sturgetown

RICHARD TRACEY 'BROTHER DICK' 1900- BROTHER DICK, THE OLDEST LIVING RESIDENT OF STURGE TOWN, WAS BORN IN ABOUKIR AND SOON AFTER ARRIVING IN STURGE TOWN IN THE 1920'S TOOK UP THE TRADE OF CARPENTRY. HE WORKED ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. IN 1924 HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE TABERNACLE CHURCH WHERE HE WAS ALSO A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. IN 1928 HE WAS APPOINTED SUPERINDENT OF THE 150 STUDENT SUNDAY SCHOOL. BROTHER DICK HAS ALWAYS SHARED HIS SPIRTUAL BELIEFS AND HIS CARPENTRY AND FARMING SKILLS WITH ALL IN THE VILLAGE.
HUBERT HENRY 'BROTHER BUTTY' 1903- BROTHER BUTTY, BORN IN GREEN CASTLE, ATTENDED THE STURGE TOWN BAPTIST SCHOOL UNTIL HE WAS 15 WHEN HE THEN DID FIELD WORK UNTIL HE WAS 21. HE THEN WENT TO WORK FOR BENGI MOULTEN, IN BAMBOO, AS AN APPRENTICE BLACKSMITH. THE SHOP MADE SHOES FOR MULES AND HORSES, WHEELS FOR CARTS AND CROOKS FOR HARVESTING PIMENTO. IN 1928 HE WENT TO WORK AT THE LLANDOUVERY SUGAR ESTATE WHERE HE FABRICATED AND REPAIRED EQUIPMENT FOR THE 40 MULES THAT WORKED ON THE ESTATE. IN 1951 HE LEFT THE SUGAR ESTATE AND RETURNED TO STURGE TOWN WHERE HE TOOK UP FARMING FULLTIME. BROTHER BUTTY ALWAYS HAD A CART AND SEVERAL MULES, TWO OF HIS FAVOURITES WERE HOPE AND HARVEY. HE CONTINED FARMING UNTIL HE WAS OVER 90 YEARS OLD.
FRANCES MILLER 'FANNY BASIE' 1903- FANNY BASIE WAS BORN IN BAMBOO AND CAME TO STURGE TOWN AS A YOUNG GIRL TO WORK FOR THE PALMER FAMILY WHO OPERATED THE PALMER ESTATE. HER HUSBAND DIED IN 1943 WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR SEVENTH CHILD. SHE CARRIED ON ALONE WORKING TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY WITH HOE, PIKE, MACHETE, FORK, AXE AND EVEN HAMMER TO BREAK STONE. SHE WORKED LIKE A MAN! FANNY BASIE IS A DEVOUTED MEMBER OF THE TABERNACLE CHURCH AND WORKED TO KEEP THE CHURCH CLEAN AND TIDY. IN 2004 SHE SUFFERED A STROKE AND IS NOW LOVINGLY CARED FOR BY HER DAUGHTER REBECCA
LOUISE MCKAIN 'MA BETH' 1906- MA BETH, NEE LOUISE ANDERSON, MARRIED SHOPKEEPER TOM MCKAIN WITH WHOM SHE HAD FIVE CHILDREN AND MANY MANY GRAND AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. SHE ALSO HELPED IN THE RAISING OF MANY OTHER CHILDREN IN STURGE TOWN: THE CHILDREN OF POOR FAMILIES, THOSE WHO HAD BEEN ORPHANED AND THOSE WHOSE PARENTS WERE FORCED TO MIGRATE TO FIND WORK. MA BETH ALSO ALWAYS HAD A LITTLE TREAT FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN PASSING BY THE FAMILY SHOP, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO HAD NO MONEY
FRANCES HENRY 'MISS FANNY' 1911- MISS FANNY, NEE FRANCES HULL, WAS BORN IN STURGE TOWN AT THE FAMILY HOME, OPPOSITE THE ALL AGES SCHOOL. HER HUSBAND THADIUS 'TEDDY' DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. SHE WORKED AS A HIGGLER SELLING THE FRUIT WHICH SHE GREW ON THE FAMILY'S PROPERTY. MISS FANNY AND TEDDY RAISED TEN CHILDREN, EIGHT OF WHOM ARE STILL LIVING. MISS FANNY ALSO HAS MANY MANY GRAND AND GREAT GRAND CHILDREN
URSELINE JAMES 'MISS SALA' 1911- MISS SALA, DESCRIBED AS A TOWER OF STRENGTH BY HER LOVING FAMILY, RAISED ELEVEN CHILDREN WITH HER LATE HUSBAND HEZEKIAH. SHE HAS WORKED AS A HOUSEWIFE, FARMER AND SHOPKEEPER AND ALSO UNLEASHED HER CREATIVE SIDE BY TAKING UP SEWING. HER BROTHER LENNY TRACEY SAYS MISS SALA PATTERENED THEIR FATHER, ALEXANDER TRACEY: 'SALA IS EVERYTHING LIKE HER FATHER. SHE RESEMBLE HIM, WALK LIKE HIM, SING LIKE HIM.' MISS SALA HAS THIRTY-FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, THIRTY-FIVE GREAT GRAND CHILDREN AND TWO GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
KATHLEEN TRACEY 1912- MISS KATHLEEN, DAUGHTER OF JIM AND MARTHA EDWARDS, IS ALSO THE SISTER-IN-LAW TO DICK TRACEY. IN HER EARLIER DAYS SHE WORKED FOR A TIME IN KINGSTON. SHE MARRIED THE LATE JOE TRACEY AND THEY RAISED FIVE CHILDREN AND HAVE MANY MANY GRAND AND GREAT GRAND CHILDREN. SHE REMAINS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND EVEN TO THIS DAY IS A GREAT DANCER AND A 'LIVE WIRE'.
INA HENRY 'MISS INIE' 1912- MISS INIE IS BROTHER BUTTY'S SISTER. HER GRANDFATHER GAVE THE LAND FOR THE TABERNACLE CHURCH WHERE SHE WAS THE ORGANIST FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS.
CATHERINE LAWRENCE 'MISS MINNA' 1912-2006 MISS MINNA RECEIVED HER PET NAME FROM HER FATHER ALEXANDER RICKETTS, WHO SPENT SOME TIME WORKING IN CUBA. THE NAME MEANS DAUGHTER IN SPANISH. IN 1934 SHE MARRIED CHARLES LAWRENCE, A FARMER AND BLACKSMITH. IN 1936 SHE WAS BAPTIZED INTO THE TABERNACLE CHURCH. SHE WOULD LATER HELP START THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. MISS MINNA ALWAYS HAD A CAPACITY FOR HARD WORK: CARRYING BUCKETS OF WATER THE ONE MILE FROM MARLEY SPRINGS, GATHERING UP THE WEEKLY BUNDLES OF FIREWOOD AND DURING HER PREGNANCIES WALKED TO THE FIELDS AT THACTHFIELD TO COOK FOR THE MEN WHO WERE PLANTING CORN AND BUILDING A LIME KILN. SHE WAS ALSO AMONG THE GREAT PIMENTO PICKERS WHO WORKED ON THE TEN PROPERTIES AROUND STURGE TOWN. SHE IS SURVIVED BY FOURTEEN CHILDREN, 45 GRAND CHILDREN, 32 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN AND ONE GREAT GREAT GRAND CHILD
RICHARD T. JAMES Richard James, a son of Sturge Town, is celebrating a 43 year career in education. He began his career at Runaway Bay All Age in 1963, then Brown's Town Primary, Sturge Town All Age, Inverness All Age, Anderson Town All Age, Trout Hall All Age, Kittson Town All Age and most recently at Ocho Rios Primary. He retired from Ocho Rios Primary in January 2006. During his career Richard attended Mico Teachers College and subsequently became a school administrator. Richard said his most challenging, and rewarding, years were at Ocho Rios Primary, where his main aim was to provide a comfortable learning environment for teachers and students. He set out to improve the buildings, the yard and the general appearance of the classrooms and was instrumental in establishing a multi-purpose room for extra curricular activities and enrichment programs. The room also allows community members to provide guidance and encouragement to the students. He also established a music room, a computer room and a canteen. The current Principal, Herman Grant, says Mr. James built a lasting legacy, with charisma and charm. The school is now ranked as one of the best on the Island. Pastor Joseph Prendergast described Richard as a sharing, caring, hearing individual and an administrator who has taken the school to another level. Richard plans to continue his work as an educator, either with public schools, or perhaps through private schooling. He remembers most fondly his days spent teaching, more than administration, and is looking forward having more direct contact with students, particularly those who have dropped out of school. He encourages those considering a career in education to do so with a willingness and love for the profession and for the children. Richard has been supported in his career by wife Mildred and daughters Sydonie, Dahlia and Camille. He truly deserves the title, Teacher James. REFERENCE: North Coast Times May 18-24, 2007
Norma Blake-James Secretary-Treasurer Community Council	Colin Henry, Community Council Director	Carlington Lawrence
Remon Gooden, Ocho Rios High School Student	Trevor Byles, Goat Farmer - Big Time!	James

All Age School Teachers	All Age School Students
Frank Lawrence