By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterCHANCES ARE you've even seen her before. Dressed in her Salavation Army uniform, armed with a hair comb and food stuff, she walked the pathways of St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston, feeding, clothing and combing the hair of the indigents. For the last three years of her life, Josephine Heron cared for the less fortunate and the downtrodden.
But recently, things took a dramatic turn for the good Samaritan. The 52-year-old self-styled 'social worker' is now facing very hard times herself. She is now listed among the homeless.
Pointing to a tomb in the May Pen Cemetery, the down-on-her-luck Miss Heron told The Gleaner that this is where she has been sleeping for the past 17-days, after choosing to leave the rented home where she lived for "many years".
"A owe five months rent, plus water
and light bill and the landlord take me to court," said Miss Heron as she burst into tears.
Removing a water-stained piece of paper from a plastic bag, she explained that the summons was for her to appear in court on Friday. All her belongings are still in Franklyn Town. She says she only goes there to change her clothes.
When The Gleaner caught up with her yesterday at the May Pen Cemetery, a tearful Miss Heron was crying out for hunger. She had not eaten in days.
"This morning is piece of bread and some water I had," she mumbled, while sobbing between tears.
Several persons who came to bury their dead at the overgrown cemetery, stopped to listen to her story and some were even moved to tears. Others hugged her tightly and encouraged her to be strong.
"It cannot be somebody like this who cares for the poor and now in need of help and have to be living in the cemetery," commented Dennis Messias, Super-intendent in charge of the cemetery.
Contacted yesterday, Major Darrell Wilkinson, of the Salvation Army, said the church was aware of her situation. He said he has since asked Commanding Officer Edmond Sylvester to look into the matter and he himself will be pursuing it.
"As long as help is warranted, she will be getting help. We will be also offering her medical assistance," said the officer, who visited her at the May Pen Cemetery yesterday afternoon.
Prior to joining the Salvation Army, Heron said she did days work, but fell in love with the project of caring for the homeless.
