Treasure Beach Forum: June 2003: Artie Ashwel Parchment

June 2003: Artie Ashwel Parchment

Treasure Beach Forum: Profile: June 2003: Artie Ashwel Parchment

By TBNet on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 09:57 am: Edit Post

Mr. Artie Ashwel Parchment was born August 5, 1924 in Great Bay, St. Elizabeth. He attended the Jones Pen Elementary School, which is now known as Jonestown, in Kingston and the Sandy Bank Primary School. He is married and has seven children, 5 girls and two boys. He is a born-again Christian.

He joined his father in his fishing business after he left school. He was a farm worker at Seabrook Farms in New Jersey during 1943 and was one of the first security guards at the University of the West Indies located in Kingston during the late 1950's. He also worked as an A.B. Seaman for the M.V. Dauntless, Andrew Heights Orion and Kirkconnel Bros. Kirkline. In addition, he was employed as the headman for Hounslow Farms, Ministry of Agriculture and has worked with the Great Bay Fishing Community in the capacity of Secretary Manger for several years. Mr. Parchment migrated to the United Stated in 1984 and became a U.S. citizen on June 4, 1991.

Now that he has retired he spends his time split between Great Bay and visiting his children in the U.S. He loves to read and write a lot and enjoys giving advice to young men and women. His letters to the editor of the daily Gleaner reflect the concerns of the people of the area. His autobiography 'Reflections" was put in book form.

His desire is to see the young men and women of Jamaica say NO to drugs and guns. He says, "Let's go for education. We can do it by taking heed to the Word of God."

The following is one of Mr. Parchment's poems and one of his prayers.

Treasure Beach The Beautiful

Treasure Beach! How Beautiful you are.
You are like a beautiful damsel from afar,
Hugged by two mighty arms.
The Pedro hills to your right
The Pedro bluff to your left,
You are constantly caressed.

From where sprang that temperament you possess?
Sometimes your landscape is dry and brown,
Other times there are beautiful ponds and greens to browse.
Sometimes the Caribbean that bathes you
Would threaten to take back the dead corals it gave you.
Treasure Beach the beautiful live on,
Your sons Frenchman's Bay, Calabash Bay, Billy's Bay, and Great Bay are your pride.
Treasure Beach the beautiful, live on.

A Prayer

Lord give me wisdom that I will seek Thee.
Lord cover me with Thy grace so that I will testify of Thee.
Lord give me a vision to pursue.
Love, so that my tongue will not send out discordant sounds.
Lord strengthen my faith through Love so that mountains will be moved,
Prophesies, mysteries, knowledge will be approved.
Lord help me that whatever I give my life or my possessions,
Will all be done through love.
Lord help me to be long-suffering, kind, restrained.
Lord help me to bear my cross, to believe your word, and to hope in you through love.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

1302,,hr

This profile was written by the following Sandy Bank Primary School student:
1303,student

Student:	Kevaughn Smith
Age:	12
Grade:	6
Wants to be:	To Become a Fire Fighter

Please add your comments or messages for Mr. Artie Ashwel Parchment below:

By Miss Amy on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 04:33 pm: Edit Post

Oh Mr. Parchment, what a beautiful poem and prayer. Kevaughn, you look fantastic! I can't get over how grown-up you are. I wish you all the best.

By Toronto on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 06:50 am: Edit Post

Great poem!!great prayer!! You could not have said it any better Mr.Parchment. Keep up the great work.

By donie on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 02:52 pm: Edit Post

good job Uncle Artie,keep up the good work and stay well.You look great too.It was so nice to see your profile.

By GT on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 06:31 pm: Edit Post

Parchie, I am very proud of you. So many things I just found out about you but I always knew you were a good man.
Keep on fighting the good fight.

By Canada on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 10:02 pm: Edit Post

For this great man well said, best of luck to you Mr.Parchment.It's nice to see such a beautiful profile done on you.You look like you are about 50 years old.What is the secret to be wrinkle free.

By Maxi on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 08:29 pm: Edit Post

Great poem, great prayer. Quite inspiring

By sasha on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 06:33 pm: Edit Post

Mr. Artie, great poem , great prayer.Good job! you are an inspiration to us all.

By MICHELLE on Friday, August 01, 2003 - 11:12 pm: Edit Post

HEY UNCLE ARTIE, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, I'VE MISSED YOU. YOU WERE SO GOOD TO ME AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH. I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE STILL DEVOTED TO GOD AS YOU ALWAYS WERE. TAKE GOOD CARE, MICHELLE.

By nige on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 03:55 pm: Edit Post

you deserve the praise Artie, you are a fine man and good friend, all the best.
Nigel Tatham

By Elizabeth Schongar on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 04:17 pm: Edit Post

I have enjoyed your letters to the editor in the Jamaica Observer, and now I find that you live in Treasure Beach, which I visit each year for the Calabash festival. I hope I can meet you next year when I come down from New Jersey.

By camille smith on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 12:37 pm: Edit Post

hi uncle artie.good to see your profile is up.i'm at school now but the next time i'm down there i'll be sure to come see u.grandniece camille

By Helen.Linton on Thursday, October 28, 2004 - 10:08 am: Edit Post

Dad, I was so surprised to see you. I did not even know that this web site exist. I love your poems...I did not know I have a poet for a Dad (smile). I am so extremely proud of you, your life has been such a blessing to so many people. Thank you for all the hard lessons you taught us, they have mold and shape us, so we can pass them down to our own kids. Stay strong in the Lord, He alone knows our hearts. My little Cait is a handful, she is such a handful. Take care and may God bless and keep you. Love, Helen & family

By Joanna Bethel on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 11:02 pm: Edit Post

Hey grandpa! Wow now I know where I get my English skills from! It was so inspiring to see your work online! It truely has inspired me during moments when I missed you so much. Keep up the good work, your life is a ministry in itself.
Love always,
Joey (grandaughter)

By Reta Parchment Bethel on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 11:10 pm: Edit Post

Hi Daddy,
What a joy to see you all the way here in the Bahamas! It brought tears to my eyes to read your work, what an achievement. I remember some of those stories you told us on many moonlight nights on the beach, I will forever cherish those memories. I am so proud of you. Just know that I will always love you and will see you soon.
Love always,
Annie & Drew (daughter & husband)

By caitlin on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 - 10:05 pm: Edit Post

I love you grandpa, you are the greatest and funniest grandpa on earth.

By Alicia Parchment on Monday, January 04, 2010 - 01:09 pm: Edit Post

To Mr. Artie Parchment,

I am the daughter of Charles Parchment who came from Jamaica to Honduras. I chose from many Parchments on this page to write to you because someone on the page called you Parchie, and that is what some of Dad�s friends used to called him. He has long gone on to rest, but I treasure his memory and consider and respect anyone who bears the name with dignity. I hope I might get a reply from you or someone who knows you.

By Helen on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 08:39 pm: Edit Post

Alicia, are you living in Honduras? I would love to hear from you. You can get me at the email listed. hope to hear from you soon.