Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Florence Darby in her office at Telstar Cable Limited on Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew. - Contributed

Florence Darby is a trained lawyer but she is not afraid to dabble in other things that tickle her fancy.

For the past two years, Mrs. Darby has been at the helm of Telstar Cable Limited, which was started by her brother-in-law, David Darby, who was murdered.

A former high-school teacher, Mrs. Darby has had stints in banking, insurance and public relations.

Currently, the mother and grandmother, has set about completing her second musical album.

A mother of two, her family will profess that she is a mentor, motivator and an accomplished woman, who is not afraid of tackling whatever crosses her path.

"You know that parable in the Bible about the gifts and you have to give account for all the gifts you have?"

"I kind of take it seriously. There are some things that I just want to achieve," Mrs. Darby smiled, as her daughter looked on with admiration.

This phenomenal woman, who now sports a sister locks hairdo, was raised by a father who was a pastor and mother who was a teacher.

Due to her father's profession the family would live in different parts of the island.

Their home has been in several communities of Clarendon, St. Mary, Manchester and the Corporate Area.

Mrs. Darby described her upbringing as a humble one.

Humbled

However, it was an illness, she said, that has humbled her, characterising the rest of her life.

At the turn of her teenage years, she was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, an inflammation of the bone. It was an illness which had her hospitalised for months, taking her away from school and her family.

However, the illness, she said, made her at a young age have an appreciation for life.

"When you have to lie down and think about life on that hospital bed, and when you wanted to get rid of the pain and cannot, and so, when you have an opportunity to survive you just wanted to do so much," she said.

"I came out of there (hospital) loving life, loving nature, loving the beauty around me," she recalled.

"I had a very progressive father who taught us a lot about self-esteem," she added.

She said with the onset of the illness and the support from her father, a devout Christian, at that age she learned how to love herself.

Mrs. Darby remembered an occasion after being released from the hospital, that is one of the cornerstones of her confidence.

"The first day I got out of the hospital I was on crutches and I felt, at age 13, a little self-conscious. And so, when I was walking I was hiding behind my Dad's jacket and he said, 'Just be proud of who you are, it doesn't matter, I am proud of who you are'. After that, I loved everything about myself and I survived."

"So from early, I began to love me - you know when you are young you hate your lips, legs and whatever - after that, I just loved me."

She went on to graduate from the University of West Indies with a degree in Spanish, French and English. Later she moved on to pursue a law degree.

Mrs. Darby moved on to teach Spanish at Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High and Queen's School.

It was while doing a stint at the Jamaica Information Service, as a public relations officer, that she met her husband.

It was while dabbling in public relations that she also met, the acclaimed South African Bishop, Desmond Tutu.

Mrs. Darby said she learned a lot from that experience of meeting Bishop Tutu. She said having met the bishop reinforced in her mind, as an adult, the practicality of peace and love.

In the early 1980s, she married Dennis Darby, a lawyer, and they moved to Barbados. That's where she studied law.

"When I met Dennis, he had an unusual mind, he thinks out of the box, he is a refreshing brain," she said.

In 1996, the Darby family was struck by violence. That year, David Darby, the creator and managing director of Telstar was killed.

His mother took over the cable company and ran it up to two years ago.

A journey of faith

However, a couple of years ago when her mother-in-law retired, the Darby family would decide that the lawyer should become the managing director.

"It has been a journey of faith, excitement, plenty adrenaline and never a dull day," she said.

While it was a new field for her, the foresight and legacy of David Darby's work has enabled her to make a daily difference in the company.

"We still get calls from customers who compare us to him constantly. There are others who will say the wiring in their house that is there that is he (David Darby) put it there," she said.

Mrs. Darby, the rest of the family and her staff, have braced themselves for the changes and challenges that have shaped the country's cable industry.

Telstar is one of two cable companies that operate in upper St. Andrew in communities such as Cherry Gardens, Meadowbrook, Liguanea, Jack's Hill, Barbican, New Kingston and Constant Spring.

The backbone of the company

Flo Darby with husband Dennis of Telstar Cable Limited. - Photo by Shelly-Ann Thompson

She highlighted her staff as the backbone of the company.

"Our staff is really the star of the company," she said.

The staff consists of about 40 permanent workers while there are consultants. The company currently offers other services such as Internet and VoIP phone.

"To carry on David's legacy and work, I think it is imperative that we work closely with our competitors," she said.

"You are competing but you need to have a good relationship with them, we bear each other's burden and also share each other's joys," she said.

Mrs. Darby said she also wants to see forgiveness for David's death.

"That's hard but it's the kind of leadership I want to give his children and my family."

Mrs. Darby's aim is to retire in five years from the cable company.

"I want the team so trained, that we can rise from within our organisations."

She praised the technical crew and referred to them as the stars of Telstar.

"Sometimes it is hard to imagine a company without them."

"On a Sunday, when I am in my bed, these guys are on the road," she said.

Although her sights are set on retirement, for now, while juggling law and managing a company, she is working on her second album, that may be titled 'Truly, Wonderful".

Sophia Darby-Golding noted that her mother is truly exceptional and different.

She said: "Mommy is very inspiring. When you hear her story, you hear everything I want to be and more in a person."

But will the conveyance and real estate lawyer slow down?

"There is just too much in life to enjoy, and do, to be still," she said.

"I still have that feeling that there is a lot to do, and life is just too short to get all the things you could possibly do," she added.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com

'Here mom, let me help you with your lipstick' Sophia Darby-Golding says as she gets her mother Florence Darby, managing director of Telstar Cable Limited, camera ready. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer