Cobbla icon laid to rest
Tributes were plentiful and touching at the Cobbla New Testament Church of God in Manchester last Saturday as scores of mourners turned out to celebrate the life of late church icon Roslyn Bennett, who passed away peacefully on March 30.
Tributes in songs and the spoken words touched many, similar to how Bennett’s life touched many persons, particularly those in Cobbla, where she lived for more than six decades.
Former Bishop the Rev Stanford Taylor described Bennett as a great woman.
“She was a committed woman for God. Love and respect were always a part of her daily walk. She had a great impact on the development and enhancement of many, and she was very supportive of all the pastors who served at this church,” said Taylor.
For Bishop Hopeton Jarrett, Bennett was a woman of prayer. He stressed that whenever one went to Bennett’s house, they could not leave without her offering a word of prayer. Jarrett said she was a woman who loved offering praises to God.
“She was a warrior and a champion who fought a good fight for the Lord. She finished her course, and she kept the faith,” said Jarrett.
Bishop Donavan Knight said the church lost a genuine sister and a beacon who was instrumental in the founding of the Cobbla church over 60 years ago.
“She was kind and affectionate. She was a mother who was committed to God, and her work as a founding mother of the church should be highlighted nationally,” said Knight.
Community representative Kenneth Letts described Bennett as the type of mother many children would have loved to have.
“‘Sister Nin’, as she was affectionately called, helped to transform the community of Cobbla. She was a lady of faith with a wonderful personality. She was a wonderful prayer mother who was an example to all,” said Letts.
Bennett’s granddaughter, Marshalee Johnson-Spencer, described her as a champion, role model, pioneer, stalwart and a great woman while delivering her eulogy.
She shared that her grandmother was multiskilled and was a great cook whose culinary skills were second to none.
“She was a consummate entrepreneur who was perennially kind and great to be around. She served her children, community and God well,” said Johnson-Spencer.
Bennett was the first of five children born to James and Alice Prowl of Bombay in Manchester. She was born on January 24, 1920.
She married late Cobbla businessman Stanford Bennett, and their union produced eight children.
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