Little did Evelyn Elmira Roper nee Hodge, then in 1967 a very young woman of East End, know that one day her heroine efforts in the Anguilla Revolution would earn her a National Funeral. Now, forty-seven years later, at her passing on September 8, 2014, that honour was accorded to her at a Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance at the Central Baptist Church, Rey Hill, on September 27.
The large number of persons at the funeral heard glowing tributes paid to her by Mr Jerome Roberts, who chaired that particular session which preceded the funeral service, and other persons including family members, friends and well-wishers.
Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, spoke on behalf of the Government of Anguilla which approved the National Funeral, the flying of flags at half-mast, a procession by contingents of the Royal Anguilla Police Force and Police/Community Band, the bearing of her body by the Police to and from the Church and a gun salute of three rounds at the Faith Baptist Church’s portion of the Sandy Hill Cemetery.
Speaking at the commencement of the Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, Chief Minister Hughes said in part: “On behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla, and on my own behalf, we join in expressing our condolences to the family and relatives of Evelyn Roper of East End.
“We have come to pay our last respects to her in recognition of the pivot role that she, and other women, played in our island’s quest for self-determination. Evelyn was in the frontline, giving assistance to the freedom-fighters and in keeping the men [in the vanguard of the Revolution] fed, and she never missed an opportunity to be … on a truck headed to protect and preserve our island’s home. Her contribution to the Anguilla Revolution is a fitting tribute to all women on this island. For this, she was awarded the Anguilla Badge of Honour and a Queen’s Certificate in 2013.”
The service was conducted by Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church along with his Assistant Pastor Dwayne Adams, and Pastor Norril Gumbs of the First Baptist Church at Welches. The deceased was a member of Faith Baptist Church at Mount Fortune which was established by Pastor Erald Edwards (and congregation) now retired in Barbados.
The skilful performance of the Police contingents and the Police/Community Band drew much commendation. Though now regarded as an oft-repeated exercise of “Pomp and Circumstance”, the fine display and precision of the procession continue to be very much admired by onlookers.
