The families of two prominent Anguillians have been left bereft by the passing and interment of their loved ones. Those who passed away were Mr. Douglas Washington Richardson and Dr. Franklin Marshall Lloyd.
Mr. Richardson died in St. Kitts on November 30, 2020, at the age of 77. His Home-going Service was held at the historic Pro-Cathedral of St. George with St. Barnabas there on December 29, and was interred at Springfield Cemetery.
Originally from Stoney Ground, Anguilla, he attended the former Valley Boys’ School and the former Valley Secondary School. Shortly after, he was employed at the Public Works Department. He later migrated to St. Kitts where he served as a Customs Officer, in the public service, for many years until his retirement. He established his family home at Bird Rock, East Basseterre, but occasionally returned to Anguilla for short periods.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Caroline Richardson, and children, as well as his siblings in Anguilla: Retired Anguillian Priest, Canon Emerson Richardson; and sisters: Mrs. Maralyn Richardson; Mrs. Pricilla Carty; and Ms. Eldra Richardson; brother-in-law, Mr. Robin Richardson; and other close relatives including his nephew, Dr. Sherlan Richardson.
The other prominent Anguillian, the late Dr. Franklin Lloyd, passed away in Anguilla on December 4, 2020. He was 86 years old. His funeral service was held at the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel, the oldest active Methodist Church in the Caribbean, on January 2, 2021. The service was conducted by Rev. Joseph Lloyd (Dr. Lloyd’s cousin) and Rev. Dunstan Richardson, Acting Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit.
Among the tributes was one from Dr. Lloyd’s longstanding friend, the Rt. Honourable former Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds. The tribute was read by Anguilla’s Acting Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley.
“Franklin Lloyd was, to me, a true and treasured friend”, Dr. Simmonds wrote. “Our friendship spanned more than 70 years, beginning at the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School, where our paths intersected with amazing frequency. We acted together in school plays and participated in debating society activities. Even the constraints of Covid could not inhibit our frequent telephone conversations, while he was in Anguilla and I in St. Kitts. I miss him, and I am deeply saddened by his passing.”
Dr. Simmonds formerly served as Anaesthesiologist and Director of Medical Services at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Anguilla, following his retirement from politics in St. Kitts. He worked in Anguilla during the time that Dr. Lloyd also served with the Health Authority of Anguilla.
Dr. Simmond’s tribute continued: “Franklin studied medicine in Canada, and also specialised in internal medicine. When he returned to St. Kitts to pursue the practice of medicine, he brought with him more than medical knowledge. He also brought a broad experience of life acquired from extensive travels in Europe. One of the things that always amazed me about Franklin was the fluency with which he spoke French especially with people to whom French was their native language.
“Dr. Franklin Lloyd was a committed and dedicated public servant. He served in St. Kitts and Nevis as a Physician-Specialist at the Joseph N. France Hospital. His attention to detail and his calm, confident and caring demeanour endeared him to patients and staff alike. He was always willing to help wherever the need arose. When the need arose for a Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Lloyd, along with his duties as Physician-Specialist, acted CMO of St. Kitts and Nevis. He was subsequently appointed and served substantively in that capacity.
“When Franklin retired from the public service in St. Kitts and Nevis, he returned home to Anguilla. He was eventually appointed CMO of Anguilla and rendered dedicated service until in that capacity the Government of Anguilla devolved the Health Services upon a newly-established Health Authority. Dr. Lloyd retired again. Eventually, he was called upon to serve once more and, ever willing to serve, he answered the call to become Chairman of the still fledging Health Authority of Anguilla.”
The Formal Remembrance was delivered by Anguilla’s former Premier, Mr. Victor Banks, a close cousin of the Lloyd’s family.
“The Lloyd family would like me to begin by thanking everyone present here, those of you who are watching the lived streaming, as well as those who have sent condolences,” he began. “The family has received countless phone calls, e-mails, text messages, meals, thoughts and prayers. These thoughtful gestures have been especially comforting during this difficult time and have been a reminder of the impact that Dr. Lloyd has had on so many lives.”
Mr. Banks went on: “Dr Lloyd, as he was known to most Anguillians, was born Franklin Marshal Lloyd on the 21st of April 1934 in The Valley. He was the third of four children of Phillip Nathaniel Lloyd and Ann Elizabeth Lloyd.
“As a youngster, Franklin began his education at The Valley Boys’ School in Anguilla. And he was nurtured in this Valley community as well as this Ebenezer Church and Sunday School. His mother, Elizabeth, affectionately known as “Beth Lloyd”, and his father, Phillip “Natty” Lloyd, were staunch members of this Church – and his sister Evelyn, affectionately known as ‘Teacher Laurie’, was an organist here at Ebenezer as well.
“His other siblings were the late Dr. Clarence ‘Sonny’ Lloyd, an Ophthalmologist, and of course the late and well-renowned Capt. J. Clayton Lloyd, Anguilla’s first airline pilot and a very successful entrepreneur after whom our Airport is memorialised.”
Mr. Banks continued by referring to Dr. Lloyd’s studies at the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School followed by his enrolment at the famous Howard University in Washington, DC.
He said: “Upon graduation from Howard University, Franklin continued his educational journey to France and Belgium where he studied medicine. Obviously, this required that he also had to learn French as a second language to study in these universities. This again is a further indication of his determination to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor at all costs. It is a little known fact in Anguilla that Dr. Lloyd was fluent in French. Eventually, his medical training took him to Canada where he completed his studies, specialising in internal medicine. In 1981, he returned to St. Kitts where he worked as a Physician and eventually became the Chief Medical Officer.”
The rest of the Formal Remembrance of Dr. Lloyd covered his work in Anguilla as described by Dr. Simmonds as well as other personal and community engagements.
In terms of family, while studying in Europe, Franklin Lloyd married a French young lady, Francoise, in 1971. That union produced two children, Phillip and Sabine, who were both raised in St. Kitts. Phillip has been with his father in Anguilla during his declining years.
The Anguillian newspaper offers its condolences to the families of both Mr. Douglas Richardson and Dr. Franklin Lloyd.
