IF ever there was an individual that epitomised the strength of the Jamaican woman then that person had to be Icy May Virtue.

She was not a rocket scientist or an astrologer. Neither was her name heralded among the many heroines that have put Jamaica’s name on the world stage but Ivy Virtue, affectionately called ‘Miss Mary’, played her role as a mother and homemaker with aplomb and honour and her works will be remembered by many, especially in the district of Cross Keys in Manchester for a very long time.

On Saturday, October 6 persons from all walks of life filled the pews of the New Broughton United Church in Cross Keys to pay tribute to a stalwart woman who is survived by 11 children, all of whom are productive members of society and nation builders.

The occasion was paricularly heart-rending for her youngest child CVM waether anchor Marlon Virtue, as the service was being held on his birthday.

In remembering his mother Ian Virtue referred to her as a disciplinarian who did not spare the rod.

“She was not one of those mothers who would say ‘wait till you father come home’. She make sure put it on herself. Mama was a pretty, strong black woman,” he said.

Miss Mary’s granddaughter Angelique Virtue also paid tribute to the dearly departed family matriarch.

“Fiercely protective, full of life, compassionate are words that cannot begin to describe my grandmother. She was miserable and impatient but loving and caring. She was a good grandma, a grandma that children read about in books,” she recalled.

Icy May Virtue was born on August 24, 1940 in Marlie Hill, Manchester.

In September 1967 she married Waldsworth Virtue and the union produced 12 children, one of whom and her husband, predeceased her.

In eulogising her mother, Aldith Virtue-Murray, spoke to her virtues and inner strength.

“Mama was the backbone of the family. She got things done. Her emotional strength cannot be compared to any other person I know,” she said.

Dr Grace Virtue painted a picture of a her mother as a complex woman who chose to lead a simple life.

“If live rewarded people for being good then my parents would have the best of lives. As impossible as she could be sometimes she had a heart of gold. She led a simple life but there was nothing simple about her. She loved God and she feared God only. She was a hard worker,” Dr Virtue said.

Apart from her 11 children, ‘Miss Mary’, is survived by 10 grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

Her remains were interred in a family plot at Cross Keys.

captions:

Children: Virtue’s children (From Left) Dean, Neil, Sadie, Richard and Marlon view the remains of the dearly departed mother.

Congregation: A section of the congregation which filled the New Broughton United Church.

Ian: Ian Virtue pays tribute to his mother.

Angelique: Angelique Virtue is a picture of concentration as she remembers her grandmother.

Comfort: Aldith Virtue-Murray is comforted by her friend Jakki Apollo after she eulogised her mother.

(Photos: Gregory Bennett)