Jemeta prayed about the man she would meet and marry

Jemeta Williams wanted someone to spend her life with, but she did not want just any partner. She wanted someone who was a firm believer in God, a man who would love her unconditionally and would work with her to ensure stability in their family and in the home.

An active church member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York, Jemeta became a Christian prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It was her desire to fulfil God’s promises. She wanted a partner she could grow in the church and in faith with.

“I moved upstate to live with my mother. I realised that I was lonely, and even more so, I was living among people that were all married. I fasted and prayed for one week and said to God that he took me out of the city, and I knew that he didn’t want me to be lonely. I told God I did not want a boyfriend, I needed a husband,” Jemeta said.

Llaurence Whyte previously lived in Rotterdam, New York, in the same area that Jemeta now resided. After several years, he returned to the community, and as luck would have it, both Llaurence and Jemeta were attending the same church.

“I asked God for someone who was tall and also involved in music in the church. Llaurence is six feet three inches, and he is involved in music. He plays the keyboards, drums, and bass,” Jemeta said.

When her very insightful mother realised that both Llaurence and Jemeta were single, and call it mother’s instinct or intuition, she thought they were the right match for each other. “After church, my mother introduced us, and we saw each other in church and at our weekly prayer meetings. One evening I did not get to attend prayer meetings because I worked late. I came home and saw Llaurence’s vehicle parked at my gate. He came to the house and asked my stepfather to date me, and he gave him his blessings,” she said.

For over a year, the couple dated, and Llaurence popped the question on the date that Jemeta had started praying to God for a husband. “I met Jemeta in church, and I was inspired by her beauty and her love for God and for people. She has a radiant smile, and I was captivated by her thoughtfulness and compassion,” Llaurence said.

“I wanted to make her my wife because it is honourable before God, and I love her. I am delighted to be her protector and to build a strong family with her,” he added.

According to Jemeta, she accepted Llaurence’s proposal because she did not want someone to take her back into the world. “I have always been in church, and when I met him, I realised that he didn’t just want to come to church to make up numbers, but he was committed to God,” she said.

The couple became husband and wife on August 19 during a magical reception ceremony at Ivy’s Cove in White House, Westmoreland.

The marriage ceremony was held at Jemeta’s family church - the St Barnabas Anglican Church in Crawford, St Elizabeth. The building is incredibly special to Jemeta and her family. She indicated that her grandfather helped to lay the foundation for the church.

“I was christened, baptised, confirmed, and now married in that church. My grandparents attended that church when it was just a wooden structure. Now it is made from concrete,” Jemeta, who is from the parish, said.

The bridal party consisted of 24 persons, including the bride and groom, the the maid of honour, and the best man. The colours for the wedding were dusty blue and white with hints of gold. The bride and groom opted to wear ivory.

“Blue means peace, and the ivory complemented our complexion,” Jemeta said.

The cake, a two-tier creation with a combination of black forest and vanilla, was made by Avis Hammond. The bride’s grandmother provided the traditional wedding fruit cake.

The Whytes are looking forward to growing in their marriage and ensuring that their family of six is well taken care of. “My husband is a provider, and he protects his family. He takes care of me and all the children. I have one child, and he has three children, and you would not know the difference. They are our four children,” Jemeta said.

South Coast Elite Events were the wedding planners and decorators for Jemeta and Llaurence’s nuptials.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com