A Good and Godly Man
First Community Church of the Nazarene Rev. Dr. Leroy Richards, Pastor The ministry leaders and members of First Community share the shock and grief of the entire Caribbean Diaspora as we grapple with the loss of our dear brother and friend, Lowell Hawthorne. Our grief is felt even more keenly as Lowell’s time in the US was so closely intertwined with ours. His business and civic accomplishments are many and well known and clearly documented; they will inspire the next generation of dreamers. But what may not be widely known is the deep wellspring of Christian experience which informed and nurtured Lowell’s altruism, smile, family values, tenacity and wholehearted commitment to the education achievement of young people. Lowell was a good man, but Lowell was also a godly man. Over the past twenty four years, it has been my privilege to have engaged in weekly Bible study with him in my home. After some years, it was with much joy that I lead him into water baptism. He was greatly disappointed when we could not find a picture of him taken at his baptism. He desperately wanted to include it in his autobiography, The Baker’s Son. Over the years, we often had opportunity to discuss matters of theological significance and a few years ago we both accompanied a group from our church on a mission trip to Jamaica. The purpose of this mission trip was to provide resources for a poor, struggling basic school in Annatto Bay, St Mary. Lowell often recited his father favorite scripture verse…..one which he strived to live by, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (1 Corn. 11:1)
Lowell was a good man….BUT LOWELL WAS ALSO A GODLY MAN!!
Excerpts taken from The Jamaica Observer,
Wednesday, December 06, 2017
We can't begin to imagine the pain being felt by the family of Mr. Lowell Hawthorne, arguably the most successful black Jamaican in business overseas, who tragically passed away last Saturday in New York. However, this newspaper in particular, and the wider Jamaica, especially our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, share the family's grief. For we had come to know Mr. Hawthorne as not only a good man and patriot, but a decent human being. Jamaica will recall that he and his company took the prestigious trophy (2010 Business Leader Award) and, true to his nature, accepted the recognition “with great humility and gratitude” while saluting his late parents — Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne — whose unconditional love, support and guiding principles, he said, laid the foundation on which he built his business and fueled his entrepreneurial spirit
Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Just last December he made that very point at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annual Awards Banquet. “I stopped by to tell you to expand your business beyond the shores of Jamaica, into the Americas where there are no borders. Think globally, think export, think Brand Jamaica and explore every opportunity to market our products, our country... to those ready and waiting in the wings,” Mr. Hawthorne urged. “If you are from Flanker, dream big; if you are from Tivoli Gardens, dream big, if you are from Rema, dream big. Do not let your zip code or community determine your destination. You may be the product of your past, but it should not be the trap of your past. Don't be afraid to dream big, don't be afraid to dream alone. Only be afraid not to dream at all,” he said. That speech earned him a standing ovation.
Caribbean International Network
NEW YORK, United States — As the Jamaican community here continues to grapple with Saturday'ssuicide by the founder and chief executive officer of GoldenKrust Caribbean Bakery and Grill, Lowell Hawthorne, the Caribbean International Network (CIN) said it will provide a “special tribute” in his memory on Sunday. CIN's founder and CEO Stephen Hill said the station will devote a seven-minute segment of its broadcast in honor of Hawthorne. The segment will highlight his achievements “and what he meant to the Diaspora”. The event last month (Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne Foundation Gala) raised more than US$100,000 for the Golden Krust scholarship programme...
