A Farewell to Miss Sadie Walcott-Hensell | 19th March 1954 ~ 7th February 2022. ✝
It is with the deepest regret that the KASSSI Charity has to announce the recent passing of one of its founding members, Miss Sadie:
Sadie reluctantly left Jamaica at age 13 from her home in Petersville, Westmoreland, noting that she was ready to return home the minute she arrived in England. However, she was still under age and had no choice but to reside in England with her siblings and parents.
In 2002, the door was opened for Sadie to return to her beloved homeland as she was setting the groundwork to “take care of her parents”, as it was felt she should be the one to return to Jamaica. Fortunately, her beloved late husband Kenneth was in agreement and it proved to be a fulfilling experience.
Sadie Walcott-Hensell
“I will do as much as I can, for as long as I can to all the people I can.”
Hailing from a family whose heart and soul is based on service, Sadie met with the Social Development Commission officer in her area as she explains, “I needed to learn how the country was, bearing in mind I left here at an early age, so I decided to look into what the entities do to enhance my own cultural understanding and work within my community,” she shared.
Sadie also wanted to find out from the agency just what she could do and how she could offer herself to be of service. Armed with information, she set about becoming a change maker in her community.
Sadie targeted three schools in the area: Petersville All-Age School, Kings Primary and later on New Hope Primary and Junior High. She volunteered her services working with students who had fallen behind, calling in specialised help for them when needed and bringing about transformation never thought possible. “I felt that, that was my area of strength, so I asked the principal for those persons who were really in need of extra support work,” she shared, adding that she enlisted the assistance of a gentleman she knew in England to come out of retirement bringing the students’ grades up to par,”. Her involvement with the schools did not stop there as she also arranged for assistance through sourcing back-to-school supplies and food items for the breakfast programmes in all three schools.
When Sadie’s siblings in England heard what she was doing, they wanted to strengthen the programme. “They registered the KASSSI – the Ken and Sadie Student Support Initiative with the UK Charities Commission enabling them to help by sending funds to the back-to-school outreach, assisting all three schools with one single funding initiative. Looking ahead, Sadie said her life will continue on one path – the mantra she lives by, “I will do as much as I can, for as long as I can, to all the people I can.”
KASSSI is the brainchild of Garth Walcott, Sadie’s brother and CEO who named the charity in honour of his brother-in-law and herself.
“Farewell Miss Sadie” ….. a tribute from Garth Walcott, brother to Sadie and CEO of KASSSI.
“A Heart for Service” 💖
My sister Sadie was all about children… making them happy, learned, well- adjusted and free from hunger. This Christmas, 39 families benefitted by way of a food parcel. No toys and games I’m afraid… we could not afford it. However, they had a healthy meal! Now, we must say goodbye to Miss Sadie, the backbone of the children’s charity- KASSSI. She reconnects with her husband Ken, who travelled a few years ago. Like Ken, she too travelled quietly from her home, having endured years of ill-health, pain and suffering. May her God give her the peace and solace, which eluded her for such a long time. May her God also restore her vision so she can read to the children in heaven! I am so proud to have known her. She was unique among human species!! Her special gift was in giving; whether it was time, counsel, love, or money, she excelled.
R.I.P.E. Miss Sadie.
Ted
