When Mercel and Esmie had their first set of children, life was a lot simpler, yet they were very happy together as a couple. During the 50” s through the early 70” s, most Districts in Jamaica did not have electricity, running water or phones. Life was a lot less complicated and children were a lot happier. They played together and stayed together. Relationships were a lot more binding and respectful. When people died the body would stay no longer than two days before being buried. It took two days as the coffins had to be built by a district carpenter. At nights the body would be taken out of the house and put outside as it was much cooler. During the days, coffee would be burned underneath the bed to suppress the scent of the decomposition. Then in Craighead there was a town crier, Miss Larry, a poverty-stricken widow who was more than happy to get her payment from just being given a whole lot of coffee to drink. If someone in the District was terminally ill, a lot of
Craighead, Manchester, Jamaica Austin/Grant Family
Memories of Mercel and Esmie Austin