The funeral service was held at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Dr. Claire Grant paid tribute to Francois St. Juste, recounting his humility.
Simone Clarke-Cooper described Francois as a transformational figure and an agent of change.
Francois St. Juste
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Dr. Claire Grant and Simone Clarke-Cooper
Scores of mourners gathered on Wednesday at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for the funeral service of venerable broadcaster Francois St. Juste.
He died on August 29 at the University Hospital of the West Indies after an illness.
He was 60.
The service began with a musical tribute from Duane Stephenson, followed by tributes from former Fame FM colleague and friend, Rosamund Brown; President of the Rotary Club of Kingston, Karsten Johnson; and General Manager of Television Jamaica and Radio Services at the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, Dr. Claire Grant.
Dr. Grant hailed Francois as the consummate professional, a gentle giant with striking humility and a humourous personality, who epitomised the magic and mystery that is radio.
She described him as the 'King of Radio', and credited him for re-engineering Fame FM and impacting radio's adaptability over the years.
Delivering the remembrance, former FAME colleague and broadcaster, Simone Clarke-Cooper described Francois as a transformational figure and an agent of change.
Francois, she said, "had a way of making you prove things to yourself".
She recalled how he had supported her when she decided to leave her corporate job and start her own business at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Go for it! This is your great brand-building opportunity. Get things up and running and going as soon as possible. YOU CAN DO THIS," he had told her in a text message.
"Those four words (YOU CAN DO THIS) were words he said often to many of us here today, and it was like magic when he said it because it switched something in your headspace that made you really start to believe in yourself, in your own ability," she shared.
Francois's career in radio began in 1984 at Fame 95 FM as an announcer and presenter. It lasted for 38 years, during which time, he became the first general manager for radio at the RJR Communications Group, now RJRGLEANER Communications Group. He later transitioned to Radio Jamaica, co-hosting the morning show, Sunny Side Up.
He is survived by siblings, Brian and Maya.
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