Jamaica Union Mourns the Passing of a True Servant Leader

Mandeville, Jamaica…Nigel Coke

Jamaica Union through its Conferences and Institutions are mourning the passing of former director, Pastor Claude Plummer. Pastor Plummer passed away on January 23, 2023, at the Falmouth hospital in Trelawny. He was 93.

“Pastor Plummer gave long and distinguished Christian service to the West Jamaica Conference and the West Indies Union Conference where he served successfully in different Pastoral and leadership roles for a number of years,” said Pastor Everett Brown, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. “He was a trailblazer in Pastoral ministry and a highly respected and beloved Christian gentleman. His ministry impacted the lives of his family colleagues and the people he served and lead.”

Pastor Plummer entered denominational work 72 years ago in January 1951 at the age of 21 as a Literature Evangelist and gave forty-one years of service in various capacities.

“His ministry to the church at large was characterized by honesty, integrity and an unwavering dedication to the mission of the SDA Church and the welfare of people. We regret his passing and wish to assure his wife and family of our prayers and best
wishes as they mourn,” Brown added.

He served as Assistant Publishing Secretary, Ministerial Secretary, Conference Secretary and Conference President in the West Jamaica Conference between 1963 and 1992. He then served as Sabbath School Director and later Sabbath School and Lay Activities Director at West Indies Union Conference, now Jamaica Union Conference after a Field separation in 2010, which saw the islands of The Bahamas, Cayman and Turks and Caicos forming the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission.

“He was an excellent team player, highly organized and mastered the art of time management,” said former President of West Indies Union Conference, Pastor Noel Fraser. “In a capsule, he was a great spiritual leader who led the Church in West Jamaica Conference and West Indies Union with distinction. We have worked together for over 30 years with a friendship of over 53 years.”

“Emperor, as I affectionately called him had a kind and compassionate heart. He had a deep sense of humor. He strongly embraced core values of dignity, honesty, humility and integrity. He had a passion for evangelism. This was evident in him being a successful soul winner. The Sabbath School was dear to his heart,” Fraser added.

Dr. Burnett Robinson, who served as Family Life and Stewardship Director during the time of Plummer’s presidency in West Jamaica described him as a great servant leader whose integrity shone like a beacon.

“Pastor epitomized humility,” said Robinson. “To be in his presence was like therapy. He had the human touch. He was benevolent, caring, kind, approachable, comedic, witty and wise. His counsel, advice, or suggestions were profound.  Where modeling is concerned, I hold him in the highest of esteem. He never spoke in poetry and lived in prose. His passion for God and his compassion for people knew no bounds. It is indeed an incalculable loss.”

Pastor Plummer is survived by his wife Thelma and sons Clausyl, Valens and Dijon, and Reginald.

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Pastor Claude Plummer will take place on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Montego Bay, St. James, at 10.00 am. Interment at the Hillview Memorial Park in St.James.