Without Prejudice Mervelee Myers Has Been On 7 Years Journey Of Discovering Who Is Ratty Nembhard

Before my memory fades away let me salute the sum of the Persons who have played instrumental roles in mine and my family’s life. So I start the ball rolling with my Godmother Mrs. Ida McFarlane. Ms. Ida’s husband Mr. Mac was crippled from some accident of which I am not too sure about the facts. He was always well turned out and seated on the veranda whenever you walked past their home or when I visited. I guess without knowing at the time I was being taught some of the old-fashioned values associated with caring that was to become the bedrock of my later life. The McFarlane had plenty of land leading all the way from near the Townhead Cross Roads on one side which was rented out to poor people like my parents for house spots. And there were more lands facing the other side as well, which had all kinds of fruit trees and if my memory served me right sugar cane?

I am not sure if my God-Mother had any children of her own, but there were 2 persons whom she raised Florette & Mr aka King Turner. In those days I know God-Parents were chosen because of their many qualities as well as abiding by the rules of the Bible, which was to be responsible and accountable as the parents. My Godmother did live up to her responsibilities to every word from the Good Book. I can recall whenever I visited I would return home laden with presents/gifts in the forms of food parcels and most importantly pocket money.

I am sure those little gifts were a big help to my parents who must have had it hard struggling to raise the big family they were blessed with. You see I guess my parents were old-fashioned and believed in having out their lots? So today I remember my God-Mother & all who were associated with her. I am blessed to have had such a wonderful person who touched my life. XXX Thank God for all God-Mothers!

So I have decided to focus on my Writing as they say the devil finds work for Idle Brains & I am dead tired of being Ali Button who wuk fi nutn? Kicking off I shall be saluting my Papa Ivan Sandyman NEMBHARD who was the 2nd child of Charles & Irene Mills-Nembhard. Dad was born in Aberdeen St Elizabeth where he grew up with 13 siblings. Being the 2nd child he was responsible for helping his parents with the upbringing of his younger siblings. He was to have the unenviable tasks of naming them as well. This information was shared by my auntie Evelyn aka Marty when I made the pilgrimage to St Dacre St Ann to meet her and my family.

Dad trained as a tailor and peddled his trade in Manchester for a short period before returning home. Thereafter he walked all the way to Westmoreland to find employment and eventually set up home there. He worked at the West Indies Sugar Company Ltd – Frome Division for his entire working life from thence. He was the only member of his family to head to Westmoreland where he established the Nembhard branch of the Dynasty. He went on to marry Perline Louise Chambers and they went on to have 8 children. Dad was a Holier than thou person who lived his life from the verses of the Holy Bible. So it was not unusual for us to be brought up circumspect and for him to cleave to one woman until his untimely death at the age of 62 years old.

Dad will be fondly remembered for all his exceptional qualities and at times I prayed that I am more like him in my demeanor, but sad to say I have failed on most counts! It is with great pleasure that I am more than proud to say I am a product of my father and I truly revere my life learning some of what I could from him. So when the roads get rocky and the burdens are too many to bear, I recalled how dad bore his trials and tribulations with dignity. I am striving to be the sort of person dad would have liked me to be, and one day I hope to meet up with a dad in that place where there is no sorrow or pain?