Insurance agent giant

D.A. TONY Williamson, who was the honorary consul general for the Republic of Uruguay in Jamaica and a justice of the peace, died on May 8 at the age of 72 after being ill for some time.

Described as a versatile man, Williamson recorded his most noted achievements in the life insurance industry and the Christian church in Jamaica.

For more than 40 years he worked in insurance, rising from sales producer to branch manager at Life of Jamaica (now Sagicor) to president and CEO of Crown Eagle Life Insurance Company Limited, and Horizon Life Insurance Company Limited.

Williamson achieved the distinction of being a member of the illustrious Million Dollar Round Table for 44 consecutive years and was the longest-sitting Caribbean member of the group.

He held two ‘Court of the Table’ and ‘Top of the Table’ memberships and was an inductee in the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers Hall of Fame.

In 1976, Williamson was elected president of the Life Underwriters Association of Jamaica, now the Jamaica Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers.

It was under his presidency that the Insurance Employees CoOperative Credit Union was formed.

Williamson is also credited with introducing the accelerated death benefit in Jamaica in June 1990.

This is a benefit in which a terminally ill insured person may receive up to 50 per cent of the death benefit in his or her lifetime.

A Calabar old boy, Williamson was very involved in the Inter Schools Christian Fellowship, and later when he attended the University of the West Indies, he became an active member of the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.

He met Gweneth Jean on campus and would later marry her.

Williamson was central to the Deeper Life Ministries Movement, which gave birth to several churches in Jamaica and around the Caribbean.

Described as an author, photographer, philanthropist, theologian and public servant, Williamson wrote the popular motivational column in The Gleaner, ‘Dollar for Your Thoughts’.

That became the substance of one of his most sought-after books, The Courage to Conquer.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Gweneth Jean; three children, Caroline Hay, Paul and Craig Williamson; son-in-law Kenneth; daughter-in-law Carleen; and six grandchildren.

The funeral was held on June 1 at the University Chapel.

A day later, the interment took place at the Dovecot Memorial Gardens at 10 a.m.