Bishop Walters a visionary leader

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I do wish to crave your indulgence in bringing to the public's attention the passing of Bishop Dr Delrose Lucille Walters at the age of 103.

She was born on December 6, 1908 in Wilmington, St Thomas, Jamaica, and was the sole survivor of 12 from the union of James and Caroline Walters.

Dr Walters was a religious visionary. Her spiritual journey with the Lord began at the tender age of 10. She later came into contact with the City Mission movement led by Raglan Phillips and Mary Louise Coore.

Dr Walters has held the distinct honour of being the second woman in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean to be ordained to the Christian ministry on January 7, 1939 in the City Mission movement.

Dr Walters was also involved with the Jamaica Women's Federation, along with Lady Huggins, wife of Jamaica's then governor, Sir John Huggins. With other prominent social workers of Kingston, Rev Walters tried to address the needs of the people in Kingston's inner cities.

In the late 1940s, she was consecrated to the office of the bishopric; she later shifted focus to Los Angeles, California.

HOWARD THOMPSON

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