To the Editor of The Anguillian,
Dear sir
I beg your indulgence, in allowing me the space to convey heartfelt thanks on behalf of the immediate family of the late Reverend Cecil A Weekes, who went to be with the Lord on 15 May 2015, after a long sojourn of quiet suffering, which he endured with patience, knowing that our Lord’s promise was to never leave or to forsake him, but to journey with him, hand in hand, through the pain, even to the end. We saw HIS presence journeying with us in each of you who visited, who called, and who gave.
Emotions can blur thoughts, delete memories and erase the kindness of persons. It can obfuscate events, people, names, actions, etc. ad infinitum. This occasion is especially emotionally charged. It is however necessary that we say thank you to the numerous persons who comforted, and encouraged us, and who still do. The outpouring of compassion, the demonstration of faith & love through acts of kindness, did not go unnoticed. Please pardon the inevitable omissions, in an undertaking such as this, and know in your hearts that we cherish every act of kindness showed to our father, husband, brother and father-in-law and to ourselves; as we kept our bedside vigil.
We would like to thank Dr. Lowell Hughes and staff at the Hughes Medical Centre. You were not just Dad’s Physician, but also his friend, as expressed through your dedication to him. We say a special thank you to, Drs. George & Richardson, for their care, and also their counsel, which were very reassuring. Thank you to the many nurses who dutifully delivered care with professionalism. Thank you for not only caring for our loved one, but your concern was also for those of us at his bedside. You saw our hurt and responded. Your kind words of comfort, and encouragement, were appreciated. With the recently concluded Nurses Week celebrations, I can say without reservation, that you are a credit to your profession. I saw and experienced this firsthand. Some of you are an extraordinary credit. Thank you for your kindness and attention over the past seven weeks.
Special thanks to, those who I will casually refer to as, “The Fraternal Order of Supernumerary Methodist Clergy”, and to their spouses, and also to Reverend Petit, for your support of your (now former) member. Your tangible and practical acts of kindness met our needs, physically and spiritually. A special thank you also, to the Methodist Local Preachers. It was evident that you were very close and very dear to Dad. Your kind words of love and appreciation for your friend, and mentor, showed us another dimension of the Revd. Cecil Weekes. Special thanks to Marva Thompson for her selfless act of sacrifice.
To: Dr. Wycherly Gumbs, to my dear friend and brother, Sandford Richardson. We say thank you for supporting us when we were searching for a way through the darkness of doubt and uncertainty. You journeyed with us, through the valley of the shadow of death. You were the rod and staff that comforted us.
Thank you also to Pastor Philip Gumbs, of the Church of God of Holiness, and to Father Menez Hodge of the Anglican Church.
A special mention and thank you to Heather Ritchie; your light-heartedness is a gift, which served its purpose well. It helped us to laugh, when we wanted to weep. For your faithfulness in visiting almost daily, your sacrifice of foregoing needed rest when fatigued and tired. For the many things you provided, and for the many things you did, thank you. Also like to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude to a very dear sister; Nurse Agnes Brooks (retired). Where would we be without your kind presence, walking faithfully with us day after day? You are truly a burden bearer, and sharer. Thank you for keeping the vigil, when we had to be elsewhere, your support was irreplaceable. To Steve & Sabrina Munroe, thank you for the manner in which you readily and without hesitation, availed yourselves to us. Your willingness was very touching.
To the members of the Prayer-Fellowship group to which Dad belonged, your bedside fellowship meeting was very special and comforting. Thank you.
Thank you to the many friends and acquaintances, of whom it is near impossible to individually mention. Yet I will say this. Throughout our family’s ordeal, we are convinced that there are many persons in Anguilla, with wings protruding from their backs and little golden halos hovering above their heads. A very special person close to me informed me that these are God’s earth angels. I agreed. John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. To all the earth angels mentioned and those omitted, we thank you for your love displayed to us through kindness and service (James 2:18).
Dr. Brian Weekes DVM
