WINSOME SAMMS-PATERSON — A pillar of the family and much more
Winsome Beverley samms-paterson, customs broker died at the University Hospital (Tony Thwaites wing) on november 22, 2018.
The thanksgiving service for Winsome Samms-paterson was held at the Church of St Margaret’s Liguanea, on Friday, December 14.
Officiating were the Rt Rev Robert Thompson (Bishop of Kingston), the Rev Franklyn Jackson who gave the sermon, Rev Melsrose Wiggan and the Rev Canon Peter Mullings.
Rev Jackson in his sermon said that man faces death everday but God provides us with the strength to deal with it. He said that man needs extra assurance from God during the times that we face death.
“In the scriptures we find hope and strength and the ability to go on.
“God sends his angels to bring you up and bring you comfort so there is no need to fear death,” he said
The rembrance was given by Margurite Samms-lezama, the sister of Winsome Sammspaterson, at the service:
Winsome Beverley Sammspaterson was born on July 3rd 1943, the third of four children of Lorenzo and Ermine Samms. Like her name, so was her nature. Her name is derived from the old English word ‘wynn’, which means pleasure and delight. You are attractive or charming in an open and delightful way. And Winsome was a pleasure and delight to be around.
After completing her high school education (St Andrew High School and The Queen’s School) she attended CAST (now known as the University of Technology Jamaica). She started her working career at Barclays Bank and within a few years wanting new experiences, she moved to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and worked for several years before returning to Jamaica to take over the family business of custom brokerage when our father’s health began failing. She continued in this profession until her untimely
demise on November 22, 2018. Winsome gravitated towards this profession and did an excellent job, so much so that other custom brokers would call on her to clarify issues.
Winsome had many interests, namely, drama, theatre, travelling. She was involved in quite a few of the pantomime productions and was the voice of Ms Mum in the radio series Flora Lee. She also had a yearning for adventure, and went backpacking through England and Europe with our cousin Clover. She travelled down the Caribbean islands, through several of the USA states and covered every parish of her homeland Jamaica. And having done a great deal of travelling with her, I can tell you she was absolutely good company.
Winsome was family-minded, and her attitude to all children was the same. She was ‘Auntie’ to many and varied children. She loved them. She was defender and protector, and was known by variations of her name, Winnie, Winnie the Pooh, Winnie Mandela, Ms Bev, and so on.
Winsome was selfless. As children growing up in Mona Heights, our summers apart from summer camps, would be to trek across Mona campus to the University pool to swim. I was probably 11-12 when one afternoon I dived into the 14’9” of water and could not resurface. Winsome, true to form, dived in to bring me out. I am forever grateful for my sister.
Winsome met the love of her life Carlton Paterson in 1990, and in 1995 they got married. He brought into this relationship his own children, and there was genuine acceptance of Winsome towards his children
My brother Richard’s two children and my five have spent an equal amount of time between Jamaica and the USA. They have all attended school here. It was never a problem for them to be here, nor did she ever consider it a trial/nuisance. She embraced them and loved each one as her own, and this love was reciprocated. There are several amusing anecdotes about Aunt Winnie coming to