Monday November 25, 2019, 6.30 am, the telephone rang, “Mrs. Service I’m so sorry, Mr. Service passed peacefully this morning.” And just like that a chapter in the lives of this family closed and a new reality began.
Lloyd Vincent Service was born on 6th December 1938 to Wycliff Service and Rachel Adassa Service nee Barrett in Montego Bay, St. James. He was the eighth of ten children born to the couple, five girls, Elma, Estelle, Christine, Kathleen and Geneive and five boys Waldin, Charles, William, Lloyd and Wilbert. All the boys except Walden have predeceased him. Lloyd grew up at 21 Barnett Street where his parents owned a furniture store called “Service For Service “. He attended elementary school until age 14 when his parents migrated to Kingston in 1952. In Kingston he attended evening classes at St. Georges College and Camperdown High School. From all accounts Lloyd had a happy childhood, as a boy he was full of fun and mischief and constantly played pranks on his siblings but the twinkle in his eye and his infectious laugh would usually allow “Lloydie” as he was affectionately called by his family members to live to plan another prank.
At the age of 19, Lloyd enlisted in the Jamaica Constabulary Force on March 15, 1958. There began a remarkable career that saw him rising through the ranks until he retired on December 6, 1998 as Assistant Commissioner of Police. He served for 40 years and 8 months, his was a distinguished career characterized by dedicated service to his country, bravery beyond the call of duty and leadership that commanded the respect of his colleagues both senior and junior to him. His life epitomized the mission statement of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, “to serve, protect and reassure”.
Lloyd was an ambitious young man, comfortable in his skin, fearless, proud and confident in the knowledge that he could achieve anything he set his mind to achieve. In 1963 while stationed in Oracabessa, St. Mary he was assigned to then Superintendent Noel Lawrence. One day while waiting to collect his superior at his home, he laid eyes on a beautiful young lady and decided there and then she was his. Her name was Olga Rose Fletcher, she was 17 years old, Superintendent Lawrence was her uncle and guardian along with his wife, Mae, both of blessed memory. Her first impression was of a boassy young boy that ‘think him sweet’, clearly she thought so too as they were married on 26th September, 1964, one week before her 19th birthday, this was the beginning of a lifelong journey together that lasted 55 years.
On January 11, 1965 they were blessed with a beautiful baby boy, they named him Bruce Lloyd , sadly he went to be with the angels shortly after his birth, his loss was deeply felt by the young couple. However on December 28, 1967, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, they named her Sharon Alicia. A prouder father there could not be, for seven years Sharon had her parents to herself until according to them she started to nag, and cry that she was lonely and had no one to play with. She pleaded and demanded that they get her a brother or sister and so on December 19, 1974, they were blessed with another beautiful baby girl, they named her Renee Nicole. Lloyd doted on his girls, theirs was a special bond.
Lloyd was an exemplary father, provider, protector, disciplinarian, he would move heaven and earth to keep his girls safe, he and Olga sacrificed to ensure they got the best education, this was of paramount importance to Lloyd and he constantly impressed upon his children the value of a good education and that the opportunities provided must not be wasted.
Whilst raising his family and serving and protecting them, Lloyd was busy serving and protecting his fellow citizens, patrolling the streets of Kingston night and day. One of the first incidents which brought him to notability occurred on December 30, 1970 when he was at the rank of corporal and stationed at Patrol Division Elletston Road. On this occasion he single handedly engaged six gunmen and recovered guns and ammunition after a fierce gun battle. In recognition of his actions Lloyd received a visit at his home by then Prime Minister Hugh Shearer. For this remarkable Act of bravery Lloyd was immediately promoted to the rank of Sergeant and received a medal of Honor for Gallantry and a congratulatory letter from the Commissioner of Police J. R. Middleton. Lloyd was the first uniformed officer to receive this Honour after the nation gained independence. His over 40 years service to his country as a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force was distinguished by many achievements. Lloyd never shirked from a challenge and he embraced new assignments with enthusiasm.
In 1992, on the occasion of Jamaica’s 30th Anniversary of Independence Lloyd was awarded a Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service.
In July 1993 then Prime Minister PJ Patterson announced the formation of a new crime fighting Division called the Anti Crime Investigative Division (ACID), Asst. Commisioner of Police Service was tasked with leading this new division. The unit had successes but was also controversial, as these units usually are. There were as many articles in the paper praising the unit as there were condemning it. Lloyd took it all in his stride and was never daunted even with threats on his life. One newspaper headline stated “Anti-Crime Force head marked for death.” The allegation was that a price of over $100,000 had been placed on the head of ACP Service. The article stated , “When contacted Mr. Service said he was not happy but was certainly not nervous. He said “it was embarrassing for someone to place over $100,000 on my head”.
A high point of Lloyd’s career was his tenure as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area 1. One newspaper headline read “Police commended for Sunsplash Security”. The article went on to say and I quote “Members of the Public, the business community, and the persons directly involved with Reggae Sunsplash have described the operation spearheaded by the ACP in charge of Area 1, Mr. Lloyd Service, as a classic one”.
In 1991 Lloyd received a letter from then Minister of National Security Mr. KD Knight which read as follows:
“Dear Mr. Service,
Allow me to personally congratulate you on the fine performance you and personnel under your command gave during the recently concluded “Johnnie Walker World Golf Championship.”
I have heard the word excellent used to describe the conduct of all and I am just proud to hear good words spoken about the police. Kindly convey to the entire team my thanks for a job well done”
Lloyd was a committed public servant who relentlessly pursued observance of the law and passionately believed it to be a plank on which a fair and just nation must be built.
In March 1994 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamaica, Lloyd then Assistant Commissioner of Police, was responsible for the security operations for that visit. So impressed was Her Majesty and her staff that Lloyd was honoured by the Queen and became a member of the Royal Victorian Order.
Lloyd was an avid reader, he read everything and firmly believed in continuous self development. In 1982 he obtained a Diploma in Education with a major in Mass Communication from the University of the West Indies and in 1985 while serving full-time in the Jamaica Constabulary Force he obtained a Batchelor of Arts degree with honours in History with Social Sciences also from the University of the West Indies.
The arrival of his first Grandson brought overwhelming joy to Lloyd, he hovered over him as a baby, he once told Olga that this child has made him so happy, they shared many beach trips together and it was his distinct pleasure to introduce Obonna to golf which was a passion of his. When his second grandson Zende was born Lloyd was older and his illness had begun to manifest but the bond between him and Zende was strong, when he would not respond to anyone else, he responded to Zende, theirs was a mutual love fest and they brought great joy to each other. Only Zende could make him laugh, he would always ask about Zende, Zende made him come alive, even if it was for brief moments.
Lloyd loved the Lord, he was not perfect but he believed that Jesus was his Lord and raised his children accordingly, church and Sunday school was a must, no negotiation. He was a praying man and he believed he had a very very special relationship with “JC” as he would refer to Jesus Christ his savior.
Lloyd was a compassionate man, he hated injustice or to see suffering of any kind. He made a positive difference in the lives of so many people, family, friends and strangers. He opened his home so often to those in need of shelter, whether from violence, abuse, or just a place to rest. In many respects he was larger than life, everywhere he went, wherever in Jamaica he was stationed he became well known, everyone knew Mr. Service, from the very top to the little man.
Lloyd was not all work, he loved to have fun, loved a good game of dominoes, loved music, loved to dance, loved to entertain. He loved golf and constantly tried to get all his family members interested in the game. He had an infectious sense of humor and anyone who knew Lloyd knew his laugh was legendary. At functions persons would hear him before they saw him and the usual comment would be “wait Lloyd or Service is here”. So many persons have a story to relate about Lloyd and his laugh, people would start to laugh just by hearing him even when they don’t know what he was laughing about. His neighbors would hear him laughing from their homes and burst out laughing as well.
Lloyd loved his wife, Olga was the Yin to his Yang, the salt fish to his ackee, the wind beneath his wings. For 55 years they shared this journey of life together, all the joys, the sorrows, the disappointments, the celebrations, the failures and successes. In 2005 Lloyd and Olga relocated to Florida in the United States, where they resided until he died. He enjoyed a quieter pace in full retirement with days filled with golf and visits with friends and family. In the last season of his life, as his illness progressed, Olga cared for him with remarkable courage, strength and grace and would have continued to do so until her last breathe.
Our Lord in His wisdom and according to His purpose had a different plan and in the early morning of November 25, 2019, He called Lloyd to his eternal home. In the quiet of that morning as the family struggled to come to terms with the finality of death, sweet Zende hugged his grandma and said “Grandma don’t cry, wipe your tears, grandpa is better now he is sleeping, he is sleeping with Jesus”. And so he is.
Lloyd you lived a good life, you did it your way, you will never be forgotten. We hear your laughter ringing out triumphantly in heaven. We will carry on until we meet again, Rest in Peace and may light Perpetual shine upon You.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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