PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica — Rachel Emeline Weise who died in her 107th year was laid to rest last Sunday in Prospect Cemetery, Port Antonio, after a celebration of her life at Port Antonio Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Weise was born on May 27, 1911 and ended her life’s journey on May 13, 2018, 13 days short of her 107th birthday.

Glowing tributes in word and song were given during the celebration of her life, starting with her cousin Vinnette Sutton giving praise in song with the delivery of There’s A Coming Day.

Junior Badarie, grandnephew, read a poem – When You Lose a Loved One, while three of Weise’s great-grandchildren, Nakita McLean, Le-Sonn Patterson and Chanecia Henry gave tributes by reading some of the scriptures their great-grandmother loved.

Nakita read Psalm 23, Le-Sonn — Genesis 28, and Chanecia spoke of some fond moments with Rachel.

“When I was younger, I used to sit by great-grandma and read the scriptures for her and when I say, I can’t do it, she would say you can read it. She would ask me to sleep with her and I would say, I can’t stay, and I would read sometimes from the phone” Chanecia recalled.

Daughther Carmen McPherson was upbeat when she remembered her mother.

“Mama, Aunt Rachel, Miss May, what a lady. She was a no-nonsense lady, she was firm, pretty straightforward — she would tell you like it is and when she was finished she would give you her heart. She was kind, very kind, and was always ready to help. She was also a very good cook — everyone loved her cooking. I remember one time when she was living in Jamaica I came to visit her and she would cook all these nice dishes, especially on a Sunday morning.

“Roast breadfruit ackee and saltfish, fried sweet potato, fried ripe plantain, steam callaloo, hard dough bread and chocolate tea. She used her two-burner stove and the wood fire outside in the kitchen to roast the breadfruit and the coal stove to prepare all of these dishes. She would come in and wake us up and say ‘it is breakfast mi making’ and when I got up, the table was spread and we would eat,” McPherson who, although mourning the passing of her mother, simply could not help but smile, said.

McPherson continued:

“Mom was a hard-working lady and could not stand lazy people. You must be industrious she would always say, and when someone was sick in the community, she would love to visit them and do what she could for them. She loved taking care of babies. I remember when I was a child growing up, a young lady had a baby and had no one to look after the child. Mama heard about it and called the young lady and told her she can bring the baby every morning and then she can go to work. I did not like that, as I know I would not get my play time as I would have to help with the baby, but I did not know she was instilling in us to always help someone that is in need without money.

“We did not have much but what she had, she shared with many. She had her ups and downs in life like most of us. God blessed her with long life and enabled her to travel to other countries.

“My mother, our mother, was an extraordinary lady; she was different in many ways and lived to be 107 years. She was born in May, she died in May. She had seven brothers; the week she died we were on lesson seven of Mark 24:25 and the topic of the lesson ‘Enduring to the End’. Number seven is a perfect number, so she loved number seven. Mama always taught us not to be fearful. So, mama, take your well-deserved rest.

“Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning; we will meet again. I love you from the bottom of my heart… Shalom,” McPherson said, now with tears flowing from her eyes.

Tanya McLean, granddaughter, delivered the eulogy. Here is part of her presentation.

“Rachel Emeline Weise, nee Roberts, was born in John’s Hall District, Rio Grande Valley, Portland, on May 27, 1911 and was the fifth of nine children born to Helen and Earnest Roberts. Rachel relocated to Bellevue after the death of her father, as George Aikens became her father figure. Rachel was beautiful and was admired by her community.

“She was sought after to be a flower girl at many weddings and many wanted her to be a bridesmaid as well. When she became a senior, she worked as an assistant teacher while in school, and after graduation she became a seamstress with a dressmaker. She also learned to play the piano and often played at church services.

“One evening as she stood at her gate she was approached by a young man who came to her and told her how beautiful she looked and was. He said he has been watching her and admiring how beautiful she was. She told him she lived in Portland and that’s where her parents lived. The young man wrote a letter to Rachel’s parents them and asked her to deliver the letter.

“To her surprise, the young man named Charles was asking for Rachel’s hand in marriage. He was invited to Portland to meet with Aunt Ada and Rachel’s grandfather, who drilled him to find out how he will be able to support Rachel. After the meeting they gave Charles permission to court Rachel, however grandpa Georgie was very curious as to how the relationship would go. “After a long courtship they got married and went to St Thomas to live and started their own family. The union produced three girls and one boy — Gloria, Carmen, Esamaraldo and Reginald. Two of them produced 10 grandchildren; Rachel had 33 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Rachel was a committed Christian in the Anglican Church and later as a Seventh-day Adventist.

“She was kind, loving and caring to one and all, and she loved her family. Rachel migrated to Canada and spent the greater part of her life with her family and lived a well-fulfilled life. She has surpassed the three score and ten by thirty-five years as promised. She had no ailments, no sickness, took no medication until she was one hundred and six. She lived a well-fulfilled life and was blessed with good health by God. On May 14, 2018 God saw it fit to take his daughter home.

“Rachel passed away peacefully with her family around and is greatly missed by her family and friends. She is now resting in the arms of God. Sleep on soldier, sleep on. Rest in peace, Rachel.”