'Birthday boy' Lloyd Mordecai and cousin Cecily Mordecai-Smith. - Contributed

The Mordecai clan, a family of Jewish origin with descendants in Jamaica and the United States, have poured lots of resources into discovering their roots and keeping close contact with each other.

In December 2005, some 250 guests, including 150 of the number who were blood relatives, arrived in Pembroke Pines Miami to celebrate the 80th birthday of Lloyd Mordecai.

The family members received an information package which had material on their immediate relatives, the family patriarchs and the family tree as well.

The event which featured every imaginable Jamaican dish took place at the Town Gate Clubhouse in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and was an occasion for recalling a history which goes back - in the Caribbean and the United States - well over 200 years.

Emily Bingham, an independent scholar living in Louisville Kentucky, is author of the book Mordecai; an earlyAmerican family (2003, Douglas and McIntyre Ltd., USA) which relates the history of Jewish family from the time of the American revolution and down into the 20th century.

The Mordecais in Jamaica were apparently tobacco planters who swiftly diversified into other areas of endeavour.

Jabez Mordecai, a close friend of the late Theodore Sealy, a former Gleaner editor was born on March 1, 1900 in Kingston.

He was married in 1924 to Doris Blanch Douce. Jabez was a pioneer in outdoor advertising which he started in his teens. He was also a keen sportsman, representing Lucas Club at cricket in the early '30s.

His children included Sheila Burke, Cicely Smith, Rose Mesquita, Elsa Ingleton and Angela and Patricia Mordecai. Jabez died at the age of 72 in Kingston.

Another forebear was Colonel Ronald Mordecai born in 1917 and who passed away on January 21, 2004.

Ronald Mordecai had migrated with his family to New York City from Jamaica in the late 1920s. In 1942, he entered the army and graduated from the Ordnance Officers Candidate School, serving in World War I in Europe, the Korean War in Korea and Japan and in the Vietnam War.

Col. Mordecai was also a graduate of the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College and held what has been described as various extremely sensitive positions and served as a member of the NATO staff.

Ronald Mordecai was buried at Arlington National Centenary with full honours and was inducted in the prestigious Ordnance Hall of Fame on May 13, 2004 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the U.S. Army.

Significant contributions

Sir John Mordecai is named among the individuals who have made significant contributions to the horse racing industry in Jamaica. It was the first chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission between 1971 and 1978. Known as "Musket, Sir John was credited with kindling public enthusiasm and confidence in Sport of Kings.

He died on August 3, 1986.

Many of the Mordecais are now residents in the United States and Canada.

Daughter of Jabez Mordecai , Sheila Mordecai Burke who is the widow of businessman Roy Burke, still resides in Kingston.

- Outlook Team