Rameliah Alexander Jennings
On the morning of April 22, 2020 Rameliah Alexander Jennings known to all as "Reme" and fondly by many as "Bidda" departed life into eternal rest at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. Reme was the youngest child of 8, born on August 13, 1945 in Old Harbour Bay, Jamaica, to the late Remeliah "Darme" and Icy Mae (Bailey) Jennings. He was educated in the Old Harbour Bay Public School system. Reme loved to tinker with automobiles and upon graduating, he apprenticed in Kingston Jamaica, obtaining his mechanics license. In 1972, like so many of his generation, Reme migrated to Toronto, Canada and earned his degree from Centennial College. Reme worked as a mechanic for several companies and for a short period even owned his own mechanic shop. In 1981, Reme met Dorothy and the two married in 1989 and were inseparable since. He often described Dorothy as his queen, his friend, his ace boon coon, “moms,” and his partner for life. Reme enjoyed driving and could drive anything on wheels. He was so apt behind the wheel, that when he first moved to New Jersey in 1988, he would make the almost nine hour drive to Toronto after a long week of work just to see his then fiancé, his family, and of course play dominos with his friends. He would do all that, then turn around to make it back to work for Monday morning. Reme was the consummate road warrior, often piling his family into the car for trips that would take them anywhere with paved roads. In 2007, Reme retired from United Parcel Service and the couple had the fortune of traveling all over the world together. As they globetrotted from Dubai to India, from Israel to Hawaii, Reme would make friends with anyone who had a good story to tell or was in need of being told a good story. Reme spent much of his career with United Parcel Service (UPS) and three years into his official retirement, he started working part time as a driver for Suburban Bus Company (Coach USA). Although the role started as an outlet that tapped into his love of driving, in typical Reme fashion, he bonded with all of the staff at the company and became as beloved there as he was everywhere else he touched. Reme was a family man with a magnetic personality. Not many can say that they have kept friends from childhood, but Reme could boast that his longest friendships spanned 70+ years. Family was extremely important to him and although he was an uncle to many nieces and nephews, his interacted with them much more like a wise older brother. And in true older sibling fashion, Reme would promise to give his younger nieces rides in his truck or promise to take them out, as long as they made him breakfast or washed his clothes. Reme still owes some of his nieces rides in his truck, but to this day, they still adore their uncle/brother. A constant jokester, Bidda always donned a smile or a joke: unless he was hungry of course. He also embodied the Jennings’ scrawl that only a pot of Jamaican soup, a fried fish, a boiled dumpling, or some of “moms” or his sisters good cooking could fill. Reme’s other passion was sports. In his youth, he loved cricket and in retirement developed a keen liking to golf. Influenced by his older brother, Norris, Reme spent much of his time in retirement learning the sport. Bringing his clubs on as many trips as possible, Reme had the opportunity to play on golf courses in Jamaica, Toronto, Hawaii, and overseas. Being the man he was, he also influenced his nephews, children, and others around him to take up an interest in golf. He knew the kind of bonding that can be done on the golf course, and as a competitor, he had the opportunity to show off his skills and “whoop up” on his novice competitors. Reme’s legacy is rooted in his nine children and plethora of kids he informally adopted as his own. He was a mentor to his sons and “daddy” to his daughters. He taught them to be strong, independent, and a little stubborn. More importantly, he taught them the love of Christ through his own walk and speaking to them about their salvation. Reme’s walk with Christ started in 1987 and their relationship continued to grow over the years. As a member of Faith Fellowship Ministries, he led home bible studies and worked as security for the then head pastor, the late David Demola. As he continued to grow in his faith, he was led to join the ministry and in 2001 he was ordained as a Minister at Rose of Sharon Community Church. He later was led to First Park Baptist Church where he was ordained a Reverend in 2009. He continued to grow his responsibilities in the church as an associate minister, the chair of the Board of Christian Education, and for some time was part of the Prison Ministry, teaching both in Sunday School and weekly Bible study. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Remeliah and Icy Mae, and his siblings, Levi, Iona, Norris, and Carmen. He leaves not to mourn but to cherish fond memories his wife Dorothy, five daughters, Maxcine Brown (Paul), Nadine, Michelle, Marsha, and Renee. Four sons, Chelvin, Garth, Karl, and Reme. He leaves behind eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He also leaves behind three sisters, Cynthia Bryant, Stephanie Thomas, and Ruby Rhodd (Keith), twenty-seven nieces and nephews, many in-laws, very close friends that he spoke to daily, a host of grand nieces, nephews, and cousins that were dear to him. He was a husband, a father, an uncle, a friend and a man of God. May we all live life with as much passion, perspective and purpose as he did. “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” II Timothy 4: 7-8 (NLT)Obituary
On the morning of April 22, 2020 Rameliah Alexander Jennings known to all as "Reme" and fondly by many as "Bidda" departed life into eternal rest at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. Reme was the youngest child of 8, born on August 13, 1945 in Old Harbour Bay, Jamaica, to the late Remeliah "Darme" and Icy Mae (Bailey) Jennings. He was educated in the Old Harbour Bay Public School system. Reme loved to tinker with automobiles and upon graduating, he apprenticed in Kingston Jamaica, obtaining his mechanics license. In 1972, like so many of his generation, Reme migrated to Toronto, Canada and earned his degree from Centennial College. Reme worked as a mechanic for several companies and for a short period even owned his own mechanic shop. In 1981, Reme met Dorothy and the two married in 1989 and were inseparable since. He often described Dorothy as his queen, his friend, his ace boon coon, “moms,” and his partner for life. Reme enjoyed driving and could drive anything on wheels. He was so apt behind the wheel, that when he first moved to New Jersey in 1988, he would make the almost nine hour drive to Toronto after a long week of work just to see his then fiancé, his family, and of course play dominos with his friends. He would do all that, then turn around to make it back to work for Monday morning. Reme was the consummate road warrior, often piling his family into the car for trips that would take them anywhere with paved roads. In 2007, Reme retired from United Parcel Service and the couple had the fortune of traveling all over the world together. As they globetrotted from Dubai to India, from Israel to Hawaii, Reme would make friends with anyone who had a good story to tell or was in need of being told a good story. Reme spent much of his career with United Parcel Service (UPS) and three years into his official retirement, he started working part time as a driver for Suburban Bus Company (Coach USA). Although the role started as an outlet that tapped into his love of driving, in typical Reme fashion, he bonded with all of the staff at the company and became as beloved there as he was everywhere else he touched. Reme was a family man with a magnetic personality. Not many can say that they have kept friends from childhood, but Reme could boast that his longest friendships spanned 70+ years. Family was extremely important to him and although he was an uncle to many nieces and nephews, his interacted with them much more like a wise older brother. And in true older sibling fashion, Reme would promise to give his younger nieces rides in his truck or promise to take them out, as long as they made him breakfast or washed his clothes. Reme still owes some of his nieces rides in his truck, but to this day, they still adore their uncle/brother. A constant jokester, Bidda always donned a smile or a joke: unless he was hungry of course. He also embodied the Jennings’ scrawl that only a pot of Jamaican soup, a fried fish, a boiled dumpling, or some of “moms” or his sisters good cooking could fill. Reme’s other passion was sports. In his youth, he loved cricket and in retirement developed a keen liking to golf. Influenced by his older brother, Norris, Reme spent much of his time in retirement learning the sport. Bringing his clubs on as many trips as possible, Reme had the opportunity to play on golf courses in Jamaica, Toronto, Hawaii, and overseas. Being the man he was, he also influenced his nephews, children, and others around him to take up an interest in golf. He knew the kind of bonding that can be done on the golf course, and as a competitor, he had the opportunity to show off his skills and “whoop up” on his novice competitors. Reme’s legacy is rooted in his nine children and plethora of kids he informally adopted as his own. He was a mentor to his sons and “daddy” to his daughters. He taught them to be strong, independent, and a little stubborn. More importantly, he taught them the love of Christ through his own walk and speaking to them about their salvation. Reme’s walk with Christ started in 1987 and their relationship continued to grow over the years. As a member of Faith Fellowship Ministries, he led home bible studies and worked as security for the then head pastor, the late David Demola. As he continued to grow in his faith, he was led to join the ministry and in 2001 he was ordained as a Minister at Rose of Sharon Community Church. He later was led to First Park Baptist Church where he was ordained a Reverend in 2009. He continued to grow his responsibilities in the church as an associate minister, the chair of the Board of Christian Education, and for some time was part of the Prison Ministry, teaching both in Sunday School and weekly Bible study. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Remeliah and Icy Mae, and his siblings, Levi, Iona, Norris, and Carmen. He leaves not to mourn but to cherish fond memories his wife Dorothy, five daughters, Maxcine Brown (Paul), Nadine, Michelle, Marsha, and Renee. Four sons, Chelvin, Garth, Karl, and Reme. He leaves behind eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He also leaves behind three sisters, Cynthia Bryant, Stephanie Thomas, and Ruby Rhodd (Keith), twenty-seven nieces and nephews, many in-laws, very close friends that he spoke to daily, a host of grand nieces, nephews, and cousins that were dear to him. He was a husband, a father, an uncle, a friend and a man of God. May we all live life with as much passion, perspective and purpose as he did. “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” II Timothy 4: 7-8 (NLT)
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Scotch Plains, NJ