Sister Mary Ignatius Davies (18 November 1921 – 9 February 2003) was a Sister of Mercy and inspirational music teacher known for her work at the Alpha Boys School.
Born Mary Davies in Innswood, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica,[1] Davies was baptised at the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Spanish Town, and went to the St. Catherine Elementary School.[2] After her family moved to Kingston, she attended Mico Elementary School and later the Alpha Academy, the girls' high school attached to the Alpha Boys School.[2][1][3] She joined the Sisters of Mercy on 1 February 1939, aged 17, taking the name Ignatius,[2][1] and lived at the school for the remainder of her life.[4]
Sister Mary Ignatius had a large record collection that was the envy of many pupils at the Academy, and was a huge fan of blues and jazz.[4][5] For many years she operated a sound system on Saturday afternoons at the school, which attracted people from surrounding areas.[5]
^ abcdePierre Perrone, The Independent on Sunday, 3 March 2003, archived from
^ abcde"Alpha's Sister Mary Ignatius passes on 5 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 11 February 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2014
^ abKatz, David (2003) "Sister Mary Ignatius Davies: Unlikely mentor of Jamaican ska greats and international jazz musicians", The Guardian, 15 February 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2014
^ abGreen, Thomas H. (2006) "Nun who nurtured reggae", Daily Telegraph, 12 January 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2014
^ abcd"Sister Ignatius' Musical Legacy Lives On", Jamaica Gleaner, 7 December 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014
^Charles, Jonathan (2007) "The nun who nurtured reggae", BBC, 26 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2014
mary, ignatius, davies, sister, november, 1921, february, 2003, sister, mercy, inspirational, music, teacher, known, work, alpha, boys, school, sister, bornmary, davies, 1921, november, 1921innswood, saint, catherine, parish, jamaicadied9, february, 2003, 2003. Sister Mary Ignatius Davies 18 November 1921 9 February 2003 was a Sister of Mercy and inspirational music teacher known for her work at the Alpha Boys School Sister Mary Ignatius DaviesBornMary Davies 1921 11 18 18 November 1921Innswood Saint Catherine Parish JamaicaDied9 February 2003 2003 02 09 aged 81 Kingston JamaicaOccupation s Nun teacherCareer EditBorn Mary Davies in Innswood Saint Catherine Parish Jamaica 1 Davies was baptised at the St Joseph s Roman Catholic Church in Spanish Town and went to the St Catherine Elementary School 2 After her family moved to Kingston she attended Mico Elementary School and later the Alpha Academy the girls high school attached to the Alpha Boys School 2 1 3 She joined the Sisters of Mercy on 1 February 1939 aged 17 taking the name Ignatius 2 1 and lived at the school for the remainder of her life 4 She inspired many musicians from the Alpha school to become professional musicians including future Skatalites Tommy McCook Don Drummond and Johnny Dizzy Moore as well as trombonist Rico Rodriguez and Leslie Thompson who went on to become the first black conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra 1 She contributed to Island Rock a documentary series broadcast in 2002 on BBC Radio 2 to mark the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence 1 Sister Mary Ignatius had a large record collection that was the envy of many pupils at the Academy and was a huge fan of blues and jazz 4 5 For many years she operated a sound system on Saturday afternoons at the school which attracted people from surrounding areas 5 While best known for the musicians she taught she was also involved in teaching football cricket boxing table tennis and dominoes at the school 5 6 In 1996 she was awarded the Badge of Honour for services to Jamaica 2 She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies Jamaica on 9 February 2003 aged 81 after suffering a heart attack the day before 5 3 2 References Edit a b c d e Pierre Perrone Sister Mary Ignatius Davies Headmistress behind ska and reggae obituary The Independent on Sunday 3 March 2003 archived from original source a b c d e Alpha s Sister Mary Ignatius passes on Archived 5 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine Jamaica Gleaner 11 February 2003 Retrieved 7 December 2014 a b Katz David 2003 Sister Mary Ignatius Davies Unlikely mentor of Jamaican ska greats and international jazz musicians The Guardian 15 February 2003 Retrieved 7 December 2014 a b Green Thomas H 2006 Nun who nurtured reggae Daily Telegraph 12 January 2006 Retrieved 7 December 2014 a b c d Sister Ignatius Musical Legacy Lives On Jamaica Gleaner 7 December 2014 Retrieved 7 December 2014 Charles Jonathan 2007 The nun who nurtured reggae BBC 26 December 2007 Retrieved 7 November 2014External links EditAlpha Old Boys Association Portals Biography Christianity Jamaica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Ignatius Davies amp oldid 1160454187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
