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RM Sheron Barnes makes it 50

Published:Friday | June 3, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Carolyn Wright is only too happy to hold the 'chimmey' ready to collect fines for violation at the Five-Oh party. - Contributed
MoBay's busiest dance floor saw guests living it up all night long. - Contributed
Ivy Barnes dances with her daughter Sheron Barnes, who stepped out in her second outfit for the night, a purple, one-shoulder dress, complete with silver heels, fabulous hair and great accessories.
Civil engineer Kamla-Kay Raggie (left) and multimedia specialist David Williams are only too happy to pay tribute to their cousin, Sheron Barnes.
High Court judge Evan Brown plants a kiss firmly on the cheek of Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes at her Five-Oh party. Looking on are (from left) Michael Small, his wife Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong Small, and clerk of the court/attorney Errol Chattoo. They were enjoying the great vibes at the party.
From left: Resident Magistrate Opal Smith; attorney Melrose Reid, the birthday girl Sheron Barnes and attorney Shelly-Ann Beckford-Louden make memories at the party.
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Why would members of the teaching, journalism and legal profession get together? For Sheron's Five-Oh birthday party, of course!

Saturday, May 28 saw Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes, former teacher/journalist, her family, friends, and colleagues gathered at her home in Montego Bay to celebrate her milestone.

The invitation told guests to "re-invent themselves." There was also 'The Five-Oh Act' which forbade the use of the word 'fifty' at the party, on peril of a $500 fine for charity. Carolyn Wright, the RM's adopted daughter and teacher at Wolmer's Prep School, stood with a chamber pot (chimmey), waiting to collect "a pot load of money" for violators. But there were few. The law was strictly upheld in the judge's kingdom.

Some guests did re-invent themselves, with decorator extrodinaire Melissa Grizzle looking fabulous in her Nicki Minaj look-alike outfit, inclusive of wig. But the judge took it to a new level when she wore not one, but two great out-fits and changed hairstyles (wigs) to suit them both, sticking to her green and purple theme.

No one outdid the birthday girl on the dance floor as she danced up a storm to every single song mixed so well by DJ Carlton Causwell.

Orland Bailey sang Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely. Greetings came from her son, Luron Wright, who was on one of his missions in the Royal Navy, and from niece Anya Grant in Canada. That moved Sheron to tears.

Mother Ivy Barnes spoke of her daughter changing careers and how interesting her Gleaner articles were; Carolyn Fisher recalled Sheron's feature article on her in the Flair Magazine; Kamla-Kay Raggie, cousin and civil engineer lauded her motivational skills; and Justice Evan Brown recalled the days when Sheron was his clerk.

Toasts and greetings were also heard from Rochelle Fagan, teacher; attorney-at-law Melrose Reid; Sagicor's Grace Martin; multimedia specialist and cousin; David Williams and former teaching colleague; Norrain Morrand, said the prayer. Neighbour and friend, Janet Lewin-Griffiths, along with Beverly Porteous and Doreth Nelson, gave tributes in song while Georgia Reid recited a poem:

buffet

In her reply, Sheron thanked family and friends for being there for her through all the stages of her life.

Everyone feasted on the scrumptious buffet prepared by Robertha Howell and Susan Baugh of their new Barnett Street restaurant, and the pork done by Blanche Chin.

Among the guests were sister Audrey Barnes who flew in from Connecticut, and her beau Patrick 'Astro' Smith; sister Grace (Barnes) McLean of Hedonism II with husband and daughter; former police chief, now magistrate in Anguilla, Keithly Benjamin - classmate from law school; RM Opal Smith; Dalton and wife RM Icolin Reid; Michael and wife RM Sandria Small; attorney Vaughn Bignall; Courtney and wife attorney Shelly-Ann Louden; ace photographer Phillip Green; former reporter Conroy Walker; attorneys Errol and Ann-Marie Chattoo.

Also out were: retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Linton Latty and wife Yvonne; Tynett Wiggan of Cornwall Regional Hospital; Orlando Brown; Legislative Counsel, Kaydian Smith; Claudette King, now retired from Scotiabank; forensic analyst and life-long friend, Sherron Brydson; cousin, retired nurse, anaestheologist Rhoda Barnes; nephew Marvin Earle; uncle Loxley Harvey and his children, Sheryl and Anthony; Brian Wiggan of Ajas and his lovely wife; Esric Henry and Bruce Fisher of Scotiabank; Molly Malcolm of the MoBay RM Court and her son David; Wayne Walker; Faynette Zacca from Fort Lauderdale and Patrick Williams from California with his friends.