Clovis Alphanso Lawson was born on the 26th of October 1957 to Dorris and Ryland Lawson in the district of Cave Mountain in Westmoreland Jamaica.

He was the second of 5 surviving children for his parents.

He attended Ms Alcie’s Basic (kindergarten).

The family relocated to Savanna-la-mar, and while there, his education continued at the Unity Primary school from where he matriculated to the Manning’s School. He participated in club activities and other extracurricular activities and was outstanding as a Boy’s scout.

He and his brother Handsurd attended Manning’s School and there he acted as protector to his brother to shield him from what was termed “grubbing” where the senior students harass the new students.

His classmates at Mannings gave him the alias “ Heke” and even after leaving high school , his friends called him this name, however he never explained what it meant nor why they called him that.

During the 1970’s in Jamaica, young people were encouraged to participate in a social intervention programme called National Youth Service and it was through this avenue that Clovis began his foray into teaching.

He taught as a pretrained teacher at Ferris primary school in Westmoreland Jamaica and this projected him to consider and pursue teaching as a profession.

He pursued his goal of becoming a teacher at the Church Teacher’s college in Mandeville Jamaica. He completed his studies and had his teaching practice or internship done at Lennon high school in the parish of Clarendon Jamaica.

He used to tell us the family many stories about the district of Mocho, where Lennon School is located about the red dirt that gets into and onto everything and the lack of water which plagued the community.

He then moved to teach at Knox College in Spalding, Clarendon, Jamaica. His first permanent job.

While at Knox College, Clovis was aware of the humble beginnings from whence he came. He was also aware of the need to “give back” and so took on the responsibility of managing his younger sister’s schooling because of the struggles his mother faced in carrying out this responsibility. He recognized his rile in the family and did so willingly.

Clovis was a generous and caring person and a decent human being.

While teaching at Knox College he met his future wife Joan Howe. They married in 1983 and the union produced three children.

The family misses him and wishes to thank those who grieves with us at this difficult time.

eir life…