Marjorie Evadne O'Mara

Marjorie Evadne O'Mara (nee Rhoden) was born on November 19, 1944 in Jointwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica to the late Frank and Mavis Rhoden. She attended the Jointwood Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) primary school and was baptized into the SDA Church at eight years old. While attending the Jointwood SDA primary school, Mrs. May Palmer, the principal, organized a girls quartet consisting of Marjorie (who was affectionately known as Madge), Faye Rhoden, Annie Lee Smith and Monica Thompson. Because Mrs. Palmer's husband, J.C. Palmer, was the pastor in that district, she arranged for the quartet to sing for special occasions in the various district chambers. When the Palmers moved to May Pen, Clarendon, one of the churches in their new district invited the girls quartet to render special music for the dedication of the church. The Hon. Alexander Bustamante, the Prime Minister of Jamaica of the time, was invited as a special guest. At the conclusion of a particular rendition, the Hon. Bustamante remarked on how he was impressed by the girl's singing. (At the time Madge was probably about 10 or 11 years of age.) She loved to sing and continued to sing capacity throughout the rest of her life. She was very active in her singing ministry, gracing us with solos for many weddings, funerals, and church services, and singing in church choirs. After passing the First Year Jamaica local examination at the primary school, Ma was accepted as a student at West Indies College (now Norther Caribbean University). At the time, her older sisters, Doriene and Faye, were already students there. It did not take long for Madge to join the college choir an her singing talents to be noticed. She became one of the outstanding vocalists on campus. Madge was one of the female soloists in Handel's Messiah even appeared on Jamaica's BC TV for the Feast of Lights program graduating from West Indies College (NCU) in 1966, Madge accepted employment at the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Montego Bay. While serving there she was secretary to Dr. Herman Douce, Pastor Cleveland Holness, Pastor J.C. Palmer, and Pastor E. R. E. Wright. She also worked at the West Indies Union Conference office and was secretary to Pastor L. Herbert Fletcher (1969 - 1970). Madge and Patrick met at West Indies College (NCU) while students and were married in Mandeville, Jamaica on March 29, 1970. Born to this union were three children: Leonard, Brandon, and Marsha. In December 1977, the family moved from Jamaica to Bermuda where Madge worked at the Bermuda Mission office (now Bermuda Conference of SDA) and at Bermuda Institute of SDA. Between 1979 and 1980, Madge and the family lived in Berrien Springs, Michigan while Patrick attended Andrews University, afterwards returning to Bermuda. In August 1984, Madge and the family moved from Bermuda to the United States where her husband served as a pastor in the Allegheny East Conference, ministering in Bridgeton, NJ; Salem, NJ; Whitesboro, NJ; Glassboro, NJ: Jersey City, NJ; Harrisburg, PA; York, PA; and Philadelphia, PA. During this time, Madge was active in the Ministerial Spouses Association for the conference, acting as a mentor to the younger ministers' wives. Madge was employed as an administrative assistant, working at various corporate offices until her retirement in 1996. After Patrick retired in July 2011, they moved to Central Florida and became members of the Mt. Olive SDA Church in Apopka. Madge was known for her excellent cooking skills. The family looked forward to her ackee and saltfish, green banana, yam, and callaloo for Sunday breakfast. She also made the best vegetarian roasts, and the best of the best was her cottage cheese loaf. Her rice and peas was always on point. You can take the woman out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the woman. We were blessed to be raised on excellent Jamaican cuisine. She leaves to mourn her husband of 52 years, Patrick; three children: Leonard (Shenika), Brandon (Marsha V.), and Marsha Henry (Lloyd); five grandchildren: Janelle, Tatyana, Ethan, Justin, and Christian; and one great grandchild, Jahmeir; five siblings: Doriene (Neville - predeceased) Shakes, Faye (Edward) Reid, Bill Rhoden, and Frank (Paulette Rhoden. Her sister, Pamela (Woolton) Anderson, predeceased her. Sisters-in-law: Genesta O'Mara, Sheila Ming, Freda Black, and Mary O'Mara. Two brothers-in-law predeceased her: Clarence O'Mara and Dunn O'Mara. She also leaves a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, many loving friends, and members of many congregations her husband was blessed and privileged to serve.

Tributes

Marjorie Evadne O'Mara

November 19, 1944 - February 21, 2023