Ingrid Brown remembered for passion, drive and commitment
Published:Saturday | October 8, 2016 | 12:00 AMChristopher Serju
Ingrid Lucrecia Simone Brown packed much more living into 39 years than most people ever do - helping others while excelling professionally.
She was definitely "from the class of the extraordinary", family members, friends and colleagues heard during yesterday's thanksgiving service for the life of the multi-award-winning journalist who died on September 22.
"Ingrid had no part in lateness, absenteeism, unpreparedness or failure. She was from the class of the extraordinary. She was well loved, admired and respected for her intelligence, maturity and preparedness and valuable contribution to legal discourse," Rose Cameron, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, recalled of the student whose passion was unmatched among her peers.
Brown, who completed a Bachelor of Laws degree on July 1, 2016, studying full-time while working at the Jamaica Observer as associate editor - special assignment, was "destined for greatness", Kimberlee Deer said of her aunt.
This was before the mother of two, who was also a grandmother, succumbed to an autoimmune disease which affected her liver, on September 22.
In fact, the journalist-cum-lawyer was accepted to the Norman Manley Law School and was already well regarded for her skilful reasoning ability.
Made effort to bring change
Vernon Davidson, executive editor - publications at the Jamaica Observer, noted that Brown was not satisfied with just informing, educating and entertaining but made every effort to bring "change for good" through her work. He said the human interest beat was a natural fit, given the St Catherine native's passion and compassion for poor and disadvantaged people.
Despite serving a number of organisations while working and studying, Brown managed to maintain her professionalism, balancing family life with exemplary work ethics, the congregation at the Fellowship Tabernacle in St Andrew heard.
Dianne Daley McClure, of the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency, on whose board the senior journalist represented the Press Association of Jamaica, remembered Brown as a very dedicated and active member.
"Her contributions to the deliberations were always carefully thought out, measured and wise. Ingrid was passionate, focused and fair," Daley McClure said.
The Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller, founder of Fellowship Tabernacle where Brown worshipped, recounted the many hours spent talking with her, noting that she was always "hungry to do right".