Features

The journey begins with a small walk

By MARLENE MCPHERSON, Star Writer Writer

Coverly (right) and Eva Pearcy - Contributed

COVERLY PEARCY CAN tell anyone the meaning of the word 'Patience', because he has had to apply this virtue to his life in order to secure his wife Eva's hand in marriage.

It was at a Youth Church Convention in Montego Bay in August 1968, that Eva and Coverly met officially. He pointed out that he saw her before but this time it was different. According to Coverly, a friend asked him to escort her to the bus stop because she was unfamiliar with the area. The journey was an eventful one, as this was the spark of the beginning of a relationship.

Both decided to correspond with each other. "I went to the post office twice a week, posting one letter and collecting another. As soon as I received it I opened it. I could not wait to see the contents," said Mrs Pearcy, recalling how the two would write each other constantly after their initial meeting.

Every occasion

At this point Mr. Percy interjected: "When I received my letter I would keep the letter with me from morning until I prepared to go to bed. It is at this time I would read it, then I went to bed." He continued, "In one of my letters I wrote 'when I am lonely mi hug mi pillow and imagine that it is you."

The letters were followed by Coverly visiting Fruitfulvale in Portland, where Eva lived, but this was marked by frustration brought on by his prospective mother-in-law. She was the late Rev. Portia Adassa Sutherland, who would talk to him for a lengthy period and gave him very little time to talk with Eva on the veranda.

"By the time I started talking I would see the bus going down from the terminus to pass back soon; so I would speak to her very quickly then hurry to go down the road to catch the bus to return to St. Thomas. Rev. Sutherland did this on every occasion and I was angry with her but I was patient, and showed respect," he explained.

The two were engaged in June 1969 and the courtship dragged out for four years because Rev. Sutherland tried to oppose the marriage. In one instance Eva was told that if she did not pass her examination she could not get married. On another occasion, the church had an event in St. James and Eva and her family were to go. Rev. Sutherland prepared a seat for Eva to sit beside her on the train, but she eventually ended up sitting beside Coverley. "We chatted from Spanish Town to Mountpelier in St. James."

On July 23, 1973 twenty-six-year-old Eva and thirty-year-old Coverley were married in Fruitfulvale.

Vibrant christians

Mr. Pearcy said that he cannot forget the date of his vow as it was the same day that Sir Florizel Glaspole was sworn in as Governor-General of Jamaica. "It is after our marriage that our courtship began," mused Mr. Percy.

The Pearcys are parents to two adult children. Glasene, their daughter, is an educator and is married with their only grandchild. She lives in Montego Bay with her family, while Chadwick, their son, does computer analysis and repairs at Serge Island in St. Thomas and still resides in the parish.

Both are still vibrant christians and enjoy each other's company. "We are happy and our marriage is based on love, trust and respect for each other," they concluded.