Beautiful, bubbly Budd remembered!
Published:Saturday | January 27, 2018 | 12:00 AMErica Virtue
For most of her journalism life, Janice Marjorie Budd held centre stage, telling riveting stories of people's lives.
Yesterday, the story of her life was told, and it was one that described a true professional, a sister, a friend, a colleague, a good budd who blossomed into a beautiful flower.
The rust-coloured urn, bearing the remains of beautiful, bubbly, and effervescent Janice, was centred between two white orchids at Swallowfield Chapel as the woman with infectious laughter stood front and centre of the large congregation, which gathered for her thanksgiving service.
Karen Madden of the RJRGLEANER group described her as the best friend anyone could have.
"Janice was a beautiful soul with a disarming smile. Janice was feisty, opinionated, an outstanding journalist and communicator, and child of the Most High ..." said Madden in her opening lines to capture a snapshot of Budd.
According to Madden, when Budd joined the staff of Radio Jamaica from CVM, they hit it off immediately, maybe because they were both loud and sought to challenge the status quo of what was then a male-dominated profession.
Madden cited the legendary newsrooms arguments, with the person shouting loudest often winning the argument.
CONFIDENT AND CALM
She added that Budd was not among the shouters but would repeat, "May I speak?" in order to be heard. Throughout her life, she was heard and read as she sojourned through print and electronic media, and later, public relations.
Executive editor at the Jamaica Observer Vernon Davidson said that although Budd spent many years in broadcast media, he believed that she had a preference for print as her pieces, written while she was editor at The Sunday Observer, were very long, but well done and thoughtfully written.
Budd was described as "confident and calm" while at the Jamaica Information Service, where she had her formative years in the media; "a rare and marvellous talent" while at the National Commercial Bank; "someone who won the hearts of her colleagues" while at the Shipping Association, which was her last job.
Her brother, Trevor, eulogised her as the girl who loved dancing and one who championed people's causes and had no fear interviewing those from uptown and downtown.
Born on a Tuesday, he said that his sister was not only graceful, but full of grace and had a knack for making everyone feel at ease.
And as the curtains came down on her life, for "someone who did not love sports", her innings of 49 was remembered for some superb shot.
Laughing, loveable Janice died on January 2 at age 49.