Obituary of Vivian H. Aljoe

Vivian Horace Aljoe was born on 18th February 1937 in Water Valley, St. Ann, Jamaica. He was the second son of Reverend Edwin Horatio Aljoe and Jubertha Elizabeth Aljoe. His father was a minister of religion and a small farmer, and his mother was the owner and teacher at her elementary school. His education started at home with his mother as his teacher, he then moved on to Bethany Elementary School in St. Ann, and finally to Calabar High School in Kingston. While at Calabar, he played cricket and represented them in the Sunlight Cup schoolboy cricket competition as a batsman and bowler. At the end of high school, he sat the University of Cambridge Overseas School Certificate exam and was successful. After graduating from Calabar, he returned to Brown’s Town, St. Ann where his parents were now relocated from their Water Valley, St. Ann home. On returning to Brown’s Town, St. Ann, he set out to pursue a career in Accountancy. He applied for jobs and made the rounds introducing himself to various businesses and organizations. It was on one of these introduction rounds that he met the love of his life Salome Majorie Miller, affectionately called Digzie. This union lasted over 60 years before his wife passed away in 2014. This union produced a set of twins, Owen, and Gary, and established the love and care that he had for his other son, Audley Evans. Upon returning to Brown’s Town, St. Ann, he started his career with temporary employment with Pat Levy, Ltd. and Marley and Plant, Ltd., which lasted approximately 4 years. He then moved on to gain full time employment with Jamaica Telephone Company after their expansion to the North Coast of Jamaica. His first assignment with Jamaica Telephone Company was at Highgate, St. Mary office with sub-offices in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann and Port Antonio, Portland. After his probation period, he was transferred to St. Ann’s Bay, the now Regional Office, in charge of the sub-offices in Highgate, St. Mary and Port Antonio, Portland. This was the job that he was looking for. He remained employed with Jamaica Telephone company, later renamed Cable & Wireless, for over 35 years, retiring as regional director of operations. He was an ardent lover of cricket and upon his return to St. Ann, went on to play and represent St, Ann at the parish level as a batsman and bowler. He unfortunately got an injury to his right eye after attempting to hook a bouncer (there were no helmets worn in cricket at that time). This injury made it impossible for him to continue playing cricket, as the vision in that eye was impaired. This injury, however, never stopped him from pursuing his working career. In the 1980’s the family migrated to Miami, Florida, however he was unable to leave at that time since he had to take care of his ailing mother. He later joined up with the family in the 1990’s. Upon arrival in Miami, he transferred his Church membership from The Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Brown’s Town, St. Ann to Sierra Norwood Calvary Babtist Church, Miami, Florida, where he was a regular Church and Sunday School Member and participated in Church activities as much as he was able to, even while ailing. He developed prostate cancer but delayed his cancer treatment so that he could be there for his wife, to offer her assistance during her chemotherapy treatment for stage 4 breast cancer. Unfortunately, she passed away due to her illness. After her passing, he started his radiation treatment for the cancer, and was successful. He fully recovered, and the cancer remained in remission. However, he was never the same after his wife passed, one could sense that something was missing in his life. Years later he was hospitalized for pneumonia and recovered from that as well. He was again hospitalized earlier this year with congested heart failure and his heart muscles kept getting weaker. Although he was unable to physically do much and could no longer physically attend church, he would attend virtually from home. He eventually passed away, due to his illness, on 16th January 2024. He is survived by his sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. May his soul rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him In Repose Friday, February 9, 2024 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Funeral Service Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. Sierra Norwood Calvary Baptist Church- North Miami following Entombment at Vista Memorial Park Cemetery. Please keep the Aljoe family in your thoughts and prayers. The Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel is Honored to assist the Aljoe family with the arrangements.