SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — In life, Roger Harold Clifford Clarke had many, many friends.

Yesterday, scores of them, and even persons who had not known him personally, came out to say their final farewell to the man whom Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller described as a gentle giant and phenomenal Jamaican patriot, during her tribute at the service of thanksgiving for the late affable politician at the St George’s Anglican Church in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

“He was a unique friend, one-of-a-kind and invaluable national builder and an exceptional servant of the people,” said the prime minister.

“The outpouring of love from across the nation, even across political divides is such that Jamaica has never seen before. He cultivated and nourished and cherished real and lasting friendships on both sides of the parliamentary aisles. He cemented bonds of trust and respect through his fairness. These bonds are unbreakable, even with his passing, and remain lessons for all of us who remain,” said Simpson Miller.

The outpouring of love and respect for the late agriculture and fisheries minister, which the prime minister spoke about, was evident yesterday, as long before the scheduled 10:30 am start of the service, hundreds started to descend on the church to bid him farewell for the last time.

Many, however, did not get past the security personnel posted at the entrance of the elegant 111-year-old structure, as they ensured that only selected invitees were allowed inside, due its limited capacity.

Those who were not able to make it inside though, were accommodated in two large white tents outfitted with television sets, as well as several others scattered across the well-manicured church premises. Others watched the proceedings from the church hall, while scores viewed the three-hour-long service on a big screen strategically placed on Murray Street, a few metres from the church.

Still, scores gathered on Great George Street and several minor roadways, reminiscing on the life of the witty and flamboyant Clarke, who died on August 28 in Florida of a suspected heart attack, as he was awaiting his flight to return home after a successful back surgery.

At one point, there was a mad rush for funeral programmes in the precincts of the church, which left a number of ushers frustrated.

Inside the church — beautifully decorated with trimmings bearing the national colours and other accoutrements — nattily dressed mourners braved the sweltering heat, as they listened attentively to the glowing tributes being paid to the veteran politician.

Undoubtedly, the adulation for Clarke was evident, as he was praised for his earthly works.

The long list of mourners included Simpson Miller, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, former Prime Ministers Bruce Golding and PJ Patterson, Jamaican Cabinet ministers and members of both the upper and lower houses of Parliament, diplomats, civil servants, mayors, former mayors, a wide cross section of people from the business community, particularly the agriculture sector, which Clarke impacted greatly.

Simpson Miller, who arrived at the packed church 10 minutes before the start of the service, and just after members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in their black and white tunics formed a guard of honour as the flag-draped casket made its way into the church, told the congregation that Clarke’s death has left an entire country in mourning.

“The nation’s grief has reverberated across the Caribbean Sea, stirring emotions of our neighbours and friends whose lives Roger touched in a uniquely personal way,” said Simpson Miller, adding that the 74-year-old Clarke dedicated nearly all his life to political and public service.

Clarke was Member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland from 2007 up to the time of his death. But before that he held the North East St Elizabeth seat from 1991 to 2007.

He was also a councillor for the Balaclava Division and Mayor of Black River, as well as chairman of the St Elizabeth Parish Council.

Simpson Miller said that as minister of agriculture Clarke lobbied and worked tirelessly for the farmers of Jamaica.

“His passion was rural development. He saw agriculture as that great wave with the potential to lift great masses of our people out of poverty. It is because of him that, despite the odds and challenges, agriculture is on a major upswing. The agro-parks are bearing fruit for farmers; there have been successive quarters of growth in the sector. He brought a greater number of youth in the sector and he gave unflinching support to the work of the 4-H movement which was dear to him,” said Simpson Miller.

Patterson, in delivering the remembrance, which at times evoked laughter, said that Clarke had proven the impossible.

“For large as he was in life, he has proven to be even larger in death. The strong sense of irreparable loss to all Jamaica and the massive outpouring of genuine admiration reflect a crossing of the divide of politics of social class, of colour and creed,” said Patterson.

“The widespread recognition and esteem of the worth and work of this gentle giant springs from a narrative which stands the bridges of a humble beginning. Roger Clarke was not a son of the gentry,” the former prime minister stressed.

He argued that Clarke treated everyone with respect and never committed the cardinal sin to talk down to the countryman or patronise poor urban folk.

Opposition Spokesman on Industry and Commerce Karl Samuda, in his tribute, said Clarke was “the manifestation of what we mean by Brand Jamaica”.

“Jamaica was reflected in all the style and content of Roger Clarke’s life. His generosity of spirit is legendary. The thing that impressed me most about him was his consistency in and out of office; Roger was the same Roger anywhere you met him. He extended himself on every occasion, particularly with respect to the farmers of the country and especially the small farming community,” he argued.

Clarke’s brother, Winston, said that Roger possessed “one of the most extraordinary gifts ever — that is his uncanny ability to make people laugh, feel wanted and feel loved around him often quite easily and skilfully, turning criticism and ridicule on its ugly head”.

He said that his brother committed himself to serving the people of Jamaica and in particular the agricultural sector in commendable style.

“Roger’s wit, warmth and love for people were a rare and magical gift,” he stressed.

Tributes were also read by Donovan Stanberry, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Chairman of the People’s National Party Robert Pickersgill, Mayor of Black River Everton Fisher, Paul Wilson, the PNP’s vice-chairman of the Central Westmoreland constituency and Helene Whitehorne-Clarke, the daughter-in-law of the deceased.

Between the tributes, mourners were treated to rich musical items by Ann Marie-Laing, Dwight Richards and Kevin Williams, who did a rendition of The Holy City.

And following the singing of the National Anthem, the PNP’s song, The Trumpet, was played as pallbearers marched slowly towards the parked hearse in the churchyard with Clarke’s remains.

From there it travelled up Great George’s Street, as it began the five-mile trek to Glen Islay, in Williamsfield, where he was laid to rest.

Throughout the route hundreds of persons lined the roadway as the funeral procession made its way through several communities in his Central Westmoreland constituency.