on Saturday, November 7, 2009

It was an event that all present would love to replicate.
It was an event that all present would love to relive.
It was an event that all present were happy that they had not missed…a memorable event.

The MBHS NY Chapter Alumni Association out-did themselves this time at the 23rd Reunion and Dinner Dance. The long standing foundation members were like proud parents who watched a small idea matured to greatness.

From as early as 8:00 p.m. patrons started streaming into the Bronx, Eastwood Manor Hall. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as one felt as if one was back at MBHS at the top of Highbury Hill. It was a sold out event of nearly five hundred people.

The singing of the US Anthem was done by Nicole Young. The Jamaican Anthem was performed as usual by foundation members Everton Samuels and Emerson Henry.

President, Charles Murray was an able Master of Ceremonies, regaling the audience while highlighting the purpose of the event. He encouraged friends and individuals to keep supporting the events and to generously support their cause. He highlighted the influence that the association had impacted. Students performed extremely well in the Science’s i.e. Chemistry and Biology over previous years extending a ten year period. The Alumni Association had issued over US$24,000 in Scholarships since the inception of the program in 1997. He proudly noted that that a number of our scholarship recipients were now university graduates.

The Principal of MBHS Mrs. Valerie Marshall-Lodge gave her usual concise report on the progress of school and commended the organization for its continued support.

Susan Davis was present from England to introduce the keynote speaker and her dear friend from MBHS.

It was the keynote speaker 1978 Alumni the Rev. Georgia Jervis (Gracie) that transformed the event into a dream-like occasion. She began her speech by highlighting all that she would not do. She said no financial advice would be given as that was not her area of competence, she laughingly made mention that in this day and age she had only acquired her first credit card a year ago. She also said that she would not be saying anything new. What she did say was that she would share some thoughts that were resting on her mind.
She then pulled us to a state of expectancy with the song….”It’s so nice to be with you” by……….. She spoke of memories of high school which took us all back to the corridors walking past the canteen as well as walking past the art room. She took us to the playfield watching netball and football against no less than Titchfield High School.
While we were reliving high school days she along with her accomplished pianist Harold Davis tantalized us with the song “Memories” by……………………She sharply swung us to reality reminding us that, while not all memories of high school were pleasant. We chose not to forget them. We should choose to forgive and grow from those experiences. She encouraged us to love and engage each other as we climbed the ladder of material success and achievement. Rev. Jervis made mention of her life long friends Shelia McDonald, Grace Oliver and Susan Davis that kept her grounded and highlighted events that reinforced our kinship. Her speech ended with another song.
It was standing ovation and expressions of love. Gracie was full of Grace.

Dr. Lincoln Ferguson, Vice President/Scholarship Director gave The Vote of Thanks.
Submitted by Andrea Owen-Boyd

The Party
The floor was opened for the Party by Vice President and Scholarship Director Dr. Lincoln Ferguson.

The partying and celebrating continued shortly after. This was also much fun.
Faithful patrons such as Janice and Merrick Reid, Caron Coburn, Karen McNeil,
Andrea McNeil, Andrea Kelly and the Leberts were present. Maxine Osbourne captured many photographic memories. Canada was represented with Kay Marie Sutton.

Dr. Brian James, President of the Jamaica Chapter had a great time. It was good to see him hanging out with Head Boy of his period Henry Collie and star footballer
Hugh ‘Trouble’Thomas. Rudolph Gordon of class of ‘82 and his family came from the Cayman Islands.

When the event ended people were charged to support the cause and to become involved with the activities of the association. The party ended with patrons holding hands singing the usual song “One Love One Heart” by the Late Bob Marley.
Submitted by Andrea Owen-Boyd

The Morant Bay Past Students Association Dinner & DanceThrills at the Eastwood Manor, Bronx, New York on Sat, 11/07/2009
Submitted on Fri, 12/11/2009 – 9:48am

The MBHS Association (NY Chapter) captivated alumnus, family and friends who came out to support the celebrity in the Eastwood Manor Ballroom on Saturday, November 7, 2009. The member group, with its Executives along with Rev. Georgia Jervis, Guest Speaker performed a wonderful rendition of the songs blended within her message much to the audience’s delight.