My condolence goes out to Dalphie's wife Dettie and family,may his soul rest in peace.Dalphie you will be missed by all, but God has a plan for us.

It so sad for me to heard about my hero my friend, from i was a small boy growing up he always supported me playing cricket i could heard him saying go bro Lax you can do it, and that lived inside me for ever.Miss Dettie and kids i now he will be missed but god have a better hope for him,may god give you all strength to go on, God bless.

God rest you, my cousin, Dolphie. We hated your suffering and we will forever miss you as part of our family; but we are glad that you are with our Saviour, safe from pain and suffering.

My family joins me in sending condolenses to Miss Ditty, Dane, Dionne and my mother, the sole suvivor of his mother's generation,his Aunt, Mazie Moxam of Sandy Bank.

With love and blessings.

-Mar

Don't think of him as gone away, his journey has just begun, life holds so many facets this earth is only one, just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears, in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years, just think how he must be wishing that we couldn't know today, how nothing but your sadness can really pass away, and think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched, for nothing/noone loved is ever lost and he was loved so much. Keep strong aunt Ditty, Dayne & Deon.

To my teacher, Mrs. Ditty Ebanks and family: I am so sorry to hear that Mr. Dalphie has passed on. But, who knows best? God. I know it is hard to loose a loved one, but there is hope. Be strong, and keep on keeping on.


This is what I remembered most about Mr. Dalphie: He had to get his newspaper, no matter what! And, he liked young people moving forward, getting an education; the highest. Finally, his passion for sports!! My dad says it best! His hero........... cricket days!!! The memories live on. RIP

MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF DALPHIE EBANKS WHO
LIVES IN TREASURE BEACH AND WORKED AT ALPART FOR MANY MANY YEAR FOR MORE THAT HALF HIS LIFE'
hIS WIFE DittY WHO I KNOW FOR A LONG TIME AND SON DANE,DAUGHTER DION AND SON-IN-LAW LEROY MY SYMPATHY TO ALL OF YOU.

Our Sympathy goes out to Ditty and family. Dalphie you will be surely miss by all.

My sympathies go out to my cousin Ditty (Mercedes) who I lost her long suffering husband Dolphie. God saw an empty spot in his garden, looked down on earth and chose him to fill the spot. Take courage Ditty and be brave as you now face your journey alone. God bless you all and give you strenght to face the future.

To Dalphie's wife & children, we wish to express our deepest regrets for the loss of our dear friend. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

From Miss Darcy & all of Ren Lewis's children

It was over 25 years ago when Ilast saw Dolphie and I can still remember the fun we had just letting our memories taking us back to our childhood and laughing over the mischiefs that we got into. Dolphie, it was good to call you my friend. My regards to your loved ones.

Our condolences to Aunt Ditty, Dayne and Deon on the passing of Mass Dalphe. He was a good neighbour and friend over the many years. He will be sadly missed but we will cherish our many fond memories.

Miss Ditty, I'm sorry to learn of Dalphie's death. People like Dalphie comes along, one of life’s greatest gift, then he captures your heart in a second and holds it for a lifetime …into eternity. You will see him in Paradise and experience a love without equal.

Our sincere condolences to Miss Ditty and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

From Vernalyn and family

DalDal,

You gone leave me bouy, I cant beleive it.

To his lovely wife Miss Ditty and children Dane & Deon my condolence. He was a great inspirator to me and many others.

RIP Dolphie

I am so sorry to hear about Mass Dolphie, he was such a sincere and genuine person. The world has truly lost a great man, he always encourage me and my siblings to do well and excel in school, he truly had a deep passion for education. I will always remember you Mass Dolphie.

To my old teacher Miss Ditty and her children Dayne and Deon my condolences

My condolence to Ms. Ditty my second grade teacher and family for the passing of your husband/dad. May you find comfort in the loving memories that you share with him. when i was out there in 2006 we and Mass Dolphine were all at the football match cheering on with Monroe school together. That was a good moment with him. Be strong for yourself and the kids.

To all of Aunt Lucille's children, we are very sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time.

A SLIGHTLY EDITED (FOR LENGTH) VERSION OF THE EULOGY, DELIVERED AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010

Come sift with me through the sands of time; and pause for a while near the sun kissed beach of Frenchman Bay.

It was three decades ago when on that day stood three fishermen in the prime of their lives; and looming above a fourth man stood.

He was tall and strong with reach so long you had to know he was the leader of this clan.

Like a lignum vitae he seemed unmoved as they stood in the shadow of his giant shade.

Then there was a click and with a camera’s aid this moment was frozen and an icon was formed.

A few months passed then a cry was heard as the hungry sea claimed yet more prey.

And so in a blink the four became two, for Raymond and Bargie were gone too soon.

Then before long Maxie too was gone, claimed again by those relentless waves.

Now, Dalphi stood alone but firm, like that old gum tree, assailed by storms but refusing to bend.

But, in the end nature does win out and so thirty years on this giant is down.

To carry this metaphor a bit further though, consider what happens to the lignum vitae when it hits the ground.

Other trees will rot or quickly burn as fuel for a hasty meal, but this special wood lives on in various forms – as mortar and pestle, as cutting board and wash board too; or skillfully carved as uplifting art that take new life in galleries and in homes.

And in that sense we’ll each depart with a piece of memory that we hold dear, of this special one who touched our lives and lingers still.

We have to travel further back in time for my most special moment with this cousin of mine.

The sun was about to set that fateful day – 1975, the 24th of May. But for me it was a new dawn and he knew it well.

On his way home he got the news that this little cousin was on THE LIST.

Yes; that annual list of Common Entrance success, paving the way to move on to that special place in Potsdam Hill.

It was from the bible, at Mathew 5:14 that Munro College took its motto: “A city set on a hill cannot be hid.”

For us, the peasants on the plains, this bore more than symbolic import.

Back in those days as you looked to the mountain at nights, to the east and to west it was pitch dark.

But in the centre shimmering away were these huge lights beckoning us to dream of that day when some of us too could share that space with students of privilege from far and near.

It was a dream that Dalphi had held for many long years, and he could not hold back his obvious delight.

The gate was locked but he could not wait; so like an Olympic hurdler he scaled the fence.

He tossed me high then he settled under and like Big Bird Garner by the boundary’s edge, he caught me with his mighty hands, hugged me again, then set me down.

He knew very well what this meant. On those hallowed grounds up in the hills it mattered not from where you came, for it was not what you took with you but with what you left that would determine your place in life.

And though he never attended as a student himself he soon became the most familiar sight at every football match at the school.

And Dane, who had been born just one month before my ‘75 moment of joy, was soon enjoying the best seat in the house, perched on the broad shoulders of his dad who towered above the crowd.

And for me a seat was always reserved in his stretch-to-fit car; whether it was his green Hillman Hunter, then his blue Hillman Hunter, or later, his green Cortina.

He wore his small car like a skin so snug, for his huge frame challenged its every inch.

But let’s go back to his journey’s start. It was 1944 that his mother, Rosetta (my Aunt Jo) gave birth to yet another boy!

She might not have given it a moment’s thought but this was also the year internal self-government for Jamaica was born.

So he enjoyed our ups and mourned our downs as we traversed the years which matched his own.

His boyhood days in Lewis Town were idyllic and fun, from beach for a swim to New Savannah hill for mango and plum.

And in between those runs there were the chores, chasing after cows or else Father Bandy would come chasing after him!

School days were also fun but he did learn. And he took pleasure in pushing Teacher McLean’s car whenever it refused to start, which apparently was quite often!

And one year behind him in those school days there was a particular young lady whom he had begun to observe. But we’ll leave that for now and let them grow some more.

On the field of sport cricket was a major passion. And a more ferocious batsman could not be found for miles around.

This was the medium for social exchange between districts and villages and for lasting friendships formed.

He will long be remembered at Alpart for many things, not least his humour, which kept his workmates smiling from ear to ear.

But there were also some tense moments in which his strength and bravery came to the fore and saved the day… or night!

In the meantime, that young lady had blossomed into the woman of his dreams; so on December 22, 1973 he took the plunge and Mercedes Hamilton became his bride.

And for the next 37 years they were inseparable – except for when he was off to a football match… or a cricket match… or a boxing match!

But he had to share her with hundreds of students who, even in her retirement years, recall her fondly as their special teacher; the ever smiling, “Miss Ditty!”

I have already mentioned the birth of Dane in 1975; Dionne was to follow shortly after, in 1976. A more doting daddy you could not find.

And his joy was multiplied when in his declining years his first grandchild came into his life…
As I have said, his strength was part of his legend.

So, true to form, when illness came he refused to give in to the fading light without putting up a vigorous fight.

And so for weeks and months, like an aging boxer in the ring, just when you thought he could not throw another punch he would summon up enough for another round.

So, round after round they went, at different venues near and far; from home to Black River to several Kingston sites.

But, even seasoned and grizzled boxers must finally yield.

And so from that bed he testified that here was a warrior now ready to go and fight the good fight in another ring with the master trainer by his side.

So, let’s return to the metaphor of that lignum vitae tree, but extend it to a wondrous life cycle that it supports in these parts.

Every year, as if on cue, those dull gray caterpillar worms appear, crawling all over its solid trunk and limbs.

Then just when it seems they have reached the end; like a burst of light something new comes forth - a flaming yellow butterfly!

So think of him as that butterfly, and say farewell; but not goodbye.