By Nigel Coke
The Jamaica Union Conference and in particular, North East Jamaica Conference (NEJC) mourns the passing of its oldest baptized member, Ms. Adassa Henry-Johnson, who passed to her rest on Sunday October 2, 2016, in the Port Maria Hospital, St. Mary. She was 104 years of age.
Adassa Henry Johnson receives her Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (IAD) award in May 2013 from Pastor Arlington Woodburn, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s North Eastern region, for being the oldest baptised Adventist member in the region, which covers Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, French Antilles, Colombia and Venezuela. Here Woodburn collected the award on her behalf because she was unable to travel.
Sister Johnson, who hails from NEJC, has been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 94 years. She was baptized at the age of 10 in the Labrynth Church, and then later moved to the Stewart Mountain Church where her membership resided. During her years in the church she has held numerous offices such as Chorister, MV Leader and Community Services Leader.
She was the recipient of a special award for her faithful and dedicated service to the Church on Saturday, October 3, 2015, during the 125th Anniversary Celebration of Adventism in Jamaica, held at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Montego Bay. She was unable to attend the service, however, in a video interview, she expressed joy of her achievement and her love for the Church.
At age 101, she was recognized as the longest baptized member of the Adventist Church in Inter-America during a recognition and award ceremony held at the Division Headquarters in Miami in May 2013.
“She was a very strong member of the Church who served well in her younger days,” said Pastor Arlington Woodburn, president of the NEJC. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of this dedicated Adventist stalwart who was faithful to God’s Church all her life.”
The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Adassa Henry Johnson will be announced as soon as the arrangements are finalized.
