Flanker’s Ms Tibsy hailed for love of family, church and the PNP

Western Bureau:

Renowned political figure Geneive ‘Ms Tibsy’ McIntosh was hailed for her strong advocacy for the residents of Flanker, her love of God, her commitment to her church, and her fierce loyalty to the People’s National Party (PNP) during a funeral laced with tributes at the St James Parish Church, in Montego Bay, on Saturday.

McIntosh, seen for several decades as a forceful community stalwart who was not afraid to take on officialdom in defending the interests of her community, died on December 30, last year, just days after suffering a stroke that landed her in hospital.

The funeral, dubbed a ‘mass of the resurrection’, was steeped in the tradition of the church, where McIntosh was a long-standing member of the choir. The rituals included holy communion, the sprinkling of holy water, the blessing of the body with incense, and the reciting of the apostles’ creed.

Following a musical tribute by the church’s band, McIntosh’s daughter, Sandra Munroe Clarke, and her granddaughter, attorney-at-law Tiffany Barrett, jointly delivered a tribute to her, describing her as the ultimate mother figure, caring for the wider Flanker community in much the same way as she cared for her own family. Her generosity and advocacy for social needs were said to be exceptional.

Wise counsel, encouraging words

Attorney-at-law Henry McCurdy, a cherished friend, who grew closer to McIntosh when he entered representational politics, spoke of her wise counsel and encouraging words, which helped him navigate the political space, knowing he had an experienced campaigner to help him cross challenging hurdles.

Montego Bay-based attorney-at-law and PNP stalwart Clayton Morgan spoke passionately about the decades he spent on the political hustings with Ms Tibsy, recalling how she would ‘mash up’ party meetings whenever she felt the best interest of the party was not being served.

According to Morgan, even members of parliament and high-ranking party members felt the wrath of Ms Tibsy’s tongue whenever she felt they had fallen out of line.

However, Morgan said no one could seriously question Ms Tibsy’s loyalty to the PNP as her organisational skills and her recruiting capacity as a party delegate were unbelievable. He noted that she was one who never missed the party’s national conference for any reason, including ill-health.

Political aspirant Allan Bernard, who grew up in Flanker and experienced Ms Tibsy’s political skills and devotion to community life from his childhood days, eulogised her as a strong, compassionate woman, who was unflinching when it came to speaking up for the community and ensuring that social needs were met.

Ms Tibsy, who grew up in Montego Bay and was one of the many persons who was groomed for service at the legendary Montego Bay Boys and Girls’ Club, was an accomplished alumni of Mt Alvernia High School, where her leadership skills were first noticed.

Officiating minister, the Reverend Father Denston Smalling, the leader of the flock at the St James Parish Church, described Ms Tibsy as a devoted churchwoman, who not only served on the choir but treated her Christian calling quite seriously, including rearing her children and grandchildren in the Church.

Following the service, Ms Tibsy was given a rich musical ‘send-off’ by the Montego Bay Boys and Girls’ Club marching band, which led the procession from the churchyard to the main road. Her body was interred at the Dovecot of St James Memorial Park in Orange, St James.

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