IN addition to being ‘the best mother in the whole wide world’, Gladys Hyacinth Coley was remembered by her children as a disciplinarian, an ardent Christian, and a good seamstress.

Coley, who was affectionately called ‘Mamaglad’, died on September 22 and was laid to rest on October 18 after a thanksgiving service for her life at COOLJC Apostolic Temple in Old Harbour, St Catherine.

Coley passed away at the May Pen Hospital after ailing for some time. She was 87.

Her son, John Coley, who delivered the remembrance, recalled the love his mother had for her children and told of how she once carried him on her back to a doctor’s office when he became ill as a teenager.

She was eventually assisted by a neighbour who insisted that John was too big for his mother alone to be carrying him.

Coley elicited laughter with many anecdotes about his mother whose love for her church saw her travelling to her place of worship on a bicycle with her husband.

He recounted how a thief chased the couple one night while they were on their way home from church.

“Dadda pedalled the bicycle so fast, mama’s broad hat blew off her head and the thief cut it to pieces when he realised he could not catch them,” Coley said.

His mother, he said, insisted that her children attended school regularly and on the first day of the term she would say to the teachers, “Teacher, if them rude, beat them, but save the eye,” Coley said.

Highlighting his mother’s penchant for discipline, Coley told the congregants that she had a belt called ‘Dr Hit It Never Miss It’, which was made by her husband. “Whenever any of us misbehaved we would have to go get the belt, which would be used for our punishment,” he said. “Mama grew us up with the Bible and the strap. When she was about to beat any of the children she would quote a scripture to justify why the flogging was necessary.”

According to officiating minister, Pastor Hugh Dickson, “Jamaica was a better place when ‘Dr Hit It Never Miss It’ was around. He encouraged the mourners to bring up their children well.

Gilbert Smith remembered his big sister as a very special and dear person to him, saying that she played a major role in his life as she was the one who named him and her name is also present on his birth certificate as informant.

Grace Coley Harrison, who delivered the eulogy, said her mother was an ardent Christian, a good seamstress, and a very good singer.

Her beautiful voice, Coley Harrison said, could be heard at church every Sunday, as she was a member of the choir.

Pastor Currie, who delivered the sermon, told the congregation that ‘Mamaglad’ is gone, but they should take comfort in the belief that the dead in Christ shall rise first.

“God is with you. Talk to Him or cry out to Him,” Currie said. “His Internet will pick it up. God is waiting to deliver you.”

Gladys Coley is survived by husband Walter; children Sybron, George, Shirley, Paulette, Beverly, Janet, Olive, John and Grace; 17 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; care-giver Mildred; brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives, friends and church family.

She was interred at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens.