Jamaican educator dies in Florida

Jamaican educator Eglantine Gordon passed away peacefully in South Florida last Thursday. She was 93.
Gordon's grandson, attorney Marlon Hill, president of the South Florida Jamaican Diaspora, confirmed her passing.

Hill said his grandmother, who migrated to the United States after her retirement in 1981, was a devout Christian and firm believer in education, and gave her all to that profession.

"After graduating from Bethlehem Teachers' College, she taught at Riverside All-Age in Hanover, New Providence Primary in Liguanea, Wesley and Elletson primary schools in Kingston. She also did a brief teaching stint in Bahamas," Hill told The Gleaner.

Widow of Rupert, Gordon (nee Buchanan), was born in Riverside, Hanover, and was the mother of three daughters.

She was a relative of former prime minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson.

Yesterday, he remembered her as kind, considerate and a disciplinarian.

"She is a cousin of mine and I boarded with her during my high school days in Kingston," Patterson said.

"She used to visit my home and I visited hers in Florida. She'll be missed."

The funeral for Eglantine Gordon will be held on Saturday at Bay Shore Lutheran Church in Florida. Contributions will be accepted for the Eglantine Melita Gordon Fund.

According to Hill, Nicole Wynter, a student at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, benefited from the fund.

Gordon is survived by three daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

- Brian Bonitto