Hubert Lawrence remembered as humble professional who pursued excellence
SPORTS journalist Hubert Lawrence was on Saturday remembered as a humble man despite his large presence, and a professional who not only acquired knowledge but “relentlessly pursued excellence”.
“The dominating thought [at this service] must be that he was a man who perfected his craft by devoting his time and effort to refining his abilities and expertise in his chosen field,” Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange told the large number of Jamaicans attending the Mass of Resurrection in celebration of the life of the highly respected track and field analyst at Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega in Spanish Town, St Catherine.
“He went beyond simply acquiring knowledge; he relentlessly pursued excellence. Hubert brought the world of athletics to life through his captivating writing and commentary. His ability to present insightful analyses, to craft compelling narrative, was without challenge,” Grange said of the man whose sudden passing on February 23, 2024 shocked the country and global athletics community.
“We must honour his legacy by continuing his work so I’m calling on the generation of sports journalists and analysts following Hubert to let his work be a constant reminder of how good you could become as you serve your readership, your listenership, and your viewership,” Grange said
She renewed a call she made some years ago, after the passing of Gleaner journalist Gelnroy Sinclair, for the re-establishment of a Sports Journalists Association of Jamaica, and in a final salute to Lawrence said, “Hubert, yours was more than a gold medal performance. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Lawrence’s nephew, Kaream Lawrence, described his uncle as “a humble man who never bragged to me about his achievements, even though he could have”.
“He had such a large presence — not an intimidating presence, but one of warmth and kindness,” said Kaream.
“My uncle always put others before himself, and he gave his life to his family and his country. He was the strongest man that I knew; he never turned away from adversity. He’s a man who experienced tragedy over and over again but yet you never saw it in his appearance or his demeanour. He did not allow tragedy, death [or] sadness to overcome him,” Kaream shared.
Michael Grant, a schoolmate of the track and field guru, recalled their days at St Jago High playing table tennis.
“He became a mainstay of the school team,” Grant said of his friend. “I could easily find him where table tennis was being played in Spanish Town — at St Jago, the fire station, Ensom City community centre, or at the homes of schoolmates,” Grant told the congregation.
“We practised for what must have been thousands of hours over the years, and although I was the one to make national junior and senior squads I always took time to connect with him through the sport,” he said.
Lawrence, who died at his home in St Catherine, was 63 years old. He was interred at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St Catherine.