SCORES OF MOURNERS turned out on December 13, to celebrate the life of Gwendolyn Eutilda Bryan at a thanksgiving service held at the Boulevard Church of the Nazarene in St Andrew.

Bryan passed away on October 29 after a battle with illness. She was 67.

Bryan, also known as ‘Euti’, ‘Miss Gwen’, ‘Mommy’ or ‘Grandma’, was described by her daughter Roxanne Maxwell as a strong believer in Christ, who was loved by all.

“She was loved and immensely respected by her friends and family. She was one of the few persons you encountered who genuinely cared. She was that special type who you could seek counselling from when you had a burning issue, she was the type who would lend a listening ear although a reply wasn’t required. Her endless advocacy for Christ would end every word of advice with ‘pray ’bout it’. This lady believed in trust; she was a cautious one. If she didn’t trust you it was a uniform emotion that anyone who knew her would feel. We would pity you, immensely so. She was a woman who observed the tiniest of details about one just to ensure that you deserved her loyalty– nothing was offensive, this was just her reality,” Maxwell said.

Though a woman of tradition who emphasised the importance of being domesticated, Bryan embodied the independent woman.

“She believed in a woman’s independence, she lauded a woman who exhibited these characteristics [being able to wash, cook and clean] and still maintained an air of sophistication,” she said.

Gwendolyn Bryan was born on January 31, 1947, the eldest of seven children.

“As a child she was beautiful inside and out. She was renowned for her smart mouth, friendly smile and hot temper that left lifelong impressions on those whom she encountered. She had ambitions of becoming a police officer, but after sitting and passing the required examinations she was appointed a blue seam instead of red. This she rejected. She proceeded with her ambitions by engaging in a variety of noble occupations throughout her life before settling in the latter as a domestic helper,” Rusheda Williams, her granddaughter said as she read the eulogy.

Bryan mothered five children and was known to be a strong disciplinarian.

“Her will power and cultural beliefs in the strength of the black woman motivated her to rear her children with a keen eye and firm arm. Consequently, Gwendolyn has five strong, hard-working men and women as her children,” Williams said.

Her favourite pastime was singing and she was remembered as one who sang at every opportunity.

“In church she was an active choir member and she loved to sing. While walking home she would be singing to herself,” she said.

Bryan was also hailed as a strong advocate for Christ.

“She was an activist for Christ, her Lord and Saviour. This I am sure many could relate to when she would repeatedly encourage one’s repentance and conversion to Christianity. Her advocacy for Christ and her demonstration of an endless love for her religion was executed to the very end of this beautiful soul’s life,” Williams said.

But, as fate would have it, Bryan suffered a stroke in early 2012, which she battled for two years.

“She has fought with every bit of strength and rock solid determination. However, on the 29th of October she succumbed to her illness in the peaceful morn at the Spanish Town Hospital,” Williams said.

“Gwendolyn Eutilda Bryan heard heaven’s roll call on the 29th of October and she eagerly answered. She is now forever gone to be with her master and creator. Thus, we now can all uniformly say ‘sleep on our beloved’. May she rest and heaven’s perpetual light shine upon her,” she said.

– Kimberley Hibbert