Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Joining in the fun are (from left): Thelma Robotham, Kathleen Reid, her husband Easton Reid, Karl Fuller Acting Custos of St. Ann, Elaine Bryan, her husband Gregory Bryan, Dr. Paula Adesokar and her husband Yinka Adesokar and Dr. Clifton Hector. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

Acting Custos of St. Ann, Karl Fuller has described Phoenix Award winner Elaine Bryan is an outstanding Jamaican who has helped to fly the country's flag in a very positive way and for this the country should be proud.

He was speaking at a special dinner held in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, by Bryan's childhood friend Thelma Robothom, in honour of the Atlanta-based outstanding Jamaican. She is a multi-award winning educator who along with her husband Gregory Bryan, visited the island for the Christmas holidays.

Fuller continued, "She is a great person; one who has obviously worked hard and positively to motivate others. It's a great honour to know that she is a Jamaican and moreover to be in her company today."

The dinner was held to honour and welcome the outstanding Jamaican home. It was an evening filled with fun and set in the hills of Discovery Bay overlooking the Puerto Seco Beach. Friends and associates gave the thumbs up to the achievement of Bryan who is also a realtor by profession.

Awards

Since 2005, Bryan racked up several awards for her over 14 years of outstanding work as a high school counsellor. These include: the Judge Glenda Hatchett Educational Mentoring Award; the Barbados Association Trident Award for Excellence; the Tuner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) Award for Educational Excellence; Mayor Shirley Franklin Phoenix Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education and the Atlanta-Jamaica Association Award for Outstanding Community Service in the field of Education. She has also been featured on HGTV for her work as a successful realtor and will later this year launch in Atlanta, the EB Success Centre to assist young people desirous of furthering their education in the United States of America.

Among those from overseas who made the journey to celebrate with the special guest were Dr. Paula Adesokar, and her husband Yinka.

"She is an extraordinary individual, very hard-working and we are thankful that she is with us, Dr. Adesokar said."

Guests partook of: sliced ham, pink salmon, escovich fish and a host of other goodies, along with liberal servings of champagne, wine and spirits, plus steel band music from the Jamtec Steel Band from St. Ann.

In response to the accolades, Bryan promised to do her best to continue making Jamaicans proud.

Elaine Bryan (centre) flanked by her long-time friends Dr. Paula (left), and Yinka Adesokar at the dinner held in her honour in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, last Sunday.