Markland Anthony Williams

Mark was a born Jamaican, a son of the soil; but like so many Jamaicans who migrate, he spent most of his adult life outside of Jamaica. Notwithstanding the geographical distance that separated us however, there was “a tie that binds.” Now, our sister Hazel will tell you, (if you ask her), that I’m probably the world’s worst correspondent. I don’t write letters, I don’t do e-mails, and worst of all it’s as if I don’t know how to make a telephone call. That said, months may pass, without any direct contact between Mark and me, but whenever we eventually connected, it’s as if it was only yesterday that we exchanged words. The ties that bind.

One of the things I admired most about my brother was his ability to re-invent himself.  He had this ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Before he left Jamaica he worked with Air Jamaica, the national airline at that time. He moved on to teach art at one of the corporate area’s premier high school, Holy Childhood High School for Girls. When he migrated to California, he worked for many years with IBM, one of America’s Fortune 500 companies, in their quality control department.

Then he met his beloved Janet. This life changing encounter took him to Canada, where, having taken stock of his current circumstances, he again re-invented himself and was integrated in the MDRD department at the University of Alberta hospital. I don’t know what teaching art at the high school level, working with an airline, manufacturing computers and finally a hospital service worker have in common; but, if I may be permitted to take liberty with Shakespeare, Mark was “a man for all seasons.”

The unexpected and suddenness of Mark’s passing prompted me to re-acquaint myself with this verse of scripture in the book of James 4: 14 “whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishath away.” In closing, I want to remind us that the bible teaches that death is asleep. Mark is asleep, awaiting that great getting up morning.

Janet, sincere condolences from the extended family here in Jamaica, my wife Klossmerle, Mark’s two nieces, Shazzan and Rochelle: Frank Williams-brother.

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It is with great sadness that the family of Markland Williams announces his peaceful passing on September 13, 2022 at the age of 65 years. He leaves to mourn wife Janet, daughters Jerine and Regine, son-in-laws Sherwin and Kenny. He will be forever remembered by his granddaughter Celine, sisters Hazel, Joan, and Hillary, brothers, Frederick and Lenworth, nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends.

A visitation for Markland will be held at Memories Funeral Home, 13403 St Albert Trail, Edmonton, AB. on Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

A funeral service to celebrate Mark’s life will be held at West Edmonton Seventh-day Adventist Church, 9949 149 Street Edmonton, on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM with a graveside service to follow at Northern Lights Cemetery, 15203 Campbell Road NW, Edmonton, AB.