Beryl Spence has lived most of her life in St Ann, in and around communities of Claremont, where she was born, and Moneague where she has spent many more years. However, her philanthropy and hard work have had impact well beyond those communities where she continues to be highly respected.
“I just love helping people,” is simply what she says she enjoys most and likes doing most.
Helping and giving have been the common threads through her adult life. She has been awarded for devoted and distinguished service to the Ferncourt High school in Claremont, St. Ann (1994), outstanding and dedicated services to Golden Grove All-Age school and several community awards for volunteerism in the parish of St. Ann. Mrs. Spence has served the St. Ann community through her volunteerism as well as being on several boards and a member of various clubs.
Some of her other voluntary service includes being a part of the Jamaican Federation of Women, serving on the Rent Assessment Board, a member of The Friends of the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital where she served as treasurer from July 2002 until January 2016. “I have never accepted cash or kind for my works or efforts,” she revealed. “Everything I do is achieved through my own efforts and I take pride and pleasure in ensuring comfort in the lives of others.”
Her father Samuel Seow Choy was a businessman and her mother was Relva Jane Colthirst. Her parents were well to do and though, she had many brothers and sisters, they were never in need. Beryl Spence describes her childhood in Claremont as normal, with no great needs and because she was pretty, many took to her and made her a favoured child.
After her parents separated she lived in Moneague with her mother.
Mrs. Spence is one of the longest serving Justices of the Peace for South-East St. Ann since her installation in May 1975, more than 40 years ago. She has been awarded, rewarded and honored for her service by several of the institutions she has served in St. Ann.
She has served on many school boards. “I am not one of those who just go to board meetings and then go home. I get involved I want to help.” And many have come to know that they can call on her for more than the traditional. Thus, at Ferncourt High, Claremont, where she served as member for several years, she remembers the joy of giving year after year, to girls doing their Home Economics practical. She provided anything they didn’t have – scissors, baking pans, ingredients, aprons table covers… Teachers and even students would just send up to her house for what the pupils needed for their examination and expect the items to be delivered to help out the girls. Mrs Spence accepted that as part of her service.
Her service in educational management also extended to being a board member of Moneague College and Irons Mountain All Age School, among others.
“I love to help people, I only want to help those who can’t help themselves, the poor…” That passion and focus helped her establish the Friends of St Ann Infirmary that organized an annual Christmas treat and also provided goodies to the clients of the infirmary throughout the year.
Others in the business of service also came to know that Mrs Spence had a soft heart and often the means to help, so once something was about charity they called on her to cater. “I am one of the free caterers. If it’s free it’s me. Probably I don’t look like I want money…” she said. “But I always tell myself that my reward is in heaven and believe me I want to go there,” she laughs.
There must be much reward stored up because Mrs Spence often didn’t even take allowances that were available for her work. She recalls that even while was a member of the Rent Board in the 1970s she didn’t accept the travelling allowance that was paid for going to meetings. “I wasn’t doing it for the money,” she says.
A devout Anglican, she was born, christened and confirmed at St Matthews, Claremont though she now attends Christ Church Anglican in Moneague, closer to home.
She speaks highly of her husband former St Ann Parish councillor and deputy mayor Luther Spence who died March last year. She remembers him as helping to shape her life. “He said live your life that no one can ever point a finger at you.” She spoke of how he supported her in her public service and also gave as much as he could. She admired how outspoken he was.
She worked for many years at Alcan, Ewarton, where she entered the services as a clerk. She learned quickly and well. She emulated and respected one of the leaders during her tenure, Frank Lopez who was meticulous and very serious about the accounts. She said when she made an error “mi bawl”. That training and practice make her uncomfortable with the slip shod way some people, including those in high positions today, do their jobs.
Her work at Alcan proved to be the experience of a lifetime. She enjoyed her work and smilingly acknowledges that the benefits were great. She was able to forge alliances and form friendships and acquaintances which would later become a part of her social life. She ended there as a senior accountant, retiring after 30 years, in April of 1993.
At age 19, Beryl met and married, Luther Spence. “I did not know him from Adams,” she laughs. Mr Spence was from Westmoreland but came to work at the Reynolds, Jamaica Mines as a heavy duty mechanic. She recalls she had to obtain her mother’s permission to get married. There was no objection from either side of the families. This may be because before Beryl even met Luther, she was great friends with his mother and was indeed introduced to him by her. The couple’s union did not produce any children however, Mrs. Spence considers herself blessed to be mother to Mr. Spence’s young son, Jario Spence. Jario’s death at 28 years old was a huge blow and she still grieves his loss. Still, the lack of children in the home did not prevent the Spences from having a happy home. Community service was fast growing part of her life and public service part of her husband’s too.
After retiring from her services with Alcan, Mrs. Spence was now a full time volunteer in her community and was able to fully embrace being board member, treasurer and chairperson for several organizations, schools and charitable institutions. Her work continues and gets her full energy. Up to late last month she was recruiting members for the St Ann/St Mary branch of the Jamaica Cancer Society. Asked what she likes to do best, she told The Times: “I like to give. Not to take to give.”
