Dear Editor,

President Rev Karl Johnson, Chairman Michael Fennell, members of the board, staff, and the entire Kingston Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) family extend deep condolence to the family of the late Barbara Gloudon.

When the Kingston YMCA experienced the devastating fire in 1997, it was Gloudon who, after two days, organised the first fund-raising drive to rebuild the YMCA. She brought Hotline to the YMCA and encouraged Jamaicans to help in her fund-raising effort.

She reminded the public of the nature of the work being carried out and the impact the organisation has had on people’s lives. The YMCA is extremely grateful for this as well as for her thoughtfulness in sensitising our people on the work of this noble institution. She read the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.

Another experience I personally had with Gloudon (and I saw her role as a social worker) was when, some years ago, I received a call from a past student of the Youth Development Programme (formerly the Street Corner Boys’ Programme). This former student called my office the Monday to update me on his progress, and I told him how proud I was of his success. By the Wednesday of that same week, I received a call to inform me that he was murdered. I was so distraught and the only person I thought of calling was Gloudon. She was on radio in the middle of her programme — Hotline — and she immediately had me on line, commiserating and encouraging me not to give up. This eased the heavy burden I was carrying at the time.

This was the mettle of the woman — never too busy to take a call, an excellent listener, and always ready to offer counselling when necessary.

“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” — Maya Angelou.

Sarah Newland-Martin

Kingston YMCA

Administrator/General secretary

kingstonymca@gmail.com