Well-known Anguillian pilot, Mr. Keath Jeron Rogers, formerly of East End, was laid to rest at the Sandy Hill Cemetery on Saturday, November 18, following the funeral service at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church which celebrated his life. The officiating Clergy were the Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks and the Rev. Menes Hodge.
Mr. Rogers, who last served as a pilot in St. Maarten, was born on November 19, 1958 and died on September 30, 2017 in Antigua. Among the large attendance at his funeral were a number of pilots and other colleagues from Anguilla, St. Maarten, and the US Virgin Islands. A fly-over of aircraft above the cemetery, during his interment, was a final salute to his memory.
The eulogy was delivered by Mr. Leroy Richardson (Brother Lee), a friend of the deceased, who described him as having been “a very humble but a very jovial person” in the East End community where he grew up, attended school and played cricket for the school. He was also described as “a jewel in the community – well-loved and, in many ways, even favoured.”
Brother Lee also reflected on Keath’s love for guitar and other musical instruments and his involvement in the Scouts Band, Mad Squads, North Sound, Mega Force and Scratch Bands in Anguilla as well as other bands in St. Thomas. He also traced Keath’s migration to St. Thomas where he worked with his father, the late Victor Benjamin, and later at Pueblo Supermarket prior to becoming a pilot.
“When Keath achieved his pilot licence, the excitement led him to renting a single engine aircraft which he flew to Anguilla,” the eulogy recalled. “He picked up Brother Lee, took him around the island and gave him his first flying lesson. In order to build flying hours, he would fly as a co-pilot with anyone. In a short time Keath attained his commercial licence which afforded him the opportunity to work for several airline companies flying out of St. Thomas, Tortola, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Croix and, most recently, St. Maarten.”
The late pilot is survived by his mother, Cyrilla Rogers-King, his step-mother, Denver Benjamin, two daughters, several brothers, sisters and other relatives to whom The Anguillian offers its condolences.
