ALVIN LAYNE

A son, a brother, father, uncle, friend, husband and unapologetically Jamaican. Currently residing in South Florida, I am firm believer in religious agnosticism, lover of music, soccer and ardent fan of pickleball.

The journey of my life started in Kingston Jamaica where I was born, the youngest of seven children in my family. My early years were spent living at Maxfield Avenue, Ricketts Avenue and later to Weymouth Drive in Washington Gardens. I attended Ms. Morgan’s Basic school and Rousseau Primary School (both on Ricketts Ave in Kingston) and later to Ardenne High School. After graduating sixth form at Ardenne I worked at Life of Jamaica, Seprod Ltd and Churches Co-operative Credit Union before working with some friends in a seafood supply and distribution business.

In the mid 1980’s at the urging of my parents I migrated to America and for the next several years I lived in the Washington DC metropolitan area until relocating to Florida in 2013. My thoughts of becoming a journalist, writer or lawyer fueled my impetus to attend the University of Maryland. Life got in the way and I drifted further and further from that law degree. However, during my years in Washington DC I worked with Bank of America, overseeing their consumer bankruptcy portfolio and later a ten year stint on Capitol Hill at the United States Senate FCU.

But as it is with the weather, in life, seasons change and in 2013 I relocated to South Florida. This change has brought my life full circle as I have reconnected with friends and cemented relationships that had been forged in our early years at Ardenne High School in Kingston Jamaica.

 

DALE TELFER

Dale Telfer is a CPA, CGMA, and a proud graduate of Ardenne High School, who currently resides in Pembroke Pines Florida. Her journey began at Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. She had a very nomadic childhood, moving from parish to parish as her mother Lucille’s civil service career as a Post Mistress required.  She lived in Maidstone, Manchester, Milk River, Clarendon, and Yallahs in St. Thomas, the parish both her parents called home.

She attended several primary schools but was sent to Kingston where she attended   Whitfield Town Primary School when it was time for “scholarship class” and the Common Entrance examination.

After attending high school through the first year of sixth form at Ardenne, Dale migrated to the United States. The nomad in her and a serious dislike of New York City, pushed her to move to Toronto, Canada in the winter of 1974.  She spent nine winters in Canada before visiting Florida where she fell in love with the tropical nature of South Florida, with its mango trees, ackee trees, and many things Jamaican.

Dale holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Barry University and a Master’s in Accounting from Florida International University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. She cherishes her three adult children however, the love of her life is her seven month old grandson Zayne.

 

HOPE WHITE

I was born in Whitfield Town, Kingston Jamaica. I attended St. Joseph’s Girls’ School for Primary education and Ardenne High school. After high school I worked at Bank of Jamaica. In 1980 I attended the University Hospital of the West Indies school of Nursing. After graduating nursing school in 1983, I worked for six years as a nurse in Jamaica and in 1989 I migrated to New York, USA. In 1993 I relocated to Pembroke Pines, Florida.

I furthered my education by attending Nova Southeastern University where I pursued a Bachelors’ degree in Nursing, and my Master’s degree in Nursing at Florida Atlantic University. I am currently employed as a Registered Nurse with Broward Health Medical Center and I am also an adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University.

I am a member of Christway Baptist Church in Miramar where I am a member of the Community Affairs Ministry.  I have one son, a daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. My hobbies are getting together with my Ardenne friends, dancing, singing, music and sports. When I was younger I played netball.

 

MICHAEL GRANT

I am from Harbour View, Kingston, Jamaica and attended Ardenne High School where I graduated in 1972. After graudation I worked in Banking in Jamaica and migrated to America in America in 1970.  I lived in Melbourne, Florida until I relocated to South Florida in 1996.

I attended Brevard Community College where I obtained an Associate’s degree and Rollins College, in Winter Park, FL, where I gained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1992.

Initially I worked in banking for several years in Customer Service and Loan Processing in the US and then I went to work with Florida Power and Light Co. in 1986 where I worked in Accounting, Finance and Information Management. I am currently working with Compucom Computer Systems as Computer Technician.

I live in Tamarac, Florida and I am divorced with two children.