Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

The cemetery opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. and, when all depart, it's just Williamson who is left behind keeping a watchful eye.

By the sweat of your brow, you will eat bread' is the philosophy Stanhope Williamson uses to get him through the difficult days.

Williamson has been a caretaker for the Denbigh Cemetery in May Pen, Clarendon, for the past 22 years. In fact, he not only works there, but the cemetery has become his home. He says that on April 6, 1985, the very first day he started the job, he moved on to the premises and has no desire to leave, unless he decides to retire.

The thought of having to visit a cemetery makes many uneasy. However, Williamson, who sits quite comfortably on top of a grave for the duration of the interview, says he is quite at ease living there and, as a matter of fact, claims he is fearless. "Mi fraid a what? No sah, a black man mi fraid ah. Man yuh fi fraid a cuz them will kill you."

Wandering 'spirits'

But with so many stories circulating about wandering 'spirits' he is often asked whether he has ever had any weird experiences. To this, he remarks, "Me nah go lie to you still. But one night, when I was in my house a lay down mi see one tall man come in pon me. And I just rush him and from that mi nuh see it and nuttin else nuh happen."

The caretaker also notes that he has taken certain precautions to prevent those strange encounters.

"In mi house I sleep with water and machete by mi bed. With water, him haffi go sight it and nah go come in and dem (ghost) fraid a machete too."

Williamson professes love for his job, claiming he is well loved by the people he has to deal with on a daily basis. During the interview, a client who had purchased a spot in the cemetery says 'hello' to him. She tells him she is leaving to get lunch, to which he responds, "Alright mi dear. Bring back lunch fi me too, and drinks."

Getting a favourable answer, he smiles, saying, "They love mi enuh, God never put nobody on Earth to do wrong. I do my work the best way I can and just be fair."

Challenges

While patting himself on the back for doing a good job at what he knows best and loves, Williamson says there are challenges at times, but he has to remain strong.

"Is a difficult place to work, because nuff time people come here and say them want a spot and mi can't give them and more time them will gwaan a way, but mi still nuh give them. I don't deal with bandoolo."

A jovial man, his job involves measuring grave spots to ensure the measurements are correct and collecting documents required to carry out burials.

He claims that, since he has been at that spot, more than 26,000 burial spots have been used. Having witnessed so many burials and making the cemetery his home, this caretaker has earned a nickname.

"When people see me, especially police, dem call mi dead man, but mi nuh care at all. If them waan call mi dat mek them call mi."

The cemetery opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. and, when all depart, it's just Williamson who is left behind keeping a watchful eye. Well, maybe he is not the only one, but the only one who is actually alive.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com