Congratulations and adulation flowed freely when Sagicor Group Jamaica fêted Sheryl Lee Ralph, and her inner circle at a celebratory luncheon immediately after the Order of Jamaica was conferred upon the actress on Monday, October 17.

Held at the AC Marriot Hotel in Kingston, the intimate post-national honours and awards event provided an outlet for Ralph’s family, as well as friends of the family, to express their heartfelt praises and kind wishes to the Emmy winner.

Karl Williams, Sagicor Group Jamaica’s Executive Vice-President – Shared Services, spoke about the longstanding relationship that Ralph has had with Sagicor, spanning over two decades.

“In 2000, a beautiful young lady first came to the then Life of Jamaica for our annual motivational seminar, and she simply became a part of our family,” Williams said. “Sheryl Lee, your support for us has been nothing short of phenomenal. You are family to us at Sagicor, and we are proud of you. You are certainly an icon for us, and we want to congratulate you wholeheartedly on your first Emmy, and on being a recipient of the Order of Jamaica.”

Williams added that not only had Ralph been a guest speaker at the Sagicor Motivational Seminar and inspired team members at the group’s annual Blast Off event on more than one occasion, but the Mandeville, Jamaica, native also served as the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run patron in 2016.

The honoree’s son, Etienne Maurice, was the first to take the mic when the floor opened for additional toasts.

“I knew all along that my mama was gonna win the award,” he began, emitting cheers of approval from the table. “My mother always told me that life is about choices, and she made a choice not to give up. I know we all are inspired by her story, by her motivation, and by her willingness to believe. I think we all can agree that right now we are living in some dark times, but seeing the Honourable Sheryl Lee Ralph, OJ, onstage brought that light back into the world. She reminded people that this is what striving looks like. This is what believing looks like.”

More tear-jerking toasts poured in from other members of Ralph’s coterie, including her daughter Ivy-Victoria “Coco” Maurice, political activist and family friend Beverly Anderson Manley Duncan, Sagicor Life head of Employee Benefits Sales Sean Edwards, visual artist and family friend Acquille Dunkley, and Ralph’s husband Senator Vincent Hughes.

After the tributes, an emotional Ralph was serenaded by Verlando Small and his saxophone rendition of Tarrus Riley’s She’s Royal.

“I would like to thank everybody at Sagicor, because you have some outstanding people as part of your company,” she said. “I met Marcia Richards first, and Marcia and we became friends. Back then it was Life of Jamaica. And this one, who is not with Sagicor, but she is with the Observer – Novia McDonald-Whyte – who just said ‘We’re getting it done. Don’t worry about it. We’ve got it. We’re getting it done’… and it’s done!”

Ralph also specially thanked other guests who were integral in her development over the years – some of whom had been a part of her life since she lived in Jamaica as a child.

“I have to thank you all for just being you, and for being in my life, because when I stand here with these medals, it’s because you took time to pour into me, and I’ll never forget it. Thank you. I knew I could do it, and it ain’t over yet. This is just the beginning!” she declared to hearty applause.

After the well-received three-course meal of jerk shrimp salad, salmon and a decadent red velvet dessert, the group broke out into pockets of conversation and photo ops with the new Order of Jamaica conferee. By the end of the afternoon, the departing guests would all agree that they knew, personally, what believing and striving look like.