Jemima Harris. - Norman GrindleyTucked away in the hills of St. Ann, four miles from Brown's Town, and on a marl road, sits the Wilton property, where Jemima Harris, or "Nen" as she is affectionately known, has worked for 51 years with the Barnes family.
Now well into her 80s, Miss Harris still busies herself in the kitchen at Wilton, preparing some of the family's favourite chicken and fish dishes, and supervising the new helper.
Ms Harris was born in St. Mary and her mother died when she was young. A relative in Brown's Town took the little girl, and she learned to do household chores. As a young adult needing some independence and income she sought her first job as a helper - and earned four shillings per week. She worked with several families while in her 20s, before she went to work with the Barnes family.
Her new employer, young May Barnes, had recently had a baby, and needed additional help. That was how Jemima received her pet name, 'Nen'. Over the years, she cared for the four Barnes children, two girls and two boys. "She was always there, on the occasions when my mother went into hospital, she just took over our lives and was involved in every aspect," says Joan Meade, the eldest of the Barnes children.
Mrs. Barnes adds, "I could leave Nen in charge - she has always been very reliable, and she has always stood by me". Nen also looked after the many other children who were raised with the Barnes family including Nen's little sister, and her cousin's child. "If anybody wants to know how many children I have raised, tell them to bring a book to write it in", says Nen.
Nen helped with the property, which functioned as a farm, made butter, ensured the milk was properly stored and collected by the milk trucks. "When we were out picking pimento in the fields she would bring us our meals; she taught me how to plant vegetables, yam, how to grate cassava to make starch..." says Mrs. Meade.
"As children we were forever getting into trouble, falling out of a tree or cutting ourselves or messing with the animals when we'd been told not to...many a time Nen saved us from the brink of disaster," recalls Mrs. Meade.
Saturday was the day for baking - Nen baked patties, plantain tarts, gizzadas, potato pudding etc., all on woodfires - the Caledonia stove, for there was no electricity at Wilton for many years. The Barnes children looked forward to Saturdays because they knew that delicious treats would be created in the kitchen by Nen. She was taught the rudiments of reading and writing while with the Barnes. Nen feels that had she gone to school, she would have done better in life.
Nen is described by members of the Barnes family as a wise, calm and peaceful person, utterly reliable and honest, kindhearted and generous. And after 51 years, Nen said her job is a good one, "I never felt to leave them."
Nen helped members of her own family to go overseas. Some years back, Nen went to visit her younger sister - whom she had raised at Wilton - and who went to live in Canada. Nen spent several months in Canada, but declined the invitation to stay on, and returned to St. Ann, and to her job. "I loved these people I'm with!"
Whatever the hardships she has faced, Nen does not dwell on them. Her only recent disappointment was that she was refused a visa to travel to Canada to attend her niece's wedding. Nen prefers to talk of the good times and the trips she has taken with the Barnes family. Nen loves the beach - and at a north-coast hotel she has visited she especially enjoys the jacuzzi: "It's not too hot, and it's not too cold," she smiles.
Nen joined her church from an early age, and two years ago was honoured by the Anglican church as one of its most longstanding members. The certificate which she received, signed by Bishop Neville DeSouza, is one of Nen's most prized possessions.
Nen was honoured by the Jamaica Household Workers Association recently in a ceremony at the Bureau of Women's Affairs in Kingston.
