My condolences to my brothers. For a time Ms. Pennycooke was also my mother. Much love to you guys.

 Junior 

I visited her in Jamaica 10 years ago and Aunt Lilleth was so full of energy she climbed her beautiful mango tree in front of her house and picked me the best mango I ever had. She will be so missed. We spent a beautiful day together. I will always remember the long talks we had together about my Dad her brother Reginald Black.

We are so sorry for her loss,  our condolences go out to the family and friends. Rest in peace our beloved Aunt you will be so missed. You love life and you lived such a wonderful one. 

Elmer & joy  Greene 

A life well lived. Rest in eternal peace.  It was a privilege to have known you ❤️

I have had the privilege to meet and know Mrs. Pennycooke from September 1967, the first day Mona Primary was opened. Construction of our classroom wasn’t completed, so every morning we had to assemble at the school and march to the Mona Theatre where we would have classes until the construction was completed. I remember Norman, Geoffry Philp and myself sitting on the same desk/bench at the little theatre and the fear of making sure homework was done and that we knew what was taught to escape that big broad belt that she would often show us 😊.

Mrs. Pennycooke prepared us well for common entrance exams and we medaled in group singing and poetry at the national festival competitions.

I remember going to her house in the evenings for extra lessons and her giving me bun and cheese and Milo every evening. I was treated like and felt like a son. I met Charles, Neville and Desi during that time and we have remained friends since.

My daughter also benefitted from doing extra lessons with her many years after and has also asked me to send condolences to the family.

Over the years, I mostly saw her when Desi or Norman visited and I always admired her physical strength and refusal to change her mind once convicted. Her principles and values have shaped and molded me to be the character that I am today.

Love you always and Rest in Peace Mis Lil from your son from a different mother. 

Mrs. Penny, as she was affectionately called at Cokes View Primary School in Westmoreland was a trailblazer in our school system. As told by my older cousins, she came to our sleepy school where one student passing the common entrance examinations every three years was the norm. The energetic Mrs. Pennycooke changed that norm to having multiple students passing the examination each year. I attended Cokes View Primary School in the early sixties where Mrs. Penny came as the vice principal and later became the Principal. She brought a level of dynamism never seen before in the School. She was not only interested in academics, but also in the all-round development of the students. We were introduced to end of year concerts; boys proudly tended to the school farm while girls learned sewing. Inter-school matches in cricket and netball were held with the neighbouring Petersfield primary. My cousin Cosmo Fraser who is a nephrologist in San Francisco, reminded me how Mr. Pennycooke picked him up each Saturday to take him to the Pennycooke’s home, where he Charles and other boys were given additional lessons. He still cherishes today that Mrs. Penny thought that at that age he had promise. Mrs. Penny was even-handed in the treatment of all students. This even-handedness was also applied to punishment where her boys got as much as the others. As for me, I am extremely grateful for a lesson learned in the summer of 1963. Coming to Kingston for the f irst time, I picked up a Kingston twang with misplaced H’s and T’s. On returning to school and regaling my escapades in Kingston in my new ‘twang’ I heard a voice saying, “come here boy” even though I was not in her class and for that my punish ment was short and swift. Every H and T were back in place immediately. A lesson I have cherished ever since. Mrs. Penny, Cokes View was never the same without you. Rest In Peace you have made your mark on so many persons in Jamaica.

Dear Charles, Neville, Desmond, Norman and family members,

It is with deep regret that I write this letter of condolence concerning the recent passing of your mother, and my favorite teacher of all time, Ms. Pennycooke. Although her passing brings me some sadness, I am heartened by her longevity and the fact that she had a healthy and rewarding life until the end. It is good to be reminded that the good does not always die young.

I will be brief, but I would be remiss if I did not relate the impact she had on my life, and the spark she lit in me at an early and impressionable age.

I was a young boy at Cokes View primary school when she moved from Petersfield primary school. In those days, one had to pass a common entrance examination to attend high school. Unfortunately, some schools were known to get more scholarships than others, not based on academic merit. Petersfield was more fortunate than my school in this regard. I was always a student with a thirst for knowledge and was fearless in this regard. There were no assignments I could not finish in minimal amount of time – but NO scholarship.

One can easily understand how uplifting it was for me then when Ms. Pennycooke told me I was one of the smartest students she ever taught and wondered why I had not gotten a scholarship to high school. She spoke with my mother and suggested that I come to her home on Saturdays to do schoolwork with her children (Neville and Desmond). I would be picked up by Mr. Pennycooke and brought back home after schoolwork and lunch. She initiated this plan and there was no compensation involved or expected by her or her family. She truly went above and beyond - the mark of a Saint. This was the beginning of the rest of my life.

Due in large part to her selflessness, I felt there were no limits to my abilities. I subsequently got a half scholarship to STETHS, received BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Columbia University, received my MD from the State University of New York, did Fellowship in Nephrology and Neurobiology at the University of California, San Francisco where I became Professor of Medicine in Residence. Working with Dr Allen Arieff, I did extensive Basic Science Research, published extensively in the most prestigious medical journals and Textbooks of Nephrology and Medicine, and lectured all over the world. I have also received numerous scientific awards and recognition. I even found time to be a reggae singer song writer along the way.

If Ms. Pennycooke did not move to Cokes View Primary when she did, I am not sure if my life would have been as impactful as it did.

I wish the family all the best and God’s speed to my guardian Angel. May she rest in peace.

In Loving Memory of Grandma P Grandma Pennycooke was the embodiment of strength, kindness, and quiet determination. She had a presence that made you feel safe, loved, and grounded —whether through a warm cup of Milo after a long journey, or the gentle nudge to wake up early for church. As a child, I always felt the warmth of her faith and the steadiness of her spirit. She was immensely proud of me and my sister, especially when we graduated from medical school — a moment I know meant as much to her as it did to us. I’ll always remember the joy on her face at my wedding, dancing and celebrating with her usual grace and spark. Her love was a constant in our lives, and her legacy will live on in every act of kindness, every step of faith, and every moment of perseverance we carry forward. Rest well, Grandma—you truly fought the good fight.

Christmas Dinner

Miss Lil, mamma....my rock! During my younger years you did not give up on me. You provided the support, love and strength that has carried me through to today. As I grew older I became your support, friend and house partner. I will always treasure the memories of you being there for me when I need it the most.

There aren’t enough words in the world to truly capture what my mom meant to me. My mom was my constant. No matter how difficult the road I took or how far I wandered, she was always there. We were both stubborn, two kindred spirits. We didn’t always agree, and we rarely danced around the truth. But there was always respect. Our bond was forged through honesty, challenge, and a quiet understanding that no matter what, we would show up for each other. She taught me that strength is not about being perfect. It is about standing firm for the people you love, even when they make it hard. Especially when they make it hard. She was never on the sidelines. Mom was a force. Whether it was a lastminute trip or a full-blown family argument, she was right in the middle of it all, mediating, guiding, and making her voice heard. You could not ignore her. And you did not want to. Her presence always said, this moment matters. She had a rare ability to find the good in any situation. She encouraged me when I felt unsure, stood beside me during the hardest moments, and never stopped reminding me that I was capable of more than I believed. Mom, you were the spark at the heart of our family. And even though you are gone, your light still glows in every laugh, every memory, and in every part of me that keeps going when life gets tough. Mom, thank you for never giving up on me. I love you. Always will.

Dear Mother P: what I admired so much about you was your strength not only your physical strength but your strength of character.  I loved your colloquial sayings, your humor and your love for your family and extended family. I can remember at 75 how you were skipping rope and running with your grands.  What I appreciate most is that you were a woman of God. I know that you are singing and dancing with the Lord. May the soul of Mother  P and all the faithful departed rest in peace and rise in glory. Love, Judy, Paul & René

Today, I honor the life and spirit of my beloved Mother P, a woman whose love reflected God’s grace and whose presence was a true blessing to all who knew her.

She didn’t just welcome me into the family; she made me her daughter. Her wisdom and fair advice guided us through the early years of married life, and her boundless energy could outmatch anyone, especially on those early morning flea market trips! If it was 6:30 a.m., she was ready to hunt for deals, and she made sure I was up and ready too.

She had a deep love for the simple joys of life: the colors of autumn, especially brown, and the beauty of the open road, whether we were headed to Disney, Atlanta, Ohio, or Virginia Beach. Every journey was an adventure with her.

Her teaching spirit lived on in my children, as she patiently reminded them that “reading makes a ready boy or girl.” She fiercely defended them, supported them, and stood by them with unwavering love. Yes, she was stubborn at times, but that strength was part of her beauty. She stood by her convictions with courage, and we loved her all the more for it.

What touches me most and what stays with me every day are the countless prayers she lifted up on our behalf. I know those prayers still cover us now. I miss her deeply, but I’m comforted knowing God has her as one of His angels.

I’m pretty sure about that.

My dearest Mrs. Pennycooke,

I address you in the present tense because you will always be in my heart.

I remember the first time I stepped into your class. You looked at my name, and asked if Sydney Philp was my father. I said yes. You replied, “He was a brilliant man, and I expect the same from you.”

That was a lot to ask of a young boy who had just turned eleven. But I never forgot it. I’ve carried that memory for the past 56 years.

I will never forget you, because you saw the spark in me—the same spark I inherited from my father, and the one I still carry.

My deepest condolences to your sons, especially Norman ( my fellow  Wise Man from the Christmas play at our community center)  with whom I share many memories from primary school, high school,and beyond. 

God bless you, Mrs. Pennycooke.

My beautiful mother. She was my guiding light, my rock, kind, strong, and always full of grace. I’ll always remember your strength, your smile, your giving heart and the way you made everyone feel at home.

As an educator, principal, she was firm and supportive and always encouraged her students to “reach for the stars”. One of her favorite quotes to inspire her students is by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

You will always be remembered.

Have a well earned rest.

You will always be remembered.

Have a well earned rest.

Love you Mom.

Norman

Condolences my family on the passing of the matriarch and powerhouse that was Aunt Lil. Just two days ago I was thinking of my childhood learning experiences and the impact Aunt Lil had on them. She stood out as an educator, helping me make the difficult shift from learning in the US system that left me terribly behind when I returned to Jamaica to attend school as a young child. I was not given a choice to catch up and learn, and to this day my command of basic mathematics and ability to add columns on sight I attribute to her ensuring I was no longer left behind. She encouraged my love of writing and when I publish that book, she will receive her props. She was stern, brooked no foolishness in the classroom, but I always felt special to her. To a live well-lived and the thousands of lives impacted, thank you and sweet rest Aunt Lil. 

A full and purposeful life lived…she impacted so many lives as a teacher and school administrator.  Sleep well, Aunt Lil 🙏🏽