In his 100 years, two months and 23 days on the Earth, Victor Leopold Antonio Russell made an outstanding contribution to the financial, agricultural and educational sectors of Jamaica, mainly in the rural parishes.

Described as a giant of a man, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) stalwart passed away on January 13 of this year.

The thanksgiving service for the life of Russell was held on Saturday, February 25 at the St Paul’s Anglican Church in Chapelton, Clarendon.

Russell was born in the Seven Roads community, May Pen in Clarendon, on October 20, 1916 to Alfred Balfore, a tailor and Josephine O’Brian, a shopkeeper and farmer. It was through his mother’s farm that he developed a deep love for agriculture, one which was only matched by his passion for education.

“Teacher” attended primary and secondary schools in May Pen and each Sunday he would be in the local St Gabriel’s Anglican Church where he served in various capacities, eventually rising to be a catechist. After completing his secondary studies, Russell applied and was admitted to the Mico Teachers’ College in 1938 to pursue a degree in education. Russell strived in teachers’ college and, during his second year at Mico, he was well exposed to the bustle of pre and later post-World War II activities. From this he scribed an article entitled ‘Memories of World War II’. The article was printed in a 2006 edition of The Anglican.

After completing his studies at Mico in 1943, Russell relocated to John’s Hall in Portland and subsequently applied for and started his first job as a teacher at the Bellevue Elementary School.

It was while residing in John’s Hall that Russell met his true love, Ruby Velvet, and the couple wedded and became known as “Teacher and Ms Ruby”.

Russell, throughout his life, always held the opinion that education was the only way for a black man to climb out of poverty, hence he did what he could to assist his children, relatives and pupils to attain a proper education in order to effectively matriculate to a higher level of education and gain social mobility.

Apart from being a teacher at Bellevue, he also taught and headed the Mitchell Town, Park Hall, Upper Braxton, Allman Town and Belfield Primary (St Mary) schools, leaving behind many grateful parents, guardians and students.

“Teacher” was a forward thinker; being both headmaster and teacher, he taught his higher grades Spanish when it was alleged that only a few, if any, were doing a foreign language in primary schools. His efforts in the areas of school, farming and woodwork were also ‘before their time’. Of note was that every student, whether boy or girl, had to work on the school farm.

In a tribute from the Belfield community in St Mary where the Russells relocated to after spending several years in John’s Hall, Dr Morais Guy, the Member of Parliament for St Mary Central, described Russell as a “son of Belfield” and a “community stalwart who had a giant heart of gold”.

During his 17 years in Belfield, Russell helped its residents make various integral societal strides. He rallied the local men to plan and construct a basic school, he consistently recruited members for the local St Michael’s Anglican Church, and he also encouraged parents within the community to send their children to the Belfield All-Age school instead of enrolling them in schools outside of the district.

“Teacher was a visionary, a man before his time. In Belfield, he joined the then savings union but felt that more could be achieved, and with the support of a few members, worked unceasingly to form a credit union which materialised in December 1963 as the Belfield Co-operative Credit Union which then morphed into the St Mary Co-Operative Credit Union and now as First Regional Co-operative Credit Union.

Russell was an avid writer and in addition to his article published in The Anglican, he penned a book titled A History of the Belfield Branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, which was published in 1971.

The centenarian played an integral role in the training of residents to start and operate the community credit union and made sure that the various organisations located in the district such as the JAS, the Anglican Church and the Citizens’ Association were in good stead and had structural balance.

Russell was an all-rounder in life just as he was in cricket, his favourite sport. He was credited in Dr Guy’s remembrance as the person responsible for teaching residents how to hold a meeting using parliamentary procedures and order, as well as someone who conducted funeral services during all weather conditions.

Russell retired from his profession in 1978 and relocated to Wood Hall, where he would start his own farm.

Victor “Teacher” Russell is survived by nine children, 40 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. The Centenarian had a great love for God, education, agriculture and cricket. He has played in the game of life and scored 100 years, 2 months and 23 days — he came, saw, conquered, and left behind a rich legacy which deserves praise and admiration.

Rest in eternal peace, “Teacher”, a grateful nation thanks you.