Thursday 1 May 2025
HONOURING MY LATE MOTHER-IN-LAW FOR HER HUMANISM, FAITH AND RESILIENCY
by Eugene Omboli
I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my late Mother-in-law Vera Isolyn Officer-Miller for the loving memories she imprinted in my mind during our two live encounters in Highgate one hot spring of 2012 as well as during our multiple enriching phone conversations over the years.
Mama Vera as I affectionately love to call her just won me over at the onset of my first visit to Jamaica in Highgate in the Saint-Mary Parish. She connected with me from the get-go and kept making me feel at home in ways that exceeded my expectations from a native Jamaican lady. Moreover, she impressed me with her command of Congolese History, Geographical Acumen and Knowledge of the forefathers’ fight for African Unity in the post-colonial era. Above all, Mama Vera welcome me the African Way with open arms and kind heart like her own beloved son. She surprised me with a motherly tenderness I never experienced in this part of the world far away from the continental crib of humanity where I am from.
Since her departure to the other world after 97 years of wonderful lived experiences, I still reminisce her enchanting smile and genuine care for my look. I particularly remember the moment she admonished her youngest daughter who was my live-in partner at the time for letting me grow a beer belly. Moreover, I value her resiliency in successfully raising four (4) children with utmost love, care, and discipline through hard work, education, and perseverance. Above all, I cherish her exemplary life of Family, Fidelity and Faith demonstrated through sustained devotion to her Children and Church as well as Community service.
Vera Officer-Miller was born and educated in Richmond Road. She attended the Richmond Road all-Age School and the Kingston technical School. She worked in Kingston for a while before returning home. She got married to the late Clarence Miller with whom they had two boys and two girls of which Grace miller is the youngest that I married.
Her life as a distinguished Rock for her Family and a dedicated Community Builder remains a life-long inspiration to me and her still living three children who continue to miss her along with her fifteen (15) grandchildren and eleven (11) great-grandchildren across the Caribbean and North America.
Happy Mother Day Mama Vera and Keep DILIGENTLY watching over your loved ones from Heaven as you did among us here on Earth! Rest in Power!!!
Eugene OMBOLI
Woman of no mean order. An icon from the Richmond Road Community in the parish St. Mary. Richmond Primary was permanently by the Ministry of Education along with others. But this selfless lady said, “no it can’t work” so she became instrumental leading a team to the ministry for its reopening. She was the then board secretary. Vera led delegates very frequently until her request was granted. She was also patron of the Harris-Miller house for years. She was honored being the longest serving, hardest working and most influential secretary in the community. A woman of no mean order. A woman well deserved of all accolades lavished on her. Long live the memories.