BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Life Tributes writer
Sunday, January 26, 2014
THE time allotted for the reading of tributes for Enid Lucille Reece, retired principal of the Tulloch Primary School in Bog Walk, St Catherine, was too short for the four mourners to deliver.
Lynden Nugent, son-in-law; Lascelles Dixon, past student; Reverend Richard Anderson, and a representative of Soroptomist International Mid-Eastern Jamaica all agreed that the life, work and investment of Reece, who also served as a grade five teacher for nearly 40 years at the institution, could not have been crammed within an hour.
According to Nugent, the profession of teaching made Reece into the loving, kind, compassionate, and honest woman she was.
“Her stint at Tulloch was an engaging one as she had a real passion for teaching. It was her teaching career that allowed her to touch hundreds, possibly thousands, of individuals. It was not uncommon for her to be told by her past students, both here and overseas, how much they appreciated her guidance and positive impact on their lives,” Nugent said.
The service was held at St Thomas Ye-Vale Anglican Church in Bog Walk, St Catherine, the church she attended since her childhood days.
“Nearly all of us here this morning have been touched in some way by her life,” Nugent added.
He said Reece was a thoughtful teacher who thought about the needs and demands of her students for their success.
“The United States of America adopted ‘No Child Left Behind’ concept. Enid had made that her ralliying cry as a guiding principle when doing her job. One of her students remembers her philosophy that every child must learn and was capable of being taught regardless of their circumstances,” he said.
Before Nugent spoke, Lascelles Dixon, who was taught by Reece decades ago at Tulloch Primary, offered a tribute on behalf of the alumni of past students.
“I stand here today to pay tribute on behalf of Tulloch to this outstanding teacher par excellence. More importantly, we are here to recognise the tremendous contribution that she has made to education of literally hundreds of young people from this and surrounding communities,” Dixon said.
Dixon said Reece was one of the teachers of the 1970s whose primary objective was to ensure that her students learn, despite their socio-economic circumstances.
“Her formal teaching career began in 1941. She served for 42 years as a teacher of Tulloch School. She retired in 1982 and was asked by the Ministry of Education to serve as principal as she was an appropriate person to serve as principal of the school,” he said.
Reece received her formal training at Moneague Teachers College.
Reece also served as a president of the Soroptomist International Mid-Eastern Jamaica club.
She was among 35 professional women who were inducted then. She served as president between 1982 and 1983.
Reece was buried on in the churchyard.
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Enid Reece was dedicated to education
