The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Esterlin Silwood Connor was held at Bethel Methodist Church on Monday afternoon, October 7. The large crowd of mourners was swelled to a larger degree by teachers and students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School where Sil, as he was affectionately called, served as a Technical Teacher.
The Officiating Clergy comprised Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit; Rev Dr H Clifton Niles and Rev Candis Niles.
The 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Service was preceded by a long series of tributes, some of which continued during the Order of Service. Various soloists and groups, including the Maranatha Youth Choir at Blowing Point,the Class of 2004 of the Comprehensive School, teachers and students, and members of the Drag Racing Association, participated in the first period of tributes. The Order of Service included an account of Sil’s Journey in Education, delivered by Education Officer, Winston Duncan; the Formal
Remembrance by Mrs Aunika Webster-Lake, a former Teacher at the Comprehensive School now employed at Public Administration; renditions by Tahira Banks, the A.L.H.C.S. Choir, Omari Banks and Trent Webster; and a special message of love and commitment by Karece Webster, Sil’s fiancée. The Order of Service also included Scripture Readings by Mrs Ingrid Lake, Principal of the School and Jillian Abbot – and the presentation of the Gospel by Pastor Roderick Webster, a close family member and an Anguillian Baptist Minister serving in St Maarten.
The homily was delivered by Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs who extended condolence to the bereaving relatives and friends and all other persons. He described the service as a celebration of Sil’s life, work, dignity and passing. “From my early days, as a young Teacher, I have been part of the life of this family. Rhonda [Sil’s mother] was one of my students,” he said. “All of us who stand here will one day or another have to turn adversity into blessing – that’s part of the human challenge. Each of us, at sometime or other, will face our own Gethsemane when the sounds of life bang at our doorsteps in such a manner when even the day becomes our night.” He saw the sad occasion as one such time when there was a need “to turn adversity into blessing.”
The newly-appointed Anguillian Minister to head his home circuit spent sometime reflecting on several popular Methodist hymns of the faith, whose authors wrote them in times of crisis in their own lives and found comfort and hope by doing so. In like manner, he impressed on the grieving family members and friends to take comfort and courage, to deal appropriately with their own Gethsemane and to continue their lives with faith and hope.
Rev Dr Gumbs said that persons impacted by tragedy often questioned why adversity came to them. “We sometimes ask the question: why us, why me, why my family, forgetting all families…face their own Gethsemane and oftentimes their own Calvary,” he observed. In one of his references he pointed to an author and musician who, overcome by anguish, lost his sense of faith and confidence in God. The author became bitter until one day he found comfort, hope and peace in reciting andplaying the tune Precious Lord, Take My hand – an example for bereaved persons.
“Take the Hand of God,” the Minister urged the mourners. “That hand will never let you go. It is the hand of strength and the hand of safety…” He referred to another author who turned adversity into blessing and wrote the hymn What A Friend We have In Jesus – another example of solace for grieving persons.
Rev Dr Gumbs advised the young people to take note of any one of Sil’s virtues, mentioned during the tributes, and to make it part of their own lives. “May the memory of this young man, full of life, full of power, full of grace, pass on these virtues to others as a guide post for their lives, he said. He also told the young people:“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil day comes.” He added: “To the families, grace and peace be yours.”
The Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Commendation were delivered by the Rev Dr H Clifton Niles who conveyed his personal condolences, and those of his family, to the sorrowing families and friends.
Interment was at the Sandy Ground Cemetery.
The Anguillian joins in offering its condolences to the relatives and friends of the late Esterlin Silwood Connor.
