HAILED AS KIND, LOVED, COMMUNITY STALWART
CLAREMONT, St Ann; March 13, 2025
A huge crowd of mourners turned out Wednesday afternoon, March 12, in Claremont, St Ann, to pay their last respects at the thanksgiving service for popular businessman and philanthropist Norris ‘Deedo’ Nembhard who died at 72 in January.
In a service at the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church, Claremont, Nembhard was remembered as a kind man who worked hard, understood business and assisted untold numbers of people.
He was remembered as a family man and one who was called ‘Faada’ by many who he helped with housing, education and covering basic needs.
(Outside the church)
Nembhard was well-known for years in Salem Runaway Bay where he had a construction and trucking business. His influence spread throughout the parish and much of Jamaica.
He was extradited to the United States and convicted for drug trafficking, in federal court in 2009. He was imprisoned there and returned to Jamaica in 2015.
(MP Ktystal Lee)
Among those paying tribute and full of praise for him were friends and relatives, politicians from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) as well as the pastor who delivered the sermon.
(Dr Kenneth Russell, Caretaker Candidate )
President of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Nevail Barrett said he grew up in Woodstock district where Nembhard was born. He spoke of encounters he, as a young man, had with Deedo that showed he was a caring and kind man. Pastor Barrett said every member of the community loved and respected Deedo. He said Nembhard built homes for many, paid for the schooling of others and enabled yet others with nothing, at holidays such as Christmas and other times, to be able to eat.
He said Woodstock had lost a giant and a man who had made an impact on the lives of many and contributed to nation-building.
(Minister of State, MP Zavia Mayne)
JLP Member of Parliament for North West St Ann Krystal Lee said that from the time she came to St Ann she was aware that Deedo was well known in the Runaway Bay community for his kindness. “Deedo was a stalwart of the community” she said. The MP said he was very helpful and available especially to the young and “gave them guidance.” He was “a businessman that people could call on from within the Constituency.” Ms Lee said. She asked mourners to “emulate those good qualities he portrayed.”
(Pastor Nevail Barrett)
PNP caretaker candidate for South East St Ann, Dr Kenneth Russel said he grew up one of the communities where Deedo was a household name. He said he admired the way Deedo was able to connect with people and support communities. To express the giving nature of Deed and his effects on people, Dr Russell se spoke of a man who he met at one of the events celebrating Deedo’s life who said he “did not know Government he knew Deedo.”
Dr Russell said for Deedo’s memory to live on, people should emulate his kindness his ability to listen and to say yes.
Zavia Mayne, state Minister in the Ministry of Finance and JLP MP for South West St Ann, said he had known of Deedo’s kindness for years. Mr Mayne said after his law studies, when he returned to St Ann “one name that came up as a constant was Deedo.” The South West St Ann MP said” everywhere you turn everybody said ‘Deedo a mi Faada’.”
He said people would turn to Deedo even where Government was not delivering…”the people believed in Deedo,” Mr Mayne said.
He described Deedo as “a very great man” who had made many people who are now professionals realize their dreams.
Mr Nembhard’s daughter Sophia Nembhard said her father was kind and generous. “He was a man who gave without wanting anything in return” She said he was a dreamer and risk taker and believed in business.
The programme included musical items of worship, including a song by Paul Harding and presentations by saxophonist Shamar Ledgister.
Officiating pastors were Wayne Barclay, Errol James, Devon Brown, Nevail Barrett, Daniel Whyte and elder Canute Whyte..
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