A Tribute to Mom … Vil + Jos

Mom came into this world with a purpose to teach young ones and to serve her fellowmen.

Lorna Charlton was born on March 15, 1916, in Darliston, Westmoreland, Jamaica, and passed away on October 4, 2008.  Her marriage to Jeremiah produced four children- from the eldest to the youngest, Vilma, Jossette, Glen and Karl.   Apart from her husband, her children were her greatest confidant; so close were we all.  Many nights she chatted with us until we fell asleep.

We vividly recall as young children being drafted by Mom over our summer holidays to carry out all the domestic chores generally done by the live-in helper.  As was customary, the live-in helper went off on holidays to her home town in the parish of Westmoreland.  To our chagrin we were required to: clean the board floors throughout the whole house, first applying the dye and then shinning the board with a coconut brush; wash the soiled clothing with the use of scrubbing board and wash pan; iron the clothes ensuring that the little iron heated on the coal stove was impeccably clean before applying them to the clothing. Even helping to prepare the meals was sometimes quite painful as we very often grated our knuckles instead of the coconut, and if we were not careful the wood fire in the iron stove would go out if the fire sticks were not continually adjusted. Balancing a bucket of water on one’s head and walking from the riverside up the rocky road to our house, was also a skill which we fought to achieve.

Perhaps we did not consider it much fun then, but as we grew older we came to appreciate the tremendous value and experience of those early years.  For that we are eternally grateful to Mom.  She helped to prepare us for life away from home.  In those days life away from home could begin as early as ten and eleven years old, particularly for country children like us, who were sent off to high school in Kingston.  

Lorna Charlton, spent her entire work life in the primary school as a teacher.  Like her husband, Jeremiah, who was generally the Head Teacher of the school, she was very soft spoken but extremely successful in preparing children for the upper grades.  Students in her class received a good foundation as they prepared for another two years of studying, culminating in the sitting of the National Common Entrance Examination.

At church, she played the organ and also devoted a lot of time to choir practice, ably supporting her husband who was the Choir Master.  Choir practice prepared the choir for regular church services and special events.  One of these special events was the Annual Choir Competitions in the parish of St. Catherine, which they won on several occasions.  After winning for many years the trophy was eventually retired to then at the Point Hill Baptist Church.  Later she also played the Piano for school.  As a matter of fact her two oldest children, Vilma and Jossette, were given a very good foundation in piano, before pursuing it further, during their High School years.

We remember Mom as a remarkable mother, very affectionate and close to her children.   On this Mother’s Day we salute her.

We remember Mom as a remarkable mother, very affectionate and close to her children.   On this Mother’s Day we salute her.

Vilma Charlton, OD, Officer Class in the field of Education and Sport. Olympian 1964, 1968, 1972

Jossette Charlton, OD, Officer Class in the field of Local Government.

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