On the day following what would have been Eltha Brown’s 68th birthday, family, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor her remarkable life and legacy. A woman of modest stature but immense impact, Brown’s contributions to Jamaica and the world were profound, particularly through her work with the United Nations (UN), which touched countless lives across the globe. Born in Granville, St. James, on September 19, 1957, Brown was the youngest of six children. Her early academic excellence at Montego Bay High School, where she served as head girl and achieved nine distinctions in her GCE exams, foreshadowed her future accomplishments. Brown’s career spanned agriculture, finance, and international development, with significant roles at the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Commercial Bank, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Her 16-year tenure at the UN-affiliated Common Fund for Commodities in Amsterdam saw her travel to 50 countries, embodying her Afrocentric pride and dedication to global progress. Despite health challenges, Brown returned to Jamaica, continuing her service with the UN Development Programme. Her brother Wemley Brown fondly recalled her generosity, humility, and unwavering commitment to family and community. Eltha Brown’s life was celebrated at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Andrew, where tributes highlighted her magnetic passion, tenacity, and the indelible mark she left on all who knew her. She passed away on September 7, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, leadership, and global impact.
Eltha ‘Paulette’ Brown was not a household name but she was a Jamaican heroine
