Anguilla has said farewell to its famed herbalist, Mr. John Edwards. He passed away on August 5 at his residence in Rambo, St Martin, at the age of 81, and was laid to rest in Anguilla on August 23. The Thanksgiving Service was held at Jirey Tabernacle of Seventh-day Adventists and was conducted by Pastor Lester Jules.
The late Mr. Edwards has had a long and colorful history of involvement in herbal remedies and has won much acclaim both in Anguilla and other regional islands. He eventually took up residence in St. Martin where he continued his herbal service.
Prior to serving as a herbalist, Mr. Edwards migrated to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, in the 1960s where he worked in the construction field. He returned to Anguilla some ten years later and served as a painter on Sombrero Island. After a few years, he migrated to St. Martin where he worked at the Mullet Bay Hotel. Back in Anguilla in the 1980s, he worked in what was then a booming construction industry.
An excerpt from the family-written Eulogy read: “In addition to construction and carpentry, John was skilled at boat-building. He built his own fishing boats. He would spend many long hours on the bay-side in Sandy Ground admiring the sea or checking on his boat as part of his morning and afternoon routine.
“He was passionate about the sea and fishing and would often leave at the crack of dawn or at the close of the day, for a fishing expedition alone for countless hours. The day would turn to night and night to day with no sign of his return. We often wondered if he were lost at sea or if the catch were good. This was the norm we got used to.
“On 21st. December, 1965, John married Irenee Richardson and from this union they had four children: Ornette, Edwin, Michel (deceased) and Maris. Additionally, he was a special ‘father’ to Krystal Gordon and his nephew, Michael Shan Edwards. Years, later, he fathered a fifth child, Zaiid Edwards, in St. Martin.
“In his later years, our father dedicated his time and energy to others by helping them to address their health concerns by using natural remedies, especially herbs. He imparted his knowledge that was culled through generations of Anguillians, from personal experience and self-education. Many testify of their restoration from ailments and disease and, as a result, he was much respected and admired. In 2000, he migrated to St. Martin to continue his work in this field.”
