Mrs. Imogene Iris (Golding) Barnaby was born on October 17, 1935 to Levi and Belzina Golding in the Blue-hole district, in the garden parish of St. Catherine, on the beautiful island of Jamaica. She was the fifth of thirteen children: Justina, Violet, Sylvester, Mavis, Imogene, Bernard, Henry, Hermena, Alice, Gilbert, Franklyn, Lewie and Clifton.
Her life revolved around her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family, friends, neighbors and anyone in need to whom she could offer assistance. She was affectionately called Ms. Dee by the Golding family and friends of St. Catherine; Ms. Iris by her husband’s family and friends of Trelawny, Jamaica.
Ms.Dee relocated from Blue-hole district to Ginger Piece district and Macka Tree, in St. Catherine, where she attended Marlie Hill Primary. As a child, Imogene was natural leader and very assertive. She enjoyed playing with marbles and gigs. Ms. Imogene Mighten, a community leader, played a key role in Ms. Dee’s life molding her character with love. In her adolescence Ms. Dee went to live in Kingston, the island’s capital, where she spent time with her older sister Violet. She was well known and beloved in her community because of her kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Because of the love Ms. Dee exuded throughout her community, when her brother Henry came to visit for the first time, the neighbors yelled out in excitement,” Ms. Dee, Ms. Dee, your brother is coming, Ms. Dee your brother is coming”, sending the message of her brother’s arrival well before he got to the house. Kingston was where Ms. Dee met the love of her life and her soul mate Joseph Barnaby. After a beautiful courtship they wedded on August 6, 1963 and moved to Trelawny.
When the newlyweds settled in their new home in the cool rolling hills of Trelawny, her husband’s family welcomed her lovingly and quickly became fond of her. The couple produced ten children in their blissful union. Ms. Iris and Joseph were farmers. They produced Trelawny’s finest, “Yellow Yams”. She was more than a farmer; she was an entrepreneur. She grew and brought produce from other farmers which she sold at the market place. The income from the sale of the produce provided the much needed finance for her family and her community.
She became an icon for good in her community. Ms. Iris did not see class or status; she loved and treated everyone with the same respect regardless of their achievements or socioeconomic status. One of the proverbial sayings that she lived by and taught her children was, “We should not give up on anyone, because when our lives may be having a downward trajectory, their lives may be having an upward trajectory!”
Ms. Iris shared all she had among her biological children, grandchildren and the children in her community. When others were struggling and had no home in which to live, she would take them into her humble abode and lovingly cared for them. In addition, she also sought out families in the community who had fallen on hard times and shared her resources with them. As such, she taught her children that the key to life, both in words and deeds, is love for God, family, community and respect for all. Ms. Iris migrated to the U.S. where she could do more financially for her family and community.
In 1992 she relocated to the United States of America with three of her sons, Ryan, Owen and Bransley. In this new community she was known as “Mama.”
Mama worked at Saint Raphael Hospital for two decades. She was a faithful, honest and hardworking employee. Imogene was well loved and made lifelong friendships. During her tenure she was awarded Employee of the Month.
Although Ms. Iris lived in the U.S.A. she always remembered the community in which she grew up. At least two times per year, she purchased items which were packed in barrels and shipped to the Jamaican community. Each item in the barrel was labeled for specific families in the community. She later sent for her other children and grandchildren to reside with her in the U.S. While living in the U.S. Mama opened her heart and home to individuals who were temporarily displaced and facing financial hardship.
Most memorable moments of her life for her son Owen was when she responded to his ‘’altar call’ and was baptized at the Mount Zion SDA church.
Mama’s son Wallace loves to entertain his friends at home. One day Wallace was in the backyard preparing for his party, an event that did not have Mama’s approval. She suspected it was going to take place. She went outside and saw Wallace stringing up the boom-box. Wallace then asked Mama to go back inside the house. Mama Response to Wallace was, “You move and go-way. You no see you a Cartoon!”
Mama was the, matriarch, of her family, her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends, sought her company and counsel. She kept her family together, because she earned their respect and confidence!
Imogene was predeceased by her husband Joseph Barnaby; sons, Pressley, Ryan; parents, Levi and Belzina Golding; sisters, Justina, Violet, Mavis; and brothers, Sylvester, and Bernard Golding. She is survived by her daughters, Carrol Mullings, Christine Anderson, Murley White, Joann Dale; sons, Junior, Wallace, Bransley, and Owen; brothers, Henry Golding, Franklyn Golding, Gilbert Golding, Lewie Golding, Clifton Golding; sisters, Hermena Jackson and Alice Harrison; nieces, nephews, thirty eight grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Mom’s time has come to REST in God’s eternal care. As such we say, rest wife, rest mother, rest grandmother, rest great-grandmother, rest sister, rest aunt, rest neighbor and rest friend in God’s eternal care!
A celebration of her life will take place Sunday, February 2, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Mount Zion Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 64 Marlboro St, Hamden, CT 06517. Friends may call Sunday at the church from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Interment will be Monday, February 3, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Barnaby family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com