Jeenarain Harry's Obituary
My brother Jeenarain Harry was born on Nov 21st, 1942, in plantation Boundyard Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana. Many years later, the family moved to Tain Settlement, Corentyne Berbice. He was the third of six sons and two daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Latchminarine Harry. His mother's maiden name was Howrabia; alias Kowsilia and father's name Latchminarine Harry alias, Janna Ragoo. Both parents were sugar workers in the sugar plantation for many years, earning a meager living ,as so many of their generation did.
We were born into a very poor family and as you might imagine, raising eight children with minimum wage making it extremely difficult for our parents to make ends meat, not to mention a chance of affording a higher education for any of us. We all did different things to assist our parents to put food on the table from various domestic chores, fishing, carpentry to rice planting and harvesting. It was in this field of rice-cutting that my brother, Jeenarain, excelled. You could say he was in class by himself. He worked as a "paid hand" in this field. His skill as one of fastest, cleanest rice cutter amongst his peers was well known and often sought. Anyone wanting a good rice cutter would look to hire him. He would cut one and a half toss in half the time others took. His work was clean and neat. His earnings from this trade paid his way to a secondary education where he passed three subjects @ the G,C,and E level.
This was in the early 60s at which time news began to spread about a chance of coming to America. We were all bursting with excitement and anticipation.
My brother Jeenarain was one of the fortunate few to gain a visa into United States in 1969. Once in America, Jee stayed with some very good friends, all with a dream of a much, much better life. He was determined not to come back home to Guyana still as the son of a poor, sugar worker. My brother Jeenarain was determined to carve out a foundation that would set his feet upon solid ground and open up a way of immense opportunities for all in the immediate and extended family. During his early years in America, he endured obstacles, like cramped housing, sleep deprivation, poor diet, and immigration challenges. But that only intensified his determination.
In Sept of 1969 I joined my brother Jeenarain in America. He helped me get settled and gave me a start. But his goal of a better life and a brighter future remained unchanged. With that in mind, he continued on the course he charted. A course which would involve many years of hard work and unfailing dedication. And he was up to the challenge! You could say that he was a man, a man on a mission, a mission of wealth and comfort.
Within a year and a half, Jee worked hard enough and saved enough to take on the responsibilities of getting married and he returned to Guyana married the love of his life, Ms. Nazmoon Khan, daughter of Mr, & Mrs. Suratali Khan of Tain Settlement. However, he didn’t come home empty handed as when he left Guyana. He was now a Permanent Resident of the United States of America with enough money to offer a fair degree of comfort and a bright future for the girl he married.
Out of this happy marriage God gave them two beautiful, intelligent, kind, and compassionate daughters, Amanda and Rowena.
My brother Jeenarain worked in many different jobs in America during the course of his life and as some of you may know the minimum wage in NY was $1.60/hr. and a transit token was 20 cents at that time! It was tough to survive much less save. Seven of us had to live together just to pay the rent and buy groceries. But his big break came in the mid 70's when he enrolled into a 6-month State- sponsored training course in Air Condition and Refrigeration. There he met a wonderful teacher who was a very skilled technician in the field. Jee became his unpaid apprentice for four years but the skills he learned from him were priceless. It was those skills and his thirst for knowledge that landed him a well-paying job at General Electric as a service technician. In this field he gained NY State license and recognition as one of the elite techs at GE. It must be clearly stated that my brother was hard working and strong, but it is his wife was the anchor that held him steady. She is not only a Godly woman and great sister-in-law but by precepts and example was very instrumental in getting my brother Jeenarain to give his heart fully to Jesus and they raised their two daughters in like manner.
Tonight, brothers and sisters, we are all in mourning at the passing away of my brother which is our natural inclination. But we do not die without hope. We believe in God, who is faithful and true to His word when He says “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth in me shall never die.” That joyful day cometh and soon we shall all be together once more.
What’s your fondest memory of Jeenarain?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jeenarain?
Share a story where Jeenarain's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jeenarain you’ll never forget.
How did Jeenarain make you smile?