Arimians praise Morris-Julian as they say farewell

AS the funeral of Lisa Morris-Julian and two of her children Jesiah and Xianne took place at the Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima, on January 2, hundreds of people gathered in the park across the street, viewing the service on monitors as it was broadcast live.

Morris-Julian, D'Abadie/O'Meara MP and Minister in the Ministry of Education, died on December 16 in an early-morning fire along with two of her children which destroyed their home on Farfan Street, Arima.

As tears flowed and hymns were sung, some of those gathered spoke to Newsday, praising Morris-Julian’s character and the work she did for her constituency and beyond.

Clayton Blackman, who worked closely with Morris-Julian as her marketing manager, said she was more than a colleague and friend.

“Lisa and her family accepted me as a member of the family. I could call her any time, any day, any hour. And don’t talk about Jesiah."Jesiah, six, was Morris-Julian's youngest child.

"Jesiah and I had a bond from the time he started to talk. He could barely say 'Mr Blackman' – he would say, ‘Mr Blackmin.’

“As I’m saying this my pores raise.

"You can’t question God’s work, but it’s very difficult to accept it. I believe in God, I believe in the creator, I believe in Jesus Christ. But when things like that happen, what can you say? If we are Christian believers, we know that she and her daughter and her son are in a better place right now, and may their souls rest in eternal peace."Returning to discussing Morris-Julian, he went on, “There has not been a more sharing and giving person that I know.

"As a matter of fact she recommended me to be an alderman in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation and recommended me for a position on the state board.

"But that’s beside the point. The friendship and the manner in which she liked to give and to share, I think that’s what God had her here to do.

“We might say she’s gone too soon, but she has served her purpose on earth.”

Anthony Clement of Arima said he was especially saddened by Morris-Julian’s death after attending her father's funeral in 2023.

“She was there, and she didn’t expect that at the end of this year she would be gone too.

"She had been a servant of the people of Arima. I remember her father being around us and he used to bring her as a little girl, and even when she became a big woman she used to come around the area and still be with the people.

“She was just special.”

Rupert Radix of the NGO Banker’s Row recounted celebrating Carnival with Morris-Julian and her father.

“Since in the 80s her father always used to be on Vismac (music truck) on a Monday afternoon and we used to lift them up and put them on the truck.

"We were really close, like sister, like brother – we were just like family. We used to be around sharing good times together.

"So my condolences to the family. I will really miss her. She was really a champion in Arima.”