MALDON, St James — The unpretentious plaque outside Maldon Primary School’s Grade 6 block has a story to tell. It declares proudly that between 2004 and 2005, after being battered by Hurricane Ivan, the school was repaired by Digicel Foundation, which worked hand-in-hand with the Office of National Reconstruction.

With the school freshly damaged during Hurricane Melissa’s October 28 rampage, Felicia Wilson is determined to see another story told: One of community spirit that will come to the rescue of the school that played such a major role in who she is today.

“I currently serve as the senior regulatory health programme manager for the Office of New Drug (OND) Pharmacology and Toxicology Programme at the US FDA [Food and Drug Administration]. It’s a role where precision is non-negotiable, where every decision touches public health. The discipline that job requires didn’t begin in Washington, DC. It began in a classroom at Maldon Primary, under the steady guidance of Mr Russell,” Wilson said.

She was referring to Kenroy Russell who taught her for two years when she attended the school and later became principal.

“Maldon Primary taught me the meaning of community, but Mr Russell he taught me discipline, focus, and the importance of giving nothing less than my best. I can draw a direct line from my career to those early lessons: The attention to detail, the pursuit of accuracy, the expectation of excellence — that all came from Mr Russell. Seeing him again after nearly three decades and hearing him say he’s proud of me, that meant much more than he will ever know,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer.

“When you say, ‘Mr Russell’, I think of excellence, discipline; I think of a teacher who genuinely cares. No other teacher ever motivated me to aim for 100 per cent every single time the way he did. He didn’t just teach — he invested. He is, to this day, my favourite teacher, and the respect I have for him is, honestly, beyond words,” she added.

She also has a lot of respect for, and is extremely grateful to, Alice Smith who was Maldon Primary’s principal when she was enrolled there, for taking her into her home.

Wilson and her cousin David Wellington, who attended Maldon Primary from 1992-1997, recently paid an impromptu visit to Russell on a lazy Sunday afternoon, made even more so by the stillness of a community without electricity. Back ramrod straight and looking every inch the authority figure he has been over the years, even though he was casually dressed, Russell immediately recognised his former pupils. As they caught up, the discussion touched on everything from local to international news, geopolitics, and even cricket.

Wilson and Wellington then made an unscheduled visit to the school. It was a chance for them to get a peek at the devastation that slow-moving Category 5 Melissa left in her wake. Damaged electronic equipment piled in an unceremonious heap a safe distance away from the buildings. Beside them, a less-than-successful effort to burn waterlogged teaching material now useless after Melissa’s onslaught.

“Visiting the school on November 23rd felt like stepping into a memory and a heartbreak at the same time. As soon as I walked in, I was drawn to the [water] tank [where I used to wash my hands], the murals, the familiar landmarks of my childhood. But then reality hit. I saw missing shingles, roof damage, and, worst of all, a burn-pile filled with books, desks, computers, and electronics destroyed by the storm,” said Wilson.

It was also an emotional moment for Wellington.

“I had deep feelings of nostalgia. The visit brought back memories I’ll never forget. I saw the improvements made since I [was a student], but the devastation from the hurricane made it sad to see the years of improvements taken away in such a short time,” he said.

It’s easy to fall in love with Maldon Primary — even now when it’s not at its best, courtesy of Hurricane Melissa. The community school is nestled in south St James. And as you approach the apex of the gentle slope that leads into the courtyard, you will have cause to pause because it is hard to miss a sign on the tree to your right. Followed by praying hands, words painted in red say, “Did you remember to pray?” Devoid of a punctuation mark at the end, it is open to interpretation. It can be a question or statement, depending on the reader and the type of day he or she is having.

Every inch of Maldon Primary’s walls, even the stairs, is covered with bite-sized bits of information. Time tables, parts of a flower, national heroes, and so much more. It is clearly a place for soaking up knowledge.

Like so many in the community he once called home, Wellington is looking forward to seeing the school back up and running.

Wilson is determined to have a hand in that and she will draw on work she has done in the past.

“This isn’t my first mission, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’m a [US] Navy veteran. I served as the laboratory and ancillary services supervisor on the US Navy hospital ship, the USNS Comfort in 2009 during a nine-month humanitarian mission across seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. I also spent time in Waliso, Ethiopia, with Compassion International in 2019, and I also served on the board of the LoveWins Movement — this is a local non-profit that creates safe spaces for women recovering from addiction,” she told the Sunday Observer.

She is clear on what she must do for her beloved Maldon Primary School.

“My plan is simple: Bring people together through memory, gratitude, and responsibility. My husband Chris and I will personally cover the cost of materials to repair Maldon Primary. This matters to me because I know first-hand what education can do. My entire career — my role in public health, my work at the FDA — all of it traces back to the foundation laid at Maldon. So when I help to rebuild Maldon, I’m not just fixing a school, I’m honouring the people who invested in me,” said Wilson.

Former student of Maldon Primary School David Wellington during a tour to see what needs to be done at the educational institution post-Melissa.

Felecia “Jodene” Wilson and her cousin David Wellington (right) with their former principal at Maldon Primary School Kenroy Russell. Wilson is on a drive to rally the community to repair the school.

This plaque tells the story of how Maldon Primary recovered from Hurricane Ivan.

Felecia “Jodene” Wilson during a tour of her alma mater, Maldon Primary School on November 23. (Photos: Charmaine N Clarke)

Inspirational words are all over the school, such as this sign that reads ‘Did you remember to pray’.

Felecia Wilson leads the way as she and her cousin David Wellington enter the gates of their alma mater, Maldon Primary School.