Shout out to my readers from
Luxembourg, Germany, Singapore and Canada ✋! I recently celebrated my 2,000th
page read. Thank you so much.
I am dedicating today’s page to
former colleagues who passed away. Beginning in March, six (6) persons I know have died. Three were Facebook friends and former colleagues, one was a child from
the Sunday School, where I teach (yes, I teach Sunday School), one was a parent
of a friend from Secondary School (i.e. High School) and the other is the
businessman who founded the company where I interned while at University - and that began my writing career really. Prior to that I wanted to be a fashion designer and if you have not seen my handiwork, check it out in my previous blog...
The Spark
I discovered at the funeral service of my Fb friend and work colleague, Paul, that he was affectionately called "The Spark". His enthusiasm for doing what he loved was infectious (and he loved to sing). Actually, I remember one year at the staff scenic bus ride, he and another staff member had a karaoke sing-off. We knew they both had beautiful voices, but we had no idea Paul could render any genre! By the end of the impromptu contest, there was a clear winner - Paul. Also, he had a genuine love for and interest in people. He was conversant on so many topics - politics, football - and he was the go-to person for help with foreign languages, namely french. Staff were dumbfounded to learn of his sudden passing on April 9, 2019.
In memory of Paul, I dedicate "Pass It On" originally by Kurt Kaiser:
"Pass It On" [Source: Musicforthesoul, 2014]
A Sweet Soul
Only the the week before, I received word that another of my Fb friends and a former work colleague, Juliet, had passed away. I was stunned. Juliet was quiet but very warm. I never saw her angry. Frustrated, yes. We bonded as the "outsiders", which is how some viewed people coming into certain senior posts. She was skilled in technology, providing training at community programmes in addition to her "day job". When she worked in the same organisation, she was the Systems Network Administrator. She moved on from the department some years ago. I remember my last Whatsapp message to her around November 2018 was to get a recommendation for a laptop. I never did follow through on that. I will wait for another sale.
In Juliet's memory, I dedicate "The Prayer". I remember when I won an MP3 player in a communications provider promotion, I asked for her help in transferring my favourite songs to it - and the Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams version proved to be a fave for both of us.
"The Prayer" - Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams [Source: Praise In the House Media, 2016]
The Force of Nature
Then there was Fay whose funeral was March 29, 2019. Fay is best described as a force of nature. Ebullient. Always smiling but no nonsense. We worked for the same organisation in the 1990s. She was a go-getter; she aimed for excellence. It was no surprise when I learned that she headed the Marketing and Communications unit of a department of government in the more recent past. Of course, she later founded her marketing and communications firm when illness prompted her early departure from government. I last saw Fay a few months before her death. She was radiant, flawlessly made-up - as usual - with her radiant smile. I dedicate, Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine" to the memory of Fay.
MercyMe - "I Can Only Imagine" (The Movie Session Official Video) [Source: mercymevideo, 2018]
Suga Bear
Little Saniyah was nine years old when she died on May 18, 2019. Her nickname was...you guessed it..."Suga Bear". She was a sweet, loving child, playful. During the eulogy, her mother, Natalie, pointed out that she defied the odds. At birth, she was expected to live for three (3) days. She lived to be the age of nine. That is a miracle. Saniyah was described as full of life - she enjoyed singing and dancing. There was standing room only at the church for her funeral, which shows the impact she made on so many people who knew her. To Saniya, I dedicate "Butterfly" a local vocal by Sirrah, who sang it '"live" during the tributes before the funeral.
Sirrah - Butterfly [Source: Sirrah Music, 2016]
The Good Father
One of my friends from school buried her Dad on March 21, 2019. She and her brother, Gregory, eulogized, their father, Leigh, as someone who seemed quiet but had a wonderful sense of humour and oratorical skills. Still, he was quite strict with his children - as most dads from that era were. He was described as a loving husband, a good father and a devout man of God. His tribute is a rendition of Psalm 23.
The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond) arr Ayres [Source: paulayres1970, 2016]
The Visionary
Today, Barbados said farewell to the founder of the Nation Publishing Company. When he launched his own newspaper in 1973, many may not have thought it would become the national institution that it did. For what were the odds of success for a newspaper founded by a black man in an age when economic wealth still rested in the hands of Barbados' white elite? He and his enterprising team ran with that vision and made it a reality. The task now is for the current employees to help his legacy to live on.
The best tribute for him, is not in song, but to share the thoughts of one of his surviving peers, Carl Moore in a Barbados Today article.
The Late Harold Hoyte, founder of the National Publishing Company Limited
May their rest be peaceful.
