It is with a sense of mixed feeling of sadness and mirth that Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) wish to announce that Gwendolyn Leanora Comrie-Smith, age 83, Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School Alumna, Dressmaker, ardent devoted loyal member of New Market Methodist Church, BOSA member and philanthropist; made her peaceful transition at her home at Jack’s Gate, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies at sunset on Friday, July 9, 2021.
A sense of sadness, because Gwen as she is fondly known as and called by her classmates and everyone in Jack’s Gate, New Savannah, Long Ground, Carr, Happy Hall, Flint Valley, New Market and other adjoining districts; has left a void in the lives of everyone that can never ever be filled! The writer of this announcement, is one such life that Gwen’s philanthropy has touched as she served others with compassion and humility.
I grew up in poverty in a situation where five days per week with no money from my parents to buy lunch, I attended Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School hungry and frail. Gwen, graduate of the school under the tutelage of H. B. Crawford the stern headmaster, was “Chief Cook and Bottlewasher” at the school canteen. Male students from the school fetched and carried bundles of logwood firewood from “Mass Bush” property on their heads weekly to keep the four legged Caledonia Wrought-iron Stove in the canteen going so that Gwen could prepare sumptuous tasty cornmeal porridge made with cinnamon leaves that was served in round stainless steel dishes with peg bread baked by Eric Watson’s Bakery at New Market.
The task and responsibility of ensuring that only those students whose names appeared on the canteen register was assigned to Gwen. Hungry, frail and not being able to join the line with other students to be served lunch; when all the students were served and Gwen realized that my name did not appear on the canteen list, Gwen put her job on the line and hid and served me lunch like all the other students. While the ethicality of Gwen’s philanthropy may be questioned by some folks, indelibly entrenched in my subliminal consciousness is the kindness and compassion that Gwen showed to me that enabled me to get a good education that has unshackled me from poverty and economic slavery.
This announcement will not allow me to relate in detail the many high school students from Beersheba Primary School for whom Gwen the Dressmaker, made uniforms free of cost!
Gwen’s service that she has rendered as an active member of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) since 2009, has also left a void that will never ever be filled! Gwen’s dedication, loyalty and sacrifice to the Association which struggled to source funds as the safety net and monitor for high school students from the impoverished peasant farming Beersheba Primary School Community will never ever be forgotten!!
A sense of mirth, because Gwen was always fully conscious that her primary responsibility was to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom she served with passion, loyalty and distinction as an active member of New Market Methodist Church where she served hilariously and humbly as Congregational Steward, Class Leader, Choir Member and Member of the Women’s League. Let us all rejoice and give God thanks that although Gwen became bed-ridden as time marched on; after being a shut in for many years, she ministered to everyone who visited her and the radiance of her pleasant warm personality was always a blessing to many in the community and elsewhere.
Gwen leaves behind her children Kearon Knibbs (Kay) and Donovan, grand-daughter Kimar Williams (Kimmy), Tax Administration Jamaica, one step daughter, one adopted daughter, five brothers, six sisters, nephews, other grand-children, great-grand-children, sisters-in-laws, members of her BOSA and New Market Methodist Church Family, Friends and Well-wishers to grieve and mourn her loss.
Funeral service for Gwendolyn Leanora Comrie-Smith will be held at New Market Methodist Church on Friday, July 23, 2021, commencing at 10:00 am. at which Protocols and Restrictions of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) will be strictly observed and enforced. Ms. Gwen will be laid to rest beside her mother Emma Coley in the church cemetery. Join the Funeral by zoom
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“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Etienne de Grellet, Quaker Missionary
Tribute from Sheila Coke Hamilton & Winston (Huntley)
To: Kay, Donnovan and the entire Comrie Family. Our Love and Prayers Are With You. Please accept our deepest sympathy as you mourn the going home of your mother. Ms Gwen as I fondly called her was my dresser maker as a young lady growing up at Happy Hall. I had the privilege of visiting with her about five years ago upon my return home. She is always a very pleasant, loving and caring person in the area, she will be greatly missed. We have that assurance that she is with her Master, so don’t weep as one who has no hope, she is just gone ahead of us. The scripture said Blessed Are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Matt 5:4. Continued blessings to the family
Boynton Bch, Florida
Tribute from Wilfred Holness
I do appear to be having problems responding to this very sad message. I recalled seeing Gwen for a short period when Vincent took me by her home in Jacks Gate during my visit to Jamaica in 2016. As a former student at Beersheba School, it is impossible not to remember Gwen because of her philanthropic endeavours in all aspects of her work and her communication with children. She was kind, pleasant and easy to understand. I recalled when I was nominated to help her cutting up Cheese for distribution among the students, and I remember how good she was directing the operation.
It is unfortunate that I shall not meet her in person again. To this effect, I send my condolences to her Family, relatives and all those who mourn her loss.
May her soul Rest In Peace.
Wilford Holness.
Tribute from Merlene Holness-Pryce
It is with deep sorrow to learn of the passing of my dear friend Gwendolyn Lenora Comrie-Smith. To Kay, Donovan and all family members, please accept my condolence on the passing of you mother.
Gwen was a loving, kind and caring person and will be greatly missed by all members of the Beersheba Old Students Association and the community. I know that she is in a better place and that we will meet her again when we all get to heaven.
May God bless and keep you safe during this time of sorrow
.
Merlene Holness-Pryce, Classmate
Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Tribute From Vincent Brown
Mrs Gwendolyn Comrie-Smith affectionately known in the Jack’s Gate District as well as in the wider New Market Community as Miss Gwen, is a lady whom I will always remember. Over the years from the 1950’s up to the more recent years when she was able to work, Miss Gwen was always a hard worker. She always engaged her self in gainful activities which I think were some of the reasons for her longevity.
Miss Gwen was a kind, affectionate and respected neighbour and any member of the Jack’s Gate district and New Market community can attest to that as a fact. Miss Gwen was an ardent church goer and a dedicated member of New Market Methodist Church. Come rain or shine, she would be seen walking down the Jack’s Gate main road going to church on a Sunday morning. Weather condition did not deter her from going to worship.
Miss Gwen’s profession as a Seamstress, made her a popular personality because entwined in the profession was her generosity – she often times sewed uniforms for students going to primary and high school without charging them for her skill and the precious time she spent on her Singer Sewing Machine.
As a neighbour of hers, I could always run to her when I had articles such as curtains to sew. Miss Gwen, you have been a dedicated worker, a virtuous woman and a good friend of mine as a student at Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School and throughout the years.
May you rest in peace now that your toil has come to an end. I shall always remember you as a good friend and neighbour.
Vincent M Brown, Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School Alumnus, Mico College Alumnus, Retired Vice Principal Beersheba Primary School, Member Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), Jack’s Gate District, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.
Tribute from Samieka Maitland
Rest in peace Miss Gwen. You were a true philanthropist all around sterling character. I remember you sewing my first two sets of uniforms for the commencement of my high school career at Hampton School, Malvern, Saint Elizabeth, free of cost!
This act of kindness placed me one step closer in my preparation for school and for your benevolence, my mother Juliett Mullings and I are forever grateful.
Sameika Maitland, Environmental Health Science Student, University of Technology (UTECH), Kingston Campus, Jamaica West Indies
Tribute from Gloria Samuels-Muir
As the third child of poverty stricken peasant farming parents who raised and nurtured me in the old board house in which I grew up on the hilly terrain at “Mount Ease”, Flint Valley, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies; I vividly recall being the recipient of Miss Gwen’s benevolence. Barefooted one morning, my parents sent me with milk in the shut pan which my hands held firmly by the wire handle – that neither my parents or my siblings could afford to consume – to sell to Miss Emma Coley, Miss Gwen’s mother at Carr Gate; Miss Gwen gave me two sets of school uniforms which I wore to Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School and Beersheba Primary School.
Your benevolence to me and my brother Vin Samuels, is indelibly etched in my memory and will not be forgotten. May your soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine on you.
Gloria Samuels-Muir, Beersheba Elementary Moravian Church School Alumna, Beersheba Primary School Alumna, Moneague Teachers College Alumna, Retired Trained Teacher, The Bronx, NY, USA
Tribute from Sister Vinnette Comrie
A true friend is never really gone. His/her spirit lives on in the memories of those who loved them. It is with glee that I fondly honour the memory of my dear friend and sister Gwendolyn, affectionately called Gwen or Auntie Gwen, who would intern call us Sister Vinnette, Brother Nev, Bro. Arthur, etc.
Sister Gwen was a beautiful and strong black woman. She did what she loved and love what she did. Gwendolyn taught us as siblings how to love and forgive. She created a legacy that we will never forget. Then, although we were not living in the same house, we saw and treated each other with the utmost sibling love. We would leave from Content to New Market to do the shopping and our father Noel Comrie would send ground provision and milk for her. Her influence was so impactful that my son Daniel (Danny) continued the tradition when he became of age and visited.
Another interesting and memorable milestone was at the late Eulalee Comrie’s Thanksgiving Service when we the daughters did our final rites as Paul Bearers from the church to the hearse. The repass afforded us the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with her next generation of children and grandchildren.
My soul is consoled knowing that Gwen is a woman of faith and I am happy that I was able to see her on my last visit on May 8, 2019. Sis Gwen, you have fought a good fight, I love you, we all love you and may your light perpetual shine until we meet once more around the Redeemer’s throne.
Vinnette Comrie, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica W.I
Tribute from Douglas Lawrence
It is with a sense of sad regret and loss that I have learnt of the passing of my dearly beloved Sister Gwen Comrie-Smith of New Market Methodist Church congregation. Sister Comrie was a very ardent and dedicated member of the church. It was always a joy to see Sister Gwen when I went to the church in my role as an Accredited Local Preacher. Church is never the same when Sister Gwen was not in the congregation.
Sister Gwen’s passing has left a void in the church that will be difficult to fill and she will be sadly missed.
May the soul of my beloved Sister Gwen rest in peace and may light perpetually shine on her.
Douglas Lawrence, Retired Police Officer Jamaica Constabulary Force, Author, Accredited Local Preacher Mount Osbourne Methodist Church, Jerusalem Mountain Housing Scheme, Santa Cruz, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.