The St. James Municipal Corporation has expressed shock and regrets at the passing of long standing Civic and Community Affairs Committee member, Jasmine Tomlinson Brown.
Mrs. Tomlinson Brown, a retired Superintendent of Police and a Justice of the Peace, was up to Sunday July 31, a part of the team which organized and supported the St. James parish Emancipation/Independence Church Service at the Burchell Baptist Church in Montego Bay.
Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Leeroy Williams said the passing of Mrs. (Jasmine) Tomlinson Brown comes as a shock and is even more painful knowing that up to a week ago she was actively supporting activities organized by the Corporation.
“Mrs. Tomlinson Brown was a true servant of the people. From her days in the Police Force which saw her creating history by becoming the first female Superintendent in in Area One to service on the Civic and Community Affairs committee of the Corporation and being a central member of the Montego Bay-Atlanta Sister City Committee. She was at our Independence Church Service on July 31 and as usual she was playing a leading role. Her passing has left a vacuum which will not be easily filled”, Mayor Williams said.
Mayor Williams said “Jasmine was someone who gave service from the heart and was always ready to play a role in the activities of the Corporation to include working with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission-one of the major stakeholders of the Corporation. She would make herself available at a moment’s notice to participate in meetings, outreach programmes and to advise the Corporation and the JCDC on matters of importance. I want to express profound condolences to her family members to include husband Owen Brown daughter Oneisha and son Owen Jnr. Her memories will live on!”.
Meanwhile Chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee of the Corporation, Councillor Dwight Crawford was at a loss in expressing his feelings in wake of Mrs. Tomlinson Brown’s passing.
“This is a rough one”, Councillor Crawford said, noting that “Jasmine was always on the ready to attend our meetings, church services, activities to deal with the Atlanta-Montego Bay sister city committee…She was really a strong member of our committee and her commitment, drive and efforts will be sorely missed”.
For her part, the JCDC St. James Parish Manager, Collel Blake said Mrs. Tomlinson Brown who served as Chairman of the Entertainment Arts Committee will be remembered as one of the most active members of the committee who was always visible at our activities and was someone who worked extremely hard behind the scenes.
She said memories of the charm and professionalism of Mrs. Tomlinson, who also served as chairman of the Parish Committee and the Festival Queen Committee will forever be remembered.
“I want to express condolences to members of her family-husband Owen, children Oneisha and Owen Jr and to her many friends and associates. This is really hard on everyone who have been associated with Mrs. Tomlinson Brown, but I am sure we can be comforted by the immense contributions which she made at all levels”, Ms. Blake said.
Businessman Fred Smith who chairs the Montego Bay-Atlanta Sister Committee of which Mrs. Tomlinson Brown was an executive member said “the committee, St. James, Jamaica and has lost even the people of Atlanta have lost a giant. Jasmine was always a ready and willing participant in our activities, especially during the annual Dr. Vim Martin Memorial Montego Bay-Atlanta Health Fair. She will be sorely missed”.
