The following was delivered By Douglas Orane on Monday, December 29, 2008, at Our lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Port Maria:

Cecelia Chung, née Chin, affectionately known as 'Miss Cissy', lived a life that exemplified the value of friendship, true loyalty, service to others and a strong spirit of community involvement.

Born on November 14, 1919, in Hampstead, St Mary, Cecelia attended the Port Maria Elementary School. Her formal education was cut short as her parents decided that she was needed to assist in the family business. From a tender age she displayed remarkable entrepreneurial skills which not only led to her parents' decision, but would serve her well throughout her adult life.

An astute businesswoman, her outlook on life closely mirrored that of GraceKennedy's former Chairman S. Carlton Alexander in that they both strongly believed in the importance of building and sustaining relationships, whether in business or in their personal lives. It was not surprising that the two became such good friends.

Marriage

In keeping with Chinese customs, Miss Cissy got married early. Her husband was Uriah Phillip Chung, also known as 'U.P.'. The Chungs became acquainted with Carlton Alexander back in the 1930s while he was a junior employee at the then Grace-Kennedy and Company Ltd.

Over the years, the friendship between the Chungs and the Alexanders evolved and grew. The Chungs became the owners of Foo Hing Supermarket and Wholesale, a cornerstone enterprise in Port Maria. When U.P. became seriously ill in 1951, on his deathbed, he asked two favours of Carlton. The first was that Carlton's soon-to-be-born son was to be named after him, and the second was that Carlton would ensure the well-being of Miss Cissy, their two daughters, Kathleen and Sylvia, and their two sons, Stephen and Val. A man of his word, Carlton honoured both promises. So now we know how Phillip Alexander got the name Uriah as one of his Christian names.

The Alexander and the Chung families became even closer and despite the relative distance between Kingston and Port Maria, they maintained contact over the years, with both families coming together for special occasions such as graduations, weddings and baptisms or even just an impromptu visit.

Deeper relationship

When Miss Cissy's daughter Kathleen returned from studying overseas to teach at her alma mater, Immaculate Conception High School, in St Andrew, she went to live with Carlton Alexander and his family. The Chung's relationship with the GraceKennedy family deepened further with the marriage of Stephen Chung to June Tenn, the niece of one of GraceKennedy's directors, Mabel Tenn. When Stephen's first son was born, he was given the Christian names Carlton Alexander.

Carlton was Miss Cissy's confidant and mentor and she would consult him whenever she needed to make business decisions, such as the establishment of Big A Track Company.

A risk-taker, she enjoyed games of chance and her love for the Chinese game, Mah Jong, was well known - probably that is where the idea for the betting company started. On many occasions she would play Mah Jong with Carlton, sitting on her chair and swinging her legs to and fro, as due to her short stature, her feet could not quite reach the ground. Several of today's adults who were children at the time will remember getting a "sore foot", that is, a gift from her winnings to ensure continued good luck.

It is therefore not surprising that her two sons were involved with the original lottery company, that is, the Jamaica Lottery Company, and that her grandson, Spencer, is a racehorse trainer.

As a young man in GraceKennedy in the 1980s I got to know Miss Cissy and the rest of the Chung family as one of our valued customers. Miss Cissy was tremendously helpful in giving me advice, information and feedback on what was happening in the marketplace. I can remember so vividly her telephone calls with her animated voice saying, "Doug, you need to do something about flour because of what the competition is doing!" She became over the years a source of guidance and inspiration to me particularly because of her astute business sense, her sharp wit and her genuine caring for all people.

There was nothing too great for her to do for GraceKennedy and this was reciprocated by our company. Several of our salesmen can recall being summoned by Miss Cissy late at nights, on weekends or public holidays to supply goods for her customers as Foo Hing sometimes remained open on public holidays to provide supplies for various community events, or customers who needed to complete last-minute shopping.

Caring and kind

And she, in turn, would always work out a deal to help us to move some of our slow moving products. She stoutly defended the company, always reminding the critics of the many persons who have been assisted by GraceKennedy since its inception.

Miss Cissy was a very caring and kind woman whose generosity was not limited to family members and close friends. In fact, she was often referred to as 'mum' or the 'mother of Port Maria', as she gave so much to so many. Indeed, many persons, in and around Port Maria, usually looked forward to Christmas time, knowing that they were guaranteed to receive at least one gift, from Miss Cissy. In fact, the Alexanders say they cannot remember Aunt Cissy ever visiting without bringing gifts for them when they were children.

She valued education. Perhaps because she herself did not get the chance to complete her formal education she made sure that every one of her four children received a university degree. And, she assisted many students in St Mary to further their education, by providing them with books, tuition fees, clothing and food.

Not only did she provide employment for persons through her various business undertakings, but she also assisted them to get jobs elsewhere including on cruise ships.

GG's Achievement Award

A devout Catholic, she raised her children to uphold the faith. She not only preached her ideals through the motivational talks she gave from time to time, but she also lived the life of a person who was considerate of her fellow human beings.

It was not surprising, therefore, when she received the Governor General's Achievement Award for the parish of St Mary in 1999. At the awards ceremony, she was commended for her commitment to the development of her community.

As we reflect on the life of this truly remarkable lady, we can all agree that our lives have been made richer for having known her. She will forever remain in our hearts and our memories.

May her soul rest in peace.