sum her up in one sentence, I would say that, ‘she ruled with an iron hand with a velvet blood’. She always meant what she says, and says what she meant,” Martin said.

He told the congregation that his mother’s top priority was ensuring that her offspring acquired a sound education.

“I remember her insistence of us going to school. She would quiz us each day when we got home. ‘What you learn at school today?’ I remember being told by her that we must ‘walk the same way to and from school’ I must tell you, lesson learnt,” he said, which elicited laughter from the congregation of mourners.

“I remember years ago when police used to lock up people for loitering, they locked up my brother. Somebody came and said ‘Miss Martin, dem lock up Carlton a station for loitering.’ She duly went, brought him from the police station and she took him home and said, ‘Look, a the first and last time me ago bail you outa jail,” he said.

Dr Martin added that from his childhood growing up in her household, she was a refuge for people, especially those who were homeless.

“Our house at times, seemed like a refugee camp. We were small and she never made that deter her, she still took in people. Sometimes we would come home and I would see this person and ask ‘Mama, a who that?’ She would say, ‘A one lady from down a Free Zone. She and her husband have some problem’ and she took her home. Although we were small, we all lived as one family,” he said.

Following Dr Martin’s tribute, was Tamara Carr, niece of the deceased who sang Beulah Land in tribute; Carmen Powell, daughter, who sang Amazing Grace and grandchildren George Carr, Rohan Richardson, Crimson Bloomfield, Jedidah Martin and great-grandchild, Kevaughn Carr.

They each stated various adjectives to describe Martin, such as, loving, caring, generous and compassionate.

George Carr said he lost his mother a decade ago, however, the day of the thanksgiving service for his grandmother, who lost her battle to breast cancer, was the day he felt as if it was his mother’s funeral being held.

“She was the person I called father. She loved everybody. None of my grandmother’s children can’t say they were less loved. She loved everybody, but she used to hide and give some a little more,” he said during his brief tribute.

Martin died on September 30 just a day before the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which was the disease that claimed her life.

Seeing her lifeless body was understandably painful for her loved ones and they wept openly, as the glass top casket which held her body, lay at the back of the church for viewing.

Martin’s remains were interred at the Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St Catherine.