Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Marcia Bennett accepts the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander class from Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall. She was conferred with the honour for her contribution to civic and community service. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Luvs, all too often we see some people being honoured for their supposed service to their community. Not only is the community unaware of the service, the unspoken truth is that the recipient has friends in high places, or is being rewarded for partisan political reasons.

Needless to say, that not only does the practice devalue the spirit of the national award itself, it also devalues the work of those hard-working selfless honorees, who are placed into the same category as the self-serving political waggonists or lobbyists.

The truth be told, however, when this happens, no one is fooled, especially those who have had these awards bestowed upon them, not their concentric circle, and most certainly, not the community!

Well, last Monday, being National Heroes Day, when the nation acknowledges the contribution of our national heroes, and applaud the continuing contribution of the many whose work continues to help in the moulding of our nation.

well-known philanthropist

One such honoree was the esteemed Mrs. Marcia Bennett, the well-known philanthropist and social interventionist, and Custos of the Parish of St. Thomas. Elegant of unimpeachable sophistication, Custos Bennett was undoubtedly one of the very deserving honorees this year.

Now, here is a true humanitarian, not given to cheque-book philanthropy, but a dedicated and committed hard-working daughter of Jamaica, who has given over 30 plus years of her life, to the cause of social volunteerism, both at the side of her late husband, Bill Bennett, of Morant Bay, and independently, following his passing, 10 years ago.

Almost a life-long member of the Lions Club, Mrs. Bennett has served that organisation and the various charitable causes over the many years, with admirable distinction, and in the process was elected by her peers as the certified president of the Lioness Club, and first ever, female president of the Lions Club, earning the highest award in Lionism - The Melvin Jones Fellow - for dedicated humanitarian services, Lions Clubs International.

She still found time for further community service as not only as custos for the last three years, but also as a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, holding the position of past chairman of the Council of Churches for St. Thomas Catholic Churches, and president of the church council. She is also a board member of Morant Bay High School, Paul Bogle Vocational Institute, and Diabetic Association St. Thomas chapter.

life of service

And so in being invested with the rank of Commander of the Order of Distinction, the nation has honoured one of its more giving daughters, as she is a living exemplar of a life of service above and beyond the call of duty.

To celebrate her investiture, Custos Marcia Bennett threw a brunch at her Whispering Cove Hotel, just east of Morant Bay, on Monday; that was truly a study and celebration of our motto and most certainly, our culinary heritage.

Scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. commence-ment, this was easily the most-anticipated shindig, in Morant Bay, for the season. Guests actually began arriving before the appointed hour, some before the host returned from the ceremony in Kingston.

The venue, Whispering Cove Hotel, is another one of those beautiful secrets, of St. Thomas, located as it is just east of Morant Bay, just before reaching the district of Prospect. On Monday, its garden lawns were done up with a number of marquees, to facilitate brunch, and for my word, how!

My dears, it had all the trappings of high tea, and as guests poured in, that imagery was only reinforced, the only item missing to complete the picture-perfect outing, being parasols. But what a fabulous picture anyway, occasioned by gingham covered tables against a background of white marquees, tables and chairs, accessorised by some simply arrestingly beautiful orchids.

Dears, it was like that, and nothing but!

Commendations and congratulatory hugs and kisses were the order of the meet, but dearhearts, there was nothing like the feast that the host rolled out for her guests! precious angels, it was a celebration of Jamaica's culinary heritage and tradition, at its finest! And my dears, we do mean the finest!!

My dears, it was like that - if it was Jamaican, it was there, and then some! From natural fruit juices to stamp 'n'go, to pickled cod, down to gungo-rice-'n'-peas, chicken, curried, stewed, deep-fried; pork; mutton; fish; beef; ooh-la-laa and then some, what a treat! Oh what a fabulous fare!

Among the guests were her late husband's daughters, Professor Judith Bennett-Murray, Sharon Bennett, Mrs. Nadine Bennett-Lewis, who flew in from Long Island Queens and Orlando respectively; Hon. Leonard Saunders and Mrs. Saunders; Rev. Lenworth Haughton, Rev Dwight Frazer; Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Ramgolan; Dr. and Mrs. Freddie Clarke; Mrs. Iris Shepherd; Mrs. Ena Barclay; Mrs. Marguerite Watson; Mrs. Joy Richards, Mrs. Leonie Clarke; Mr. and Mrs. Dayner Azzerlio; Mr and Mrs. Val Aitkin; Mr. and Mrs. Freddie Jacobs; Mrs Olga Schrouder, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parkin; Mr. and Mrs. Oniel Shirley; Mrs. Mabel Smith and daughter, Miss Jean Smith.

Also out were Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Malcolm; the very elegant Mrs. Olive McKenzie; Mrs. Verna Kean; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Duncan; Mr. T.V. Allen; Mr. and Mrs. Barry Colquhoun; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Wright; Mrs. Claudette O'Malley; Mrs. Peaches McMaster; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Lawrence; Miss Eslin Williams; Mrs. Millicent Williams; Miss Evelyn Ferguson; Father Manuel Williams; Mr. Vincent Marshall and Mrs. Hilda Dacres and several scores more.