Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Lloyd Johnson receives a plaque of appreciation from Chairman of the Kingston YWCA, Beverly Whyte. Looking on are members of the Johnson's family. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer

Though George and Alnatal Johnson have been dead for over 30 years, their memories will live on forever. The contribution of these two educators have been immortalised by their children in the form of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) George and Alnatal Child Centre at 51 Arnold Road.

Through the rain last Sunday, members of the Johnson family and members and friends of the YWCA, paid tribute to these two unsung heroes whose children are a testimony to the citizens they were.

George and his wife taught at Kings School and Cornwall Mountain All-Age School both in Westmoreland, where he was headmaster. Their children (three of whom live in Canada), have since the late '90s, made a substantial contribution to the various programmes of the YWCA, especially their early childhood programmes. Their daughter, Ariade Collier, is currently the executive director of the Kingston YWCA, and has given decades of service in sustaining the organisation.

UNSUNG HEROES

Former Minister of Education Maxine Henry Wilson noted that George and Alnatal Johnson, "are real heroes from the heart of the people from which trees of our nation grow and often we don't remember to celebrate them." She continued, "Let the real memory be that the centre be a place that they will be proud of."

In lauding the contribution of the Johnsons to the educational system, guest speaker, journalist and human rights activist, Flo O'Connor noted that education goes beyond book learning and the Johnsons recognised this. "The demons of materialism overtook our society and sucked the love out of our schools and left us where we are today. Empty. This is because we have strayed from the path of the Johnsons."