No funeral for ‘OT’

Theophilus Olmroy ‘OT’ Mayers had made his position clear. There should be no funeral service when he died.  In keeping with his wishes, ‘The Little Man’ will be laid to rest this Saturday without pomp or ceremony.

A YOUNG Theophilus Olmroy ‘OT’ Mayers working in his furniture factory.

The prominent businessman and philanthropist died quietly last Saturday, April 9 at his home at Indian Bay. He was 76 years old.

“Mr OT Mayers was a simple and down-to-earth son of the soil. He left his wishes concerning burial, informing his boys not to spend any money.

“OT had what could be considered his funeral service on the occasion of his 70th birthday on Sunday 18th October 2015, when he invited all who wished to pay tribute to him to do so.

“Hence, there will be NO funeral service,” his family said in a release yesterday.

Instead, there will be a public viewing of the body at the OT Car Park at Tyrell Street on Saturday, April 16 between 10:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m, followed by burial at the Lowmans Leeward cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

The release quoted OT as saying: “Nah buy no pretty flowers fuh goat eat, save aryo money.”

OT’s coffin will be made by his children and long serving employees from local lumber: mahogany and blue mahoe and polished with coconut oil. It will be accessorized with parts of used carpentry tools.

Mayers was the proprietor of Finishing and Furnishing, a furniture manufacturer and retailer that he established in October, 1983.

He began his professional journey as an apprentice carpenter in 1959 at the Government workshop in Arnos Vale when he was just 14 years old. But after two years and six months, he left to work on his own as he saw no future there.

“I started with the normal household furniture, like chairs and beds and tables and so on. I [did] it to the best of my ability.”

At first, he sold his furniture to department stores, but when he saw the mark-up they added, he decided to open his own retail outlet.

“I sold one of them a piece of furniture for $50 and immediately, they went and sell it for $105. I thought the mark-up was a little high too quick, so I decided to set up my own outlet,” OT told SEARCHLIGHT a few years ago.

Although the business was named Finishing and Furnishing, it was rebranded “Arwe Store” by its clients because of OT’s willingness to adjust his prices and hire purchase terms to suit the individual circumstances of his customers.

His sensitivity to the needs of disadvantaged Vincentians was as a result of his own experience growing up in “dirt poor poverty” at Lowmans Hill as a member of a large household in which his mother was left with the full responsibility of providing for her children.

OT was also a benefactor of the St Mary’s Roman Catholic school, located a few buildings away from his Tyrell Street retail store. He made monthly monetary contributions to the school and has for decades made space available in his building to accommodate three classes and staff free of charge.

In his biography “OT Mayers’ Relay Race”, written by Ingrid B Punnett, launched on the occasion of his 70th birthday, OT recalled not having shoes until he was 14 years old; experiencing discrimination and prejudice at home and abroad; developing his entrepreneurial, business development and leadership skills; and his love of family.

At his 70th birthday celebration on October 18,  2015 (six days after his birthday) held at the Finishing and Furnishing factory at Diamond Estate, several persons paid tribute to OT including Dr Jules Ferdinand, Sebastian “Bassy” Alexander, Matthew Thomas, Rondolph Howard, Pastor Wendell Roberts and Luke Browne. It was this event that OT considered his funeral service. He wanted his roses while he was alive.

A source close to the family told SEARCHLIGHT that Mayers died looking at his favourite sport, Cricket, on television, while seated in his favourite chair.
Theophilus Olmroy ‘OT’ Mayers is survived by a large extended family including his wife Lenora, 10 children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.