A Brief History of the Jamaica Baptist Women's Federation

According to Russell 1997 (Strange Victory “Mama Hall”), the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation was born out of a burning desire to link all Baptist women in Christian service. Ten women shared the vision for this kind of fellowship. It was then that Elizabeth Garland Hall wife of Rev. William Hall accepted an invitation to meet with other wives and daughters of influential Baptist ministers and missionaries who were mainly from England to give consideration to the formation of such a group. Elizabeth Garland Hall was trained as a missionary in Chicago. She later met and married the Rev. A. William Hall a Jamaican Missionary who served in Congo Africa and was out on furlough in the United States of America. Her first visit to Jamaica was in 1903. Elizabeth Garland Hall’s work started in earnest in Jamaica in 1918. It was not long after her arrival that she became involved in the denomination. She took active part in the Annual Meetings of the Jamaica Baptist Union. In December 1922, Rev. and Mrs. Alfred Miller of Bethel Town in Westmoreland extended an invitation to the ten women who shared the vision of bringing Baptist women across the island together under one name. The women met in Bethel Town, at the Mission House for a week of prayer and discussion and on December 10, 1922 the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation came into being. The foundation was laid.

The Early Pioneers - The First Executive

First Executive Jamaica Baptist Women's Federation

President - Mrs. A. G. Kirkham, 1st Vice President - Mrs. A Miller, 2nd Vice President - Mrs. Earnest Price, Treasurer - Mrs. Agnes Helwig, Organising Secretary - Mrs. E Garland-Hall, Recording Secretary - Mrs. Margaret Reid

Immediately, the pioneering work commenced. As the organising secretary, Elizabeth Garland-Hall began traveling across the island visiting churches , forming branches in many of the Baptist churches and fostering the development of women and girls. The women were encouraged to become effective Christian wives and mothers and to take their places in the life of their local churches. Early in its history, The JBWF adopted as its Motto Seek Save Serve. The words were applied to all aspects of the Federation’s activities but primarily to the dream Elizabeth Garland Hall (affectionately called, “Mama Hall”) had for children, especially orphans. 

Seek – the absolutely neglected children and give them an opportunity to become worthy and industrious members of the world family

Save – the children from their earliest infancy from sickness of body mind and spirit

Serve –the children by diligently training the children in the way they should go

Jamaica Baptist Union Women's Federation

Elizabeth Garland Hall’s dream had become her passion. This led her to establish the Pansy Garden Home for children at her home in Sturge Town in St. Ann. Mama Hall assumed full responsibility for the children. It was evident that she carried most of the responsibility as according to Russell “…it was Mama Hall’s own efforts which brought in most of the funds needed and this she did by travelling through the island giving lectures about her work in Africa”(pp. 69-70). Due to illness, Mama Hall could no longer respond to the needs of women and children. This led to the closure of the Pansy Garden Home. It was then that the JBWF established a fund for the purchase of land to construct a permanent home for children which would be named in honour of Mama Hall. In 1939, land was purchased at Anchovy, St. James to erect the Garland Hall Memorial Children’s Home. This home would provide wholesome shelter for neglected and abandoned children(read the Garland Hall story)

The Garland Hall Home

As time progress, the JBWF engaged in ministry to the homeless, indigent, and sick as well as beautifying their local churches. During the early years, women like Phillis Tuckett, Dora Herbert and Agnes Helwig made significant contribution to the growth and development of the JBWF. As the work developed Carmilita Edwards was among one of the women who worked tirelessly to encourage the women in their work as well as to form new branches with new programmes. Much focus was put on spiritual growth, training in hand craft, culinary arts and general home making. 

The women of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) have given faithful and dedicated service to the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation an auxillary of the JBU. Over these many years, some served as Officers, Executive Members and Parish Representatives. Significant programmes and projects were introduced. In 1959, the JBWF in partnership with the then Calabar Theological College and the Jamaica Baptist Union trained two women as Deaconesses (Blanche Ennis and Claire Maddix). In 1967 the JBWF sponsored the establishment of the JBU Home Craft Centre in Duncans, Trelawny; a vision of Rubye Gayle supported by Doris Morant. Also, in 1995 a suite was established complete with kitchenette at Nutshell Conference Centre. Donation of chairs, beds and other items of furniture were made. Responding to the needs of the times, the JBWF established an Agricultural Revolving Project in 2014 with initial funding from Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department (BWAWD). A much needed grant was later received from the Australian Direct Aid Programme (DAP). Through this project, women receives “start-up’’ for economic empowerment. Broiler chickens, pigs, goats and seeds are distributed. The project is especially geared to provide support to women (church and community) who are financially disadvantaged. The aim is to impact a minimum of three Hundred (300) women across the island.

Fraternal Relationships

The JBWF established links with the North American Baptist Women’s Union and BWA Womens’ Department through the instrumentality of Rubye Gayle and Winnie Leo-Rhynie. Mrs. Leo Rhynie attended the Women’s Department meeting at the BWA Congress in London in 1955. JBWF’membership with the North American Baptist Women’s Union (NABWU) was severed at their General Assembly Conference held in Montego Bay October 2, 2002. The JBWF is a member of theWomen’s Department of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and one of the founding members of the Caribbean Baptist Women’s Union (CBWU) which is the seventh Continental Union of the BWA Women’s Department. The Jamaican sisters have not only participated in their conferences but supported through the observance of the Day of Prayer; (1st Monday in November (BWA) and 1st Monday in June CBWU) Women such as Rubye Gayle (now deceased) has served as Promotions Secretary and President of CBWU for several years with Clover Jarrett as Treasurer. 

Mission and Ministry Engagement

The JBWF remains totally committed to the care of the children at the Garland Hall Memorial Home and recognizes the need to continue assisting them when they are legally required to leave the Home. Plans are in place to construct flatlets which will provide temporary housing for some when they attain eighteen years of age. In addition, the ministry initiatives and engagements in the churches and communities continue through activities such as, educational assistance, skill training and sharing, feeding programmes, school, clinic ministries especially to teenage mothers, Health and Wellness fairs, care ministry for women and girls in crisis (grief and trauma) evangelism - Prayer Walks and personal witnessing, training in leadership and healthy family life and relationships. Some of these programmes are being developed into projects as parishes extend their outreach to their communities so that more women will hear God’s voice and come to know His heart. The JBWF also supports the JBU Horizon Home for the aged. Through the branches in the parishes across this island; the JBWF continues to fulfill God’s mission to God’s people as it intentionally gives witness to God’s love for and interest in all of His Creation.