Thanksgiving service full of songs, fond memories for guidance counsellor killed at gate
A wonderful teacher, compassionate guidance counsellor, devoted wife and disciplinarian is how Ena Murphy-Barrett, was described at a thanksgiving service for her life, Saturday, October 4.
Born January 10, 1962 she was laid to rest on Saturday at the Boscobel United Church, a month after she was shot to death at her gate, in Galina, St Mary.
Police have not charged anyone for the death.
The service led by Pastor T Chambers was one of praise and thanksgiving with many items in song and fond memories.
Among the many words that were said about Mrs Murphy-Barrett, her dedication to education and her intolerance of bad behaviour were the most deeply emphasised.
Ena Murphy-Barrett was found with gunshot wounds inside her yard on Thursday, September 4, about 9:30 p.m. She had just returned to her home in Galina, from church, and was closing her gate, when gunmen pounced.
She was reportedly shot three times in the back and once in the head The senior guidance counsellor at the Oracabessa Primary School for the last sixteen years, she was before that a member of the teaching staff.
Among those who gave tributes were Oracabessa Primary school, Ministry of Education Region2, The Jamaica Teachers Association, represented by president Doran Dixon, Oracabessa High School Board of Management, Pastor N. Murray, Race Course Citizen Association, and Bible Training Center for pastors. Many deplored the violence and spoke of the loss of a good woman who had been married for less than two years at the time of her death.
“Ena was obviously happier after she married her long life time friend and family friend Conn Barrette on December 9, 2012” stated Norma Johns, Mrs Barrett’s co-worker and friend while giving the eulogy she also stated that “Ena Murphy-Barrett was obviously a happy woman.”
Pall Bearers were her nephews Leighton Williams, Fitz-Albert her cousins Ainsley Martin, Andrew Martin, Garren Martin and husband Conn Barrett.
Among those rendering items were: the Women’s Fellowship, Race Course; Moneague Teachers College, Oracabessa Primary School Guidance Counselling Department, and Assemblies of Holiness,
She was laid to rest at the family plot, Mason Hall, St Mary.
