Growing up in the community of Rock River in Clarendon, Shanese Messam and her sisters faced many struggles. Thankfully, there was one senior citizen who invested in their lives and took the family under her wing.
Although Myrtle Beason has since passed away, Messam said the impact she had on her life during her formative years will never be forgotten.
At the recently held Rock River Senior Citizens Awards, Messam presented the inaugural Myrtle Beason Memorial Award to a deserving senior. She said the award will now be presented annually.
Sharing the impact the late Beason had on her life, Messam recalled, “When I was growing up, my siblings and I, we were from humble beginnings. And she was a returning resident from England.”
According to Messam, Beason returned to the community and built her home there. She explained that because her parents did not have much, she and her siblings would visit Beason on weekends.
“She would make our uniforms for school, make our clothes for church and so on. Anything that we needed, she was there for us. And we weren’t connected by blood; we weren’t related at all,” Messam said.
She noted that Beason recognised the family’s needs and stepped in to support not only her, but her siblings as well. The memorial award, Messam explained, is her way of “paying it forward”.
By doing so, she hopes to inspire others to follow her example. “You don’t have to have much to give and share with others. So, in the community, I was looking for persons who had similar attributes to actually give them that award. And by doing this, I know that persons will see and it will inspire them to look out for each other because each one helps one,” she said.
Messam had one message, not just for seniors but for everyone. She is encouraging people to give back if they can and to lend a helping hand whenever possible. “Because when I didn’t have it, somebody stepped up for me. Now I am just paying it forward.”
Messam pointed out that her generosity is not a result of having a lot but because she knows exactly what it means to have nothing. “And I give not because I have much, but because I know exactly what it feels like to have nothing. And this is not the only thing that I do. Because even at my primary school, there’s an award there for excellence.”
CCL
Roxanne Jackson receiving the inaugural Myrtle Beason Memorial Award on behalf of shut-in Veronica Thomas.
‘I’M GLAD WE GAVE HIM HIS ROSES’ – ROSETTA TAYLOR
On Thursday, July 16, the president of the Rock River Senior Citizens group recognised several seniors in the community by presenting them with gift baskets during a special award ceremony.
One of the recipients was Gilroy Wilshire, who died two days after being honoured.
An emotional Taylor, in an interview with Freedom Come Rain, said she was happy that they honoured him before his passing.
“It breaks my heart. He was such a sweet man. He loved his church. His knees bothered him, but that didn’t stop him from going out. Also, over the years, he was always helping young people and being active in the community,” she shared.
“I’m so glad we gave him his roses. I would have felt bad if he passed on and didn’t receive them,” Taylor said, stressing the importance of recognising not just seniors, but also those who constantly give of themselves in service while they are alive.
“Mi seh mi nuh know, mi seh, ‘God, You good enuh.’ God is so merciful. Don’t scatter roses after I am gone. Mi feel good him get the little award, man. Mi feel joyful, man. Mi sorry him gone; mi feel it, but mi feel good,” she said.
