She met the very influential, including the late Hugh Shearer, fomer Prime Minister. - contributed

There comes a time in our lives when others are better at telling our own story than we are. If you are lucky, as was centenarian Rebecca Whyte-Brown, you will be surrounded by many who can fill the ears with tales of a life well-spent.

Coming from several nations across the world to gather in Kingston for her 100th birthday celebration, there was more than one individual willing and able to tell tale of Rebecca's life.

Rebecca Whyte-Brown is the pioneer who, in 1952, opened Whyte's Commercial School - an institution desperately needed in Port Antonio then.

She was 45 when she embarked on the venture. Her husband wanted to know if she knew what she was doing, but she calmly showed all her subjects and certificates, gained partially by long-distance study.

On the day after her recent birthday, Rebecca was as peaceful and cheerful as a well fed baby.

Her comment on the upcoming party was a self-satisfied "very nice."

Present at the 100 birthday celebration on Thursday, January 12, was son, 80-year-old Winston Whyte who lives in the United Kingdom - a retired jazz musician and the father of granddaughter Livia, marketing specialist of London, who was also present.

Also there was daughter Myrtle Ffrench, who resides with mother at Pines of St. Joseph in Kingston, is 78 and is a retired civil servant.

Belgium-based daughter Beverly Martin, 60 years old, was also present, as was daughter-in-law nurse Ivy Whyte. Beverly works at the Jamaican Embassy in Belgium. Son Barry Whyte, 61, an accountant and a farmer, was absent due to illness. Daughter Yvonne Whyte (now deceased) was a marketing specialist.

Rebecca has five grandchildren including Rupert Whyte, Fiona Hack, Livia Whyte, Mark Whyte and Shala Alert. Her great grandchildren number four.

Outlook visited with the matron and witnessed her crying when her birthday bouquets began to arrive. "She is very emotional," said granddaughter Livia who comforted her centenarian grand-mum while her eyes leaked tears of joy.

Rebecca Whyte-Brown was born on January 11, 1907 in Islington Portland, one of 10 siblings belonging to strict parents. As a small child she walked a mile to school with her 'shet pan' of lunch, and dared not return home after the prescribed hour.

She carried the same spirit of discipline into her own family and to the students in her school.

Today, when asked about her pioneering career, she says succinctly, "I did teaching. I had my own school. I gave it up at about age 80."

Her written memoirs, completed when she was 94 years old, also helps in telling her story. "I was seven years old," wrote Rebecca, "when I entered Fair Prospect Government Elementary School in the parish of Portland, and where I obtained a firm start in education."

By age 15, however, free tuition was over and so she started studying to achieve a pass in the Third Jamaica Pupil Teachers Examination.

First black Inspector

At age 18 she married policeman George Samuel Whyte - said to be one of the first black inspector of police in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and had to say goodbye to school . But this was not the end of studies for her.

Rebecca was 38 years old when she took to hard studying again. business education was her goal, and she started off on subjects in this field, with the help of qualified teachers at local schools, and the College of Arts Science and Technology (now University of Technology ) and with other private students. She also did subjects through correspondence courses.

Before she opened Whyte's Commercial School in 1952, she gained the Teachers' Diploma in shorthand and typewriting. Even after she started teaching, she was still bent on upgrading her qualifications. She states in her memoirs, "During the early years teaching in my own school I sat the GCE Examinations in principles of accounts, Spanish, commerce and English language gaining passes in all.

On September 16, 1975, I received the Registered Teacher Certificate, in accordance with section 33 of the Education Act of 1965."

While running her school, she also received certificates for participating in social welfare, Diocese of Jamaica, Portland Health Department, and business seminars. She was s also a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Portland Teachers' Association and the Retired Teachers' Association.

She was also active in the Young Women's Christian Association and also played on the cricket team in Black River when they lived in St. Elizabeth. Her children note that the matriarch also wrote plays which she - along with friends - staged at the local theatre in Port Antonio

Rebecca Whyte-Brown also taught at the Port Antonio Junior Secondary School for over five years, a post she only gave up at retirement . At Whyte's Commercial School, students were examined at Pitman and GCE levels, and results were usually good.

"She loved her students very much and they loved her," comments daughter Beverly Martin.

Mrs. Whyte-Brown, left a widow shortly after she opened her commercial school, used the proceeds to care for her children.

Daughter Beverly said, "She was in her 40s when he (Mr. Whyte) died. She became mother and father to the three younger ones. She was very caring for her children. It was important to her that we got a good education. She worked very hard for that. She made sure that we stayed healthy."

Even after her children were grown, she continued to work at Whyte's, caring for students who wanted to develop careers in commerce.

On July 10, 1993, Rebecca Whyte-Brown reluctantly left her school of 82 students, 18 typewriters and three computers, to head teacher Louis Bell, and Ivy Jones, who she "asked to change its name and be the owners."

At 94, her memoirs noted, "My home is in Kingston with my daughter, free of every kind of work. I am thanking God for his wonderful love and grace."

Still in fair health at 100, Rebecca's eyes are one of her few complaints. But, "she gets treatment for it. She can recognise people," daughter Myrtle Ffrench stated.

"What's your secret to a long life?" granddaughter Livia asked on the day of the family celebration, her mouth close to her grandmother's ear.

"It's a blessing. It's God's blessing," Rebecca Whyte-Brown answered.