Alesia Edwards
The brutal and tragic murder of Ena Murphy Barrette, at her home last Thursday, September 4, in Galina St Mary, has left people who know her in total shock and disbelief.
Described as a very humble, kind, well groomed and loving person, Mrs Barrette, it was said, did not deserve such a wicked and cruel death.
“She was a very nice lady, well groomed, clean, hard worker, a committed Christian lady. She was everything you look for in a lady,” a man who identified himself as Mr. English and her landlord told the North Coast Times. “I never have any problem with her yet. I never heard her speak loudly, never see her with no friend and company, she was a good and decent person. My God, I can’t believe she got such a wicked and cruel death.”
He recalled that he last saw her on Tuesday when she visited his house to pay her rent and that they had a good talk about Jamaica and America. She had only returned from New York a week earlier, after spending time with her husband and other relatives.
It was a little over a year ago that she became married. She had no children.
TEACHER
Mrs Murphy Barrette who hails from Mason Hall in St. Mary taught at Oracabessa Primary for about four years until she was appointed guidance counsellor about 16 years ago. She was the senior of the two guidance counsellors.
She was a dedicated Christian woman and worshipped at the Assemblies of Holiness Church at Race Course, in St Mary. She had returned from church, about five miles away, Thursday evening,when gunmen pounced, killing her.
Principal at Oracbessa Primary, Hopeton Gordon, said Mrs Murphy-Barrette’s death, in such a tragic manner has been very devastating to the entire school population. He said she was a very lively person who enjoyed an amicable relationship with her colleagues and parents.
“She was a go getter, she was a no nonsense type of person, she was quite forceful, but gentle. She will make her point be known, but she will not brow beat anybody,” Mr Gordon said of the late guidance counsellor.
“She was not a talker, she was not someone who was overbearing, because of her guidance counselling training, she would agitate a lot for the children to ensure that the parents take their responsibility seriously,” the principal said.
Mr Gordon said she was very keen on children’s welfare especially as it relates to them being fed at school. The principal remembered her as a very rounded individual and one who was not easily ruffled. He said she was very lively and represented the school well over the years.
Similar sentiments were expressed by a colleague, Jennifer Hewitt who described her as a very kind person who got along well with everyone.
She recalled that the two travelled to Port Maria earlier in the day, Thursday, before her demise. She said they had a long talk and shared jokes.
“She just came from vacation time abroad and sometimes when she get back she take candy and pens and sometimes she will laugh and say ‘only one sweetie me have fi you’,” Ms Hewitt shared.
Chairman of the school board Claud Williams described her as a devoted and dedicated Christian who had a strong love and care towards children.
“She knew her job and she did it well,” he said.
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