NINETY-five-year-old Sister Mary Paschal walked purposefully into the Church of God Seventh-day Adventist on the Spanish Town Bypass, two Sundays ago, escorted by Marlon Campbell, principal of the St Catherine High School.

They were there to pay respect to Barrington ‘Reggie’ Scarlett, a man described by many as a “master of all trades” in the area of sports at St Catherine High and beyond.

He was described as a simple man who was passed by many on the streets without a second glance, but who impacted the lives of numerous Jamaicans, particularly in the area of local sports.

Scarlett impacted the lives of people like cricketers George Cross and Ewart ‘Branch’ Hamilton, footballer David ‘Ratty’ Jones, track star Bertland Cameron, entertainer Lt Stitchie, among many others.

Paul Brown, immediate past president of the St Catherine Alumni Association, said to many “Reggie” was and will forever be an icon.

“He represented so much that we admired,” Brown said. “He never stood in a classroom and taught, but when he held audience we learnt so much. He never took a formal coaching course but he taught many important values about competition. He showed us that having a positive impact on the lives of many young people was not defined by your status in life,” Brown said.

Scarlett, though seen walking barefooted on the school’s premises day after day, functioned as watchman, groundsman, coach of football, cricket and the track and field teams. He was responsible for coaching the first St Catherine High cricket team to have an impact in the U-19 competition. That team from 78-79 made it to the semi-final of the Tappin Cup, the first team from St Catherine High to advance to that level.

“That was the beginning of a legacy which has seen us becoming a major force in urban area schoolboy cricket,” Brown told the congregation. “Few things pleased him more than to see his students return to give back to the institution he loved. The one to which he sent his own children.”

Scarlett was employed as a groundsman at the school by Sister Paschal in 1962.

“When I saw Reggie I called him over and told him to pick up all the papers, and that was the beginning,” Sister Paschal said. “Then I went away and came back to the school and Reggie was coaching cricket, then football. I left the school in 1979 and when I returned he was still there. Reggie would say that I was his mother. And I am glad I kept him at St Catherine High.

Present principal, Marlon Campbell, said Scarlett’s passing was as if a limb was missing from the institution.

“Simplicity is the way to go when it comes to Reggie. He was very simple and loved unconditionally,” Campbell said. “He has left a mark on our hearts,” he said.

Scarlett’s 12-year-old son, Sacklim, described his father as one who would go out on a limb to make ends meet when it came to caring for his eight children and has impressed upon him the importance of hard work to achieve whatever he wanted in life.

Sigvard Bailey, past student of the class of ’75 and one of the first boys to enter the institution when it became co-educational in 1971, said because of his contribution to local sports, a petition was made to the St Catharine Parish Council to recognise Scarlett as a local hero for his service in the area of sports. Four years ago he was conferred with a national award.

Scarlett, who was himself an athlete in his younger days, had his career cut short when he was injured during football training and broke his knee. However, this only made him more determined to help others do what he himself was prevented from doing.

But it was Cleve Laing, DJ turned gospel artiste Stitchie, Scarlett’s adopted son, who brought the congregation to both tears and laughter during the eulogy.

“My name is Laing, but Reggie is my father,” he explained to the congregation as he tried to fight back the tears. “I only had a sperm donor, but it was Reggie I knew as my dad. He was not financially or materially rich but he poured out love in my life.”

He said Scarlett was the first to run 9.99 seconds over 110 yards, competing against the likes of Lennox Miller.

“In the 1960s to early 70s he was the best footballer and cricketer in the area, so he couldn’t resist the ball,” he said.

He added that Scarlett was so feared that no one wanted to compete against him.

Deacon Leon Baxter in his sermon reminded the congregation that every road had an end and encouraged people to be ready for their appointment with death.