Managing director of L.P. Martin Company Limited in Port Maria, St Mary, Valerie Martin- Wellington, has an undying love for helping people, especially in their darkest moments and all she aims to do each day is to try and make a change in someone else’s life.“My mother taught me from I was very young that if I can help somebody, even with a word or song then my living shall not be in vain; so I don’t want to know their background if they come and it’s educational I will help,” Mrs Wellington told the North Coast Times in an interview. “My mother was like that. She had nine of us (children) and she took in a lot of other children, so maybe those genes got to me, so anybody I see and I can help I do it, and if I can’t help them I try to find somebody who can.”Mrs. Wellington is well known throughout St Mary and her commitment to help build the parish and its citizens is evident not only through her contribution to its economy, but also the many lives she touches daily.From as early as nine-year-old, she was exposed to the family-operated business, L.P. Martin, a household name in the parish for over 50 years. From that early age, Valerie Martin started learning about different aspects of the business started by her parents Leonard and Louise Martin.It’s the only job she has ever known and she has watched it grow moving from just being a furniture manufacturing store and hardware until it expanded into the funeral home business, the first funeral home to be established in the parish. “We saw the need of establishing a funeral home as we ourselves used to, apart from making caskets, we would take the deceased into Kingston to other funeral homes there. So we thought it would be more efficient if we could actually offer all the services,” she explained.For the 50 years that she has been associated with the business, she has worked tirelessly to ensure it remains relevant, despite the harsh economic situation and the reduction of the spending power of a lot of their customers.She acknowledges that it is through the strong support and commitment of her parishioners that the business has remained viable and this has strengthened her commitment to continue giving back to the community in whatever way possible.“I have been doing this over the years, paying for exam fees, school fees… I have a passion for young people because a lot might not get everything that they should get from home,” she explained that she spends a lot of her time trying to nurture young people.She has been a Justice of the Peace for the parish since 1994, and she told The Times that she was one of the youngest JPs ever to be appointed, up to that time. Through her office as a JP, she has also touched many lives, even offering counsel to some who are hurting or despairing about life. “On a daily basis, sometimes I see up to 40 people and that is with a fulltime business and I spend a minute just to give them some good words of encouragement…”She has also been able to reach and help a lot of people as she carries out duties in the Port Maria Petty Session Court. “Sometimes instead of making them pay a fine, you give them some community service,” she said. According to her, many cannot afford to pay the fine and by doing the community service they can contribute to the society.Mrs. Wellington is not a part of any voluntary group or club and a lot of the work she does is on an individualized basis. She explained that business and family commitment has kept her away from the Kiwanis Club for many years. However, that has not prevented her from fulfilling the joy and peace of mind she receives from helping others.
MENTORING
She told The Times that she has also personally mentored and cared for several children, one of whom was among five children whose mother died suddenly and whom she said took into her home at age 12. She said he excelled in high school and recently he enlisted in the Jamaica Constabulary Force and is in training at the Police Academy. “It gives me great joy, makes me feel honoured that I am able to do something to make a life better,” she explained.A longstanding member and treasurer of the St Mary chapter of Habitat for Humanity, Mrs. Wellington has also been actively involved in assisting persons in acquiring homes. She said the group has constructed more than 30 homes for persons in need across the parish.Mrs. Wellington explained that she has also assisted a number of families whose houses were damaged by hurricane, dating as far back as Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and has recent as Hurricane Sandy, in 2012 , to acquire or repair their houses. “Once it’s a disaster I try to use my influence to see how best they can be assisted, be it through the Parish Council, Poor Relief, Food for the Poor or other entities,” she explained.
GROUP INVOLVEMENT
As a member of the Highgate Gospel Chapel, she is also actively involved in the community outreach aspect of the church where she has assisted a number of persons. She told The Times that she is always contributing and stands ready to offer assistance to the shut-ins or any church member who is in need.
Over the years, she has sat on a various school boards and committees. Among those are Brimmer Vale High and Port Maria Infant Schools. Back in the 1980’s she was also deeply involved in the St Mary Women’s Federation.Mrs. Wellington has been married to Horace for 26 years and together they have three adult children. Her two sons are actively involved in the running of the funeral homes in Port Maria and in St. Thomas. Her eldest son, Sean is a director and manages the branch in Port Maria, while the youngest of the three, Steven operates the recently opened home in St. Thomas. Her daughter, Shelly-Ann recently graduated from University of West Indies and is looking to further her studies in the UK. Mrs. Wellington said her contribution over the years has been rewarding and she explained that she feels appreciated when people see her on the street and openly show their appreciation or gratitude for what she was able to do for them.
“I want to leave some footprints on the sand so people can say ‘that lady caused my life to change’,” she said.
