Old Harbour bids farewell to community treasure Mavis Cohen

This heartfelt tribute was one of many shared last Saturday, as the Old Harbour community gathered at the Church of The Holy Trinity to honor the life of 97-year-old Mavis Lucille Cohen.

After the viewing at the back of the church, Cohen’s white casket was gently closed as family, friends, former students, and colleagues filled the pews, united in both grief and gratitude for the woman who had dedicated more than 50 years to education and community service.

The ceremony was a beautiful blend of scripture readings, hymns, and heartfelt tributes, with each speaker reflecting on Cohen’s remarkable life. They spoke of her passion for teaching, her selfless nature, and the countless lives she touched. Her children, Denise, Geoffrey, and Wayne Cohen, expressed both their profound sadness and deep appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from the community. As they remembered their mother, Denise and Geoffrey couldn’t hold back their tears.

The church, in its own tribute to Cohen, paid homage to her lifelong commitment to education and service, acknowledging the family matriarch as a “Competent Christian, teacher extraordinaire, past teacher, principal and vice principal, outstanding member, past organist, choir mistress, a gentle giant and strong pillar and corner stone of this church. Mrs. Cohen was committed to both the physical development of the building and the spiritual development of the members, she was always counseling…she was a woman of faith, beautiful externally and internally.”

It was a poignant moment during Requiem Mass, a ritual in which holy water is sprinkled onto the casket before it was draped with a white pall, symbolizing her final blessing through holy baptism.

George Goode, principal of Old Harbour Primary School where she served for decades, reflected on her leadership and the mark she left on the institution.

“Mrs. Cohen was an outstanding principal…her dedication, expertise and passion for education, inspired a love for learning that continues to resonate with us today. She was true disciplinarian and whenever she stepped into the classroom, you could hear a pin drop. Her presence commanded respect, and her love and motivation inspired teachers and staff to do their best,” said Goode, surrounded by current members of his teaching staff.

Rev. Delroy Coley, in delivering the sermon, reflected on Cohen’s unwavering faith, her devotion to education, and the countless lives she shaped. He encouraged those in attendance to continue her work by uplifting others, just as she had done throughout her lifetime.

Following the service, mourners made their way to the St. Dorothy’s Cemetery in Church Pen, where the lover of flowers was laid to rest. As the casket was lowered, loved ones whispered final goodbyes, some holding hands, others wiping away quiet tears. Despite the sorrow, there was a sense of comfort in knowing that her legacy would continue through the lives she influenced. Her impact, much like the lessons she imparted, will never fade.

The funeral service was attended by many dignitaries including former Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Custos of St Catherine Icylin Golding.