The Consummate Community Advocate

Lawrence L. Telfer, JP, OD, was the consummate Community Advocate. He advocated for people in underserved communities, especially in the parish he called home; St Thomas Jamaica. He helped thousands by providing guidance on how to navigate the bureaucracy (the system) that posed many challenges for them. During his lifetime he served in several areas that allowed him to work directly with people in the local communities. Early in his career, he served as a corporal in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He was Chairman of the Yallahs Valley Area Land Authority. Later he served as the Zone Officer for the Jamaica Movement for the Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL), he also passionately advocated for small farmers as Vice-chairperson of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. His community service included serving on the Board of Directors at Yallahs Secondary School and Yallahs Primary School. His spiritual home was the Yallahs Baptist Church where Deacon, as he was affectionately known, found joy singing on the church choir on Sundays and commiserating with his spiritual family.