The homecoming service for Noel “Jubba” Rhudd was held on Friday evening, May 30, 2008 at the Bethseda Healing Center in Brooklyn, New York. Over 300 people filled the Church and actively participated in the evangelical service.
Among the officiating ministers was the College’s own, Ivan “Prof” Watson, Pastor and District Overseer of the United Church of Jesus Christ Bro. Wayne Murray, who represented the school at football during the Rhudd era directed the service and Clinton “Fatman” Clarke’s son, Kareem played the organ.
The service was attended by schoolmates from St. Francis Primary, Cavaliers and Kingston Port Workers football team mates, co-workers from Shipping Association of Jamaica and Life of Jamaica, friends from Mountain View and Barbican Terrace communities, nurses from Kings Brook Hospital and Rehab Center and relatives and friends from all over the U.S., England and Jamaica. However, the Fortis contingent clearly dominated the pews.
The featured event of the service was the rendition of two songs, “He’ll Understand and Say Well Done” and “Rock Of Ages,” by the “Fortis Choir.” Made up of some twenty-four rejects from the Barry Davis era, we sang from the alter, surrounding Jubba’s KCOBA banner draped coffin.
His daughters Sasha and Shacara and Ansell “Bushy” Barrett, read from the resurrection scriptures of the Revelations. Rhudd was eulogized by KCOBA’s New York Chapter President, Robert Kelly. A tribute, prayer of thanksgiving and encouragement to the family was offered by Rev. Watson Jubba’s Pastor, Rev. Francis Henry of the United Destiny Ministries, delivered a most stirring sermon.
The mourners responded generously to our appeal to aid the association in its effort to launch a Trust Fund for the benefit of Rhudd’s fourteen year old twin sons. “Mine eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord,’ rang out as the benediction recessional, but folks were in no hurry to leave. Rather, they huddled around the casket, greeted each other, renewed old acquaintances and reminisced about Jubba.
A massive spread of Jamaican favorites awaited us at the reception, generously donated by the fortis family. Burial took place the following day in Morganville, New Jersey.
