Her loving nature, disarming smile, confidence, strong sense of self, a sharp wit, love of words and competence as a journalist and communicator were among the characteristics of late journalist Janice Budd highlighted during a service of thanksgiving for her life at Swallowfield Chapel in St Andrew yesterday.

Speaker after speaker rose to tell stories, recall moments and share experiences from the life of the Spanish Town-born, Trelawny-bred Budd, whose work in media — radio, print and television — spanned more than a quarter century.

Vernon Davidson, executive editor, publications at the Jamaica Observer, the last media house where Budd worked, recalled the ease with which she transitioned from electronic media to print when she joined the newspaper in November 2010 as the associate editor of the Sunday Observer. Print, he noted, allowed her the opportunity and space to present her readers with in-depth information, covering stories from all angles that would often result in change on a national level.

“I cannot forget her story on Mrs Christine Allison Lindo, the former Mrs Eugene Mapletoft Poulle, who was one of four persons who had a direct hand in the creation of Jamaica’s National Anthem but who, before Janice’s exposé, was never recognised for that contribution,” Davidson related.

“In fact, the story also pointed out that Mr Poulle, who passed in 1981, was not recognised for his contribution. That story appeared in the Sunday Observer — the paper for which Janice was editor — on August 28, 2011.

“Two months later, on the instruction of then Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Mrs Lindo and Mr Poulle were awarded with the Order of Distinction at the national honours and awards ceremony at King’s House,” he said.

Former co-worker and close friend Karen Madden sobbed as she too recalled moments with Budd, whom she described as a beautiful soul.

Madden said she met Budd when Moya Thomas, the then head of news at RJR, employed her.

“We connected immediately, maybe because we are feisty and loud alike, and are drawn to challenging the status quo,” Madden explained.

“Arguments in the newsroom are legendary. The chatting spanned intellectual discussion, heated political debates, and invariably quarrels over nonsense. In a newsroom of strong characters it is he or she who shouts the loudest that wins the argument. So when everyone got extremely loud my Janice would say ‘May I speak. May, I, Speak’. Eyes would roll but Janice would speak and even if everybody else is shouting in patois, Jan was still in the Queen’s English,” Madden recounted to a large congregation predominantly comprised of past and current members of the media fraternity.

“Janice did not have children, but I would tell her ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ because of how she was with my daughter; from teaching her to use the computer when she was in prep school and I had to take her to work, to decorating the venue and doing her make-up for her sweet 16 birthday party and, of course, warning her that ‘Your mother is going to cry when she sees how beautiful you look’. She knew me too well. I saw my then 16-year-old baby and sure enough, waterworks,” Madden said.

The team from CVM Television used that medium to recall her days as a reporter and news presenter, while the National Commercial Bank, too, used a video presentation to pay tribute. The Shipping Association of Jamaica, her most recent employer, spoke to her analytical mind, empathetic style and referred to her as the consummate co-worker.

Budd’s brother, Trevor, recalled how his sister always entered into a discussion with relish, which made her decision to enter into journalism a natural progression. He explained that she had no fear of going into battle by herself and hence was never fearful when she was given her cancer diagnosis.

“She was asked if she questioned God with her illness and she replied, ‘No, yuh nuh. I believe He wanted me to learn from this., God was intentional,” he told the congregation.

“It is said Tuesday’s child is full of grace and that she was. Even when in pain she was always gracious, courageous and kind… Encouraging us not to worry about her and did not want us to be stressed. So let us not mourn like those who have no hope. Instead, live intentional lives for God’s glory,” he said.

That theme was further expanded by Pastor David Henry who delivered the sermon which spoke to finishing well for God’s glory.

“I saw a quiet confidence of victory in Janice… knowing that she finished the course and kept the faith. Finishing well is not about how long you lived, but if you fulfilled your purpose,” Pastor Henry said.

“She finished well, never in denial, but lived one day at a time. What about you?” Pastor Henry asked.

Budd, who was 49 years old, died on January 2 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her father Theo; stepmother Rose; brothers Garth, Lloyd and Trevor; sisters Carol, Pauline and Camille; nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.