by Colin Wilson (from the Eulogy by J. Lemuel Hurlstone, CVO, MBE, JP)

It was with much sadness I witnessed the Mass of Christian Burial for Rupert Lloyd Anderson Christie at St. George’s Anglican Church last Tuesday (24).

Lloyd was born to Zechariah and Cleodine Christie, in Hanover, Jamaica on July 12, 1927 and was baptised at Dalmally Anglican Church. As he grew older  he attended primary school and enjoyed the life in the country with his siblings – Thelma, Dudley, Hector, Sylvia and Edmund (and later Kathy and Delroy)  and friends.

In 1942 he moved to Troja to live with his Uncle Bertie, a school teacher, and Aunt Minnet and their three daughters, Pauline, Barbara and Helen Christie, so that he would have greater opportunities to further his education.

He studied and successfully wrote the Jamaica Local Examinations.

Between 1947 and 1949 he studied at, and graduated from Mico Teachers ‘ College, where he was involved in academics, music and sports- He was a member of the College Cricket Team and College Choir.

On graduation he began his career as a teacher. He returned to Troja and taught for a short while at his uncle’s school. He then taught in Westmoreland; at Dundee; and at Kew Park, NegriI. He was then promoted to principal at Bethany Primary School, St. Ann where he piloted the first Government Evening Institutes. He was awarded for his “inspirational dedication, distinguished service and unswerving commitment” to the children of Bethany Primary School, in July 2000.

In 1953 he married Carmel Z. Haughton, also a teacher and had five children, Celia, Gregory, Constance, Alison and Geoffrey.

He enrolled at the University College of the West Indies in 1959 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics, Upper Second Class Honours Division, in 1963.

On graduation he moved with his family to Kingston, began a career in Business and pursued various management studies related to insurance.   This led to the beginning of a long and distinguished career in insurance.

Between 1963 and 1973 he received the Chartered Life Underwriters Certificate from the Underwriters Institute in Toronto, Canada, and a variety of other certificates related to the field.

In 1963 he entered the life insurance industry at British American Insurance Co. Ltd. (Caribbean Division) as Director of Training Planning and Research and served throughout the Caribbean as Vice President of Training and Marketing.

In 1972 he became Superintendent of Life Operations, Caribbean Atlantic Life Insurance Company, with responsibility for the Caribbean and UK Offices, operating from their head office in Jamaica.

In 1978 he moved to Grand Cayman and served as Assistant Vice President until 1980, and then as Vice President of Marketing for the Caribbean,  for British American Insurance Co. Ltd. until 1984.

He then set up and served as Managing Director for the “Lloyd Christie Insurance Agency”, for Traveler’s Insurance Company. [This Company has changed names and ownership.  It became Capital Life, later Sagicor and is now Cayman First].  He was later joined in partnership by Lemuel Hurlston and Jennison Nunez before retiring as General Manager in 1997 and from the Board of Directors in 2004

He married Desiree Charles in 1995.

ln 2008 he was inducted to the “Hall of Fame” of the Life Underwriters Association of Cayman – an organisation he was instrumental in founding in the 1980’s – for his outstanding contribution to the insurance industry for over thirty years.

ln 2010 he received an award from the Jamaican Consulate in the Cayman Islands. The award read – ‘In Recognition and Appreciation for his Outstanding Contribution to the Cayman Islands Insurance Industry’.

Lloyd was a faithful witness to the church. He served as Chalice Bearer and at various times as a Member of the Committee of St. George’s Anglican Church. He also served as a member of the Church Committee and lay reader for St. Luke’s Anglican Church, and as a lay preacher while teaching in rural Jamaica.

Lloyd loved his family and was proud of their achievements. He was proud of the achievements of his sisters and brothers. He spoke fondly of his life with Carmel and their children as they were growing up and some of the challenges they faced. They have all done well. He was proud of his grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews. He always spoke fondly of them and related incidents in their lives.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Zechariah and Cleodine Christie; wife, Carmel; brothers and sisters, Ethel, Hector, Ellen and Myrtle.

Left  to  mourn  are  his wife, Desiree;  children, Celia  and  Cecil: Greg  and Janice; Constance  and  Donald;  Alison  and  Geoffrey;  sisters  and  brothers, Thelma, Sylvia, Kathy, Millie; Dudley, Edmund and Delroy and their spouses; grandchildren, Natalie, Jason, Jonathon, Matthew, Brandon, Celine and Abigail; lots of dear  nephews and nieces; caregivers Debbie and Sandra and a host of other  relatives and friends.

Officiating at the Mass were Ven. Hollis Peter Lynch and Rev Harris C. Spence, St. George’s Choir with Organist Stephanie Williams and solo performances by Rudy Myles.

I have known Lloyd from the time I arrived in Cayman thirty years ago. Rest in Peace dear friend.