Alda's Story
Sunrise April 19, 1921 - Sunset August 17, 2021
Alda Fisher Bennett
From the parish that was also the birthplace of National Hero Paul Bogle, and also the noted Members of Parliament Anthony Hylton and Juliet Cuthbert, Alda Beretta Fisher was born on Tuesday April 19, 1921 in St. Thomas.
Born in pre-independent Jamaica, to parents Amos Fisher and Catherine Collins, Alda has lived to see many of the great feats of Jamaican history. From the founding of the People’s National Party in 1938 by Norman Manley to the independence of Jamaica from colonial rule in 1962 to the election of the first female Prime Minister of Jamaica in 2006. While important dates that have stood out in Alda’s mind the most significant date for her was the year in which her mother died. Alda lost her mother when she was twelve and this loss was at a time when Alda was blossoming into her formative years. While Alda was then raised by her grandmother Isabella Castle, there was still a profound sense of loss that Alda experienced. The loss of her mother at this critical stage influenced many of Alda’s decisions when she became an adult, specifically in terms of how she raised her children. This was evident when she declined an opportunity to migrate to England because she believed that it was critical to be with her young children.
Her twelfth year of life was also critical to shaping Alda as an adult as this was the year she was baptised in the Baptist Church officially starting her walk with the Lord. Alda has remained a steadfast Christian, a child of God and a stalwart Class 2 member; rising to the post of Deacon in the Yallahs Baptist Church.
Interestingly, Alda was baptised by Reverend Copeland Bennett who would become her future father in law. Despite a relationship that would face long periods of separation spanning several countries, Alda would meet and eventually marry Bentley Burton Bennett. Valerie (1938), Philmore (1940), Glen (1942), Joy (1944) and Merle (1946), Alda’s first set of five children were born every two years like clock work. However this schedule was interrupted when Bentley was employed in the Cayman Islands for five years. The two year schedule was reinstated and began upon Bentley’s return with Joan (1951), (only Joan and Barbara are separated by a year) Barbara (1952), Spurgeon (1954), Devon (1956), Oneil (1985), and Annmarie (1960), making 11 children. Alda is a hard- working caring and loving mother. She schooled her children by working at home and higglering. Her children know that although Bentley had the higher education it was Alda who had the vision to push her children to achieve. This focus on education was likely influenced by the fact that Alda’s formal education at the Yallahs Elementary School ended when she was only 12.
In the community everyone knows Habbi Labby Lane where Miss Alda lived.
Alda loved children not only hers, she took pride in feeding them and combing their hair. Even now Dionne and Tanya, Edna Rowes’ daughters can remember her combing their hair as children. Alda’s younger children can recall on one of the many days when everyone was gathered around the table for dinner one of our neighbour started to eat before saying his grace, Miss Alda as she was called by everyone said ‘say your grace’ and he said ‘MY GRACE’ laughing spoil and to this day it is a family joke.
R.I.P