Priest: Learn from Fitzgerald Jeffrey's experiences

SAYING GOODBYE: Julia Mc Milan-Jeffrey and her daughter Tehilla Jeffery, wife and daughter of the late Fitzgerald Jeffery, gave the eulogy at his funeral service at the St Joseph RC Church, Vance River, on Saturday. - CHEQUANA WHEELER
SAYING GOODBYE: Julia Mc Milan-Jeffrey and her daughter Tehilla Jeffery, wife and daughter of the late Fitzgerald Jeffery, gave the eulogy at his funeral service at the St Joseph RC Church, Vance River, on Saturday. - CHEQUANA WHEELER

FITZGERALD Mc Arthur Jeffrey was a man who experienced failure and because of it, discrimination.

He was mocked, laughed at, became depressed and, at one point, felt so rejected he did not want to live.

His only daughter Tehilla, in one of four eulogies and reflections on his life, said her dad used this experience as a platform to excel and be an inspiration to others.

Jeffrey, a former La Brea MP, minister of state in the ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, and High Commissioner to Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic died on September 19 from a lung disease. He was 69.

He was laid to rest on Saturday after a service at the St Joseph RC Church, Vance River.

As she struggled to deliver the eulogy with her mother Julia at her side, Tehilla said her father was a genuinely selfless person who felt his purpose in life was uplift and raise the self-esteem of others to fulfil their God-given potential.

She recalled how as principal of Palo Seco Government Secondary he helped students who were failing, transforming them from bad boys and bad girls into top-performing students and now good citizens.

“My dad never gave up on them. He never gave up on people, because he understood failure, having failed his Common Entrance examination.

Julia McMillan-Jeffrey, centre, blesses the body of her husband Fitzgerald Jeffrey, former La Brea MP, alongside their daughter Tehilla Jeffery and Fr Wilfred John during his funeral at St Joseph RC Church, Vance River on Saturday morning. PHOTO BY CHEQUANA WHEELER

“He knew what it was like to be looked down upon and made it his mission in life to help others overcome their failures.

Jeffrey, a former bank supervisor, community activist and lay preacher, was also instrumental in establishing evening classes in Point Fortin at the UWI School of Continuing Studies for the elimination of poverty, La Brea Support Group for Progress, Foundation for African Culture, the Cedros and Palo Seco Enhancement committees, among other similar organisations, to motivate others

Tehellia, a medical student at UWI ,Jamaica, said he believed in her even when she did not believe in herself and instilled in her confidence and national pride.

“He was my best friend, confidant, role model and a good father.”

Julia, in a brief eulogy and expression of thanks for the support received, spoke of her 34-year journey with her husband, whom she met when she was a teacher. She said the Lord spoke to her and told her to marry that man and she obeyed, never living to regret one moment.

“He took me, a simple schoolteacher, to become the wife of an MP, a minister of government to High Commissioner to Jamaica. Mac, I love you and I look forward to seeing you with Jesus in heaven.”

Friend and neighbour Rawle Sylvester said Jeffrey called him from the Point Fortin Area hospital the night before he died.

“On Friday, at 9.51 pm, I got a call from Mac from the hospital. He said, ‘Rawle, I just called to tell you thanks. I said, 'Mac, thanks for what?' He said, 'For being a good neighbour. We lived as good neighbours, you know. You were there for me and I was there for you. We lived good, and I called to tell you thanks, Rawle, for everything.'

“We spoke for one hour and 21 minutes and 20 seconds and when Julia called me Saturday to tell me Mac had left, I heard what Mac was telling me.”

Officiating priest Fr Wilfred John said the lesson to learn from Jeffrey’s death is: never write off anybody.

“We must not write off anybody, not even people on the other side of the law. Jesus forgave Peter having denied him three times, he gave hope to the thief on the cross, just as he gave hope to Mary Magdalene and hope to Zacchaeus, a sinner he supped with.”

He said even though people were opposed to positions Jeffrey took, he never bore any animosity or bitterness towards them.

Remarking on issues of racism and separatism which cropped up during the election, John said people can either recognise the differences and tide these over with love and support like Jeffrey did or widen them with animosity and bitterness and spite.

“This is the choice, or otherwise the work of our brother Fitzy would have been in vain if we go back to division, badtalk and mauvais langue.”

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