Article in the Jamaica Daily Gleaner, Wednesday November 28, 2007
George Henry
Gleaner Writer

It was a packed Mizpah Moravian Church on Saturday, November 10, when scores of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to former University of Technology and Northern Caribbean University lecturer, Norma Delores South-Sinclair, who passed away on October 27, 2007

Tributes flowed for the late teacher who touched hundreds of lives at the Papine Secondary School (now Papine High), as she tried to assist in the acquisition of knowledge and to make persons better.

Cynthia Peart, who is currently the principal of Papine High, said in her tribute that the late Mrs. Sinclair was a hard-working teacher who served in various capacities, even though she was a home economics teacher. She noted that she contributed as nurse and was a mother to many students.

For her part, Mavis Bryan said Norma was a sister and a friend to her and that she will always remain in her heart, as Mrs. Sinclair's daughters had wonderful words to say about their dear mother. Karen, the eldest, said their mother taught them how to love and laugh; and that she was a major impact on their lives as well as on scores of other individuals.

"Mother impacted so many lives, but yet she still had time for all her daughters; she was our close friend. She was my demanding duchess and I was her over protective soldier," said Karen Sinclair.

GAVE GOOD SPEECHES

Nadine Walters, in her tribute for her mother, said she was known for coming up with a perfect speech, regardless of the occasion. She pointed out that, while others would search the Internet for speeches; her mother could find a speech almost spontaneously for any occasion. She also noted that the late Mrs. Sinclair would always tell others to correct the flaws in their lives so that they could become the best they could be.

Grace Mendez, Mrs. Sinclair’s third daughter, said her mother taught her several scriptures of which she used throughout her life. In her tribute, which was done in sign language to Celine Dion’s hit son My Heart Will Go On, Mendez gave a wonderful performance which was well received by an attentive congregation and which would have been appreciated by her mother who loved Celine Dion’s songs.

Mrs. Sinclair’s last daughter, Pamela Sinclair, said her mother stood out among mothers, She said she was a woman who loved God and who always instilled in her girls that they should show love for God and be true. Pamela noted that her mother responded well to challenges with courage and that she would always wear a pleasant smile.

MISSED HER VOICE

“She was a woman of endurance and the greatest lesson she taught me was about endurance. She told us as girls that we cannot triumph without endurance; and she told us that we should live out our legacy,” noted Pamela, who said she will always miss her mother’s voice.

While delivering the remembrance, Hepsi Lewis, who was a close friend of Mrs. Sinclair, said Norma, who was affectionately called ‘Del’, was her friend, who was always smiling.

Lewis said Norma Sinclair was a patient and reliable woman, and that she was a peacemaker who never rendered evil for evil. Norma’s friendship, she said, was always appreciated, as she was a people person who shared her skills with everyone. She added that she was an excellent mother who always had an encouraging word for others.

EXCELLENT COOK

Raymond South, who along with his brother Astley, while doing the eulogy, said his late sister spoilt him as he was the youngest of the lot. They stated that they had several fond memories of Norma and that her life deserved thanksgiving and celebration.

The two described their late sister as an excellent cook; and stated that curing her teaching career she was always aiming for the best. They said their sister was well educated and was an outstanding educator, who loved all her students.

Norma South-Sinclair was born on April 24, 1936 in Manchester. She was the daughter of Hubert and Ada Mae South.

She was married to retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Vincent Sinclair and their union produced four beautiful daughters.

She has left behind sisters, brothers, her daughters, numerous other relatives and a host of close friends to cherish her memories. Following the thanksgiving service, the body of the late Mrs. Sinclair was interred in the Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Mandeville, Manchester.

Our beloved mother, Norma, was born on April 24, 1936 in Manchester, Jamaica, to Hubert and Ada Mae South. After her childhood education at the Christiana Primary School she attended the Bethlehem Teachers College graduating in 1958. Norma embarked on her teaching career at the Ballard's Valley Primary School in St. Elizabeth and then completed her internship at the Christiana Primary School. Norma then moved to Kingston where she pursued a course in Home Economics at the Kingston Technical High School and in 1961 continued her teaching career in Home Economics at the Papine Senior Secondary School. During the summer of 1958 while at home on holiday in Christiana she became acquainted with Constable Vincent Sinclair and in December of 1962, married. This union produced four daughters - Karen, Nadine, Grace and Pamela.

In 1968 she was awarded a one year Commonwealth Teacher's Bursary to attend the Seaforth College of Education, London England. While in the U.K. she also completed a certificate at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Norma was promoted to Vice Principal in 1987. After twenty-six years at Papine Secondary she became Acting Principal in 1987.

On leaving Papine Secondary, Norma was offered a part-time lecturer's position in the department of Institutional Management at the College of Arts Science and Technology (C.A.S.T.) The H.E.A.R.T Academy Training Institute in Runaway Bay, St. Ann also offered her a lecturing position, which she accepted and stridently balanced with the position at C.A.S.T.
Norma then accepted the position of full time Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH) formerly C.A.S.T., and pursued her Bachelor of Science in Education receiving honours from the University of The West Indies.

She retired from UTECH to her beautiful home in Mandeville, Manchester, however not retiring from teaching as she accepted a position at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) as a lecturer in the Nutrition Department.

Our mother taught countless women and men, she taught them to rise up, stand tall and be proud. She taught them humility and grace in the face of adversity. She showed us courage in facing our fears. She taught us, her children, how to live, love and laugh at the years to come and to bear up under adverse circumstances. She taught us to love God, to fear Him and serve Him wholeheartedly.

Like a warm light shining in a dark place, Norma filled your heart and soul with the love of God, with dignity, and with a fortitude to stay your course. There is so much of her that is alive and will endure in people's lives, their relationships, their endeavours. The power of her impact was not abrasive, never exposing your weaknesses, but gently building on that mustard seed of potential. She can rest peaceable, knowing her legacy lives on.