Members of the Jamaica Observer Editorial team pay tribute to Ingrid Brown, associate editor – special assignment, who passed away last Thursday night after ailing for a few months. This is the second part of the responses. The first was published yesterday.

A life pleasing to the Creator

Despite her untimely passing, I am comforted by the fact that Ingrid Brown has lived a life pleasing to the Creator and was a true warrior at heart. Ingrid was a great friend, confidante, human activist and an overall strong individual. May her soul rest in peace. She will be dearly missed.

– Karena Bennett

Forever touched; forever grateful

My most profound memory of Ingrid goes back to 2007. It was the day of the Press Association of Jamaica’s National Journalism Awards. I was shortlisted, but decided not to attend because I had only been informed that day while at work, and commuting to and from Portmore during peak hour traffic would have been too taxing. When Ingrid became aware of the situation she offered a solution that endeared me to her forever. She went home, which at the time was not far away from the

Observer, and came back to the office with about three separate outfits, including jewellery and accessories. She, Alicia Dunkley and I prepped ourselves in the restroom of the Advertising Department. That night, when I walked up to collect the award for Best Human Interest Story, I was wearing a white empire waistline blouse and a black and white shift skirt from Ingrid’s wardrobe. I remain forever touched; forever grateful. Thank you, Ingrid.– Kimone S Thompson

A true motivator

Although we know that time and unforeseen occurrences befall us all, Ingrid’s death is a great shock to me. Not only did I admire her for her professionalism, but also for the fact that she was a true motivator and a really genuine soul. Ingrid always thought about others, whether it meant sending a co-worker who was leaving the company off in grand style or simply offering an encouraging word on a day-to-day basis. Her smile will be missed. JOL and the world at large has lost a treasure.

– Andrea Thaffe

Focused and purposeful

Ingrid was so pleasant and friendly to all of us in the Editorial Department, yet was focused and purposeful when performing her duties. Her work ethic was a feature I always admired.

– Sanjay Myers

The real deal

In life we meet many characters: we meet the person people want us to think they are. The Ingrid Brown you met, however, was not her representative; it was the real deal. When you interacted with Ingrid, she opened her soul to you and you could not help but be blessed by who she was. She had no problems teaching, no problems caring; her “how are you?” was a question requiring an answer, not just a polite remark. She led a purpose-driven, example-setting life from which I have been blessed. I hope to make her proud by allowing the seeds she has planted in me to blossom.

– Miguel Thomas

A good journalist to work with

She always tried to get the story. Once we went to cover an election at Tivoli and a police officer wanted me to delete my photos and I said “no” and stood up to his demands. Ingrid then said, “Joe, mind dem kill yuh.” But truly, she was a good journalist to work with. When we went to cover the North and East parishes and stopped to buy soup, she always offered to pay for it. I will personally miss her.

– Joseph Wellington

She never gave up on her God

I got to better understand Ingrid and her special brand of faith four years ago during the Summer Olympics, which were held in London’s East End.

Let’s just say that we both got to understand each other a lot better after those eight weeks.

Once we got back home, her face would crease in that infectious smile of hers as she passed my desk on a Monday morning to share that she had prayed for me at Sunday worship the day before. I would always thank her graciously and indeed remind her never to forget a sinner like me in her prayers. Her smile and soft voice reminded me that she always would remember me.

Ingrid confided in me about her big decision to study law, a desire she long had but, I reckon, was reignited when she met her full-qualified niece.

The financial challenges, I convinced her, would be overcome by her simply taking the first step. This she did and never looked back. Ingrid was very soon walking through Editorial with the air and confidence of a lead counsel. She’d flash that lovely smile when I complimented her on her suits and handbags.

All seemed to be going well until last Easter when she became ill.

Determined to get back to her studies, Ingrid, although not fully recovered, was able to complete her law degree, earning an upper second-class honours.

All that was now needed was another two years at the Norman Manley Law School, to be called to the bar!

This, however, was not in the cards.

Ingrid suffered a relapse, fell, hit her head and ended up at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

We spoke for a long time on Sunday, September 18, and again briefly on Monday. Ingrid remained confident that she would regain her strength and join her colleagues at law school. I felt confident, too – surely Ingrid’s God would not let her down!

As I stood at Ingrid’s bedside Wednesday evening, however, I saw that the woman who always saw the best in all of us needed a miracle.

Her beloved pastor Al Miller came and prayed hard for that miracle. I prayed hard for that miracle, too. Ingrid’s God would not allow her life to end now – not now – not like this.

Ingrid rallied all day Thursday until she could no more.

What little comfort there is to be taken in this is that at no time did Ingrid give up on life, on people, and on her God.

– Novia McDonald Whyte

A stickler for accuracy

Ingrid and I go way back. To say she will be missed is just too cliche for me. It’s so much more than that. Ingrid was the ultimate professional; meticulous, a stickler for accuracy and getting the news, while at the same time being mindful to certain sensitivities, and the lives of those who would be touched by whatever story she was working on, or editing.

But aside from all of that, Ingrid was a sweet, wonderful, considerate, incredibly ambitious, forward-thinking person. She was charming, and we had a very similar sense of humour that often had us in fits of laughter. Once Ingrid started smiling, or laughing, you had no choice but to do the same. We had many heart-to-heart talks, which I came away from either having something, or having a view I had not considered before. She was one of the best human beings a person could ever hope to call a friend and colleague.

– Alphea Saunders

A good and kind person

My fondest memories of Ingrid are the time we went in search of stories for the Observer North and East. We had a lot of fun. There were many things that happened that showed her really good side and how good of a person she was. It was just her kindness. I remember we once interviewed a man and when she was finished he said he didn’t have any money or anything and he was hungry. Ingrid had $2,000 and she took it out and gave it to him.

Another time we were driving through Portland and we saw a man on a donkey selling plantains. I remember the bunch had 11 fingers. She asked him “How much for the plantain?” and he said “$200”. She said “$200 for a finger?” He said “No, $200 for the bunch”. She said “No, you can’t sell it for $200. You know how much fi dat a town?” I remember her saying she can’t give him the $200 and she was digging for more money. I think she gave him $300, and she said she still did not feel comfortable because that was still too little for his hard work and it couldn’t even buy him a nice dinner.

It just goes to show the type of character she had. When she won the PAJ award for the sugar cane workers story, she came to me and said, “Kenyon, any time me get that little money you have to get something out of it, you know, because a me and you deh on the road. You take the pictures and we win ennuh.” She never said she won, she said we won.

Last year when I got a certificate of merit in the journalism awards, she was the one who encouraged me to enter.

On election day we worked together. We went to a place called Fruitful Vale. I climbed an apple tree by the roadside and Ingrid stood catching the apples and we joked that, as a lawyer, she would defend me in court when they locked us up.

– Kenyon Hemans

Embodied elegance and class

She was a sweet soul who embodied elegance and class in the office. In my interactions with her, Ingrid was the consummate professional. I will always remember the disarming smile, which made her warm and approachable and endeared me to her. I will sorely miss her. Rest in peace, Ingrid.

– Marshalyn Rose

Dedicated her life to helping others

It is distressing to know that I will no longer hear Ingrid’s soft, reassuring voice in times of doubt. One could count on her impartiality. She was a true motivator, whose strength I relied on during many difficult moments. She was a strong-willed, yet gentle, genuine soul. She dedicated her life to helping others with their battles. Walk good, my friend. My eight-year-old son, who loves you, has already asked God to take care of you “in the after life”.

– Arlene Martin-Wilkins