KINGSTON, Jamaica — The thanksgiving service for the woman described as the “children’s champion”, Betty Ann Blaine, will be held on Thursday, July 25 at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew beginning at 10:00 am.

In honour of her vibrant spirit and wishes, the family is asking attendees to wear colourful clothing.

Additionally, persons are being asked to take the time to share tributes using the following website: https://www.forevermissed.com/bettyann-blaine/about.

The service may be viewed at Celebrating the life of Betty Ann Blaine.

Blaine passed away on May 13 in Georgia in the United States after a long period of illness. She was 75 years old.

The founder of Hear The Children’s Cry (HTCC), Blaine was described as one of Jamaica’s most dedicated advocates for children and a “dedicated, multi-faceted developmental giant” by the organisation.

HTCC was founded in 2002, and at the time, Blaine was referred to as children’s advocate, years before Jamaica appointed its first Children’s Advocate in 2006.

HTCC described her as “Jamaica’s leading advocate and activist for the welfare of children and their families, and for the eradication of poverty.

“Her body of work also included over 30 years as an academic and a developmental specialist, a dynamic leader in the Jamaican NGO community and in the call for honesty, accountability and transparency in national affairs,” HTCC added.

Blaine was the founder of two national organisations which provide urgently needed support for inner-city children, adolescents and their families. These are Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), founded in 1992, and HTCC in 2002.

She was a committed Christian and the proud mother of two grown daughters, Tarika and Monifa Barrett, and was grandmother of four and great grand to one.