The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Mr. Griffit McClarin Gumbs, Special Constable in the Royal Anguilla Police Force, was held at the Church of God (Holiness) on Saturday, July 31st
2021. Griffit died on June 8th, following a brief illness, and the Service of Thanksgiving followed after his body had been lying in state for public viewing on Friday, July 30th, at Police Headquarters in The Valley.
Griffit was an icon — a patriotic man of national significance — of bravery, friendliness, and dedication to his responsibilities. His farewell was marked with an official funeral as his police colleagues bore his casket into the church after being drawn up Pope Hill by special carriage.
A battalion of Officers had fallen information at 12:45 p.m. just beyond the entrance to the Webster Park on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue. Then, the parade made its way up Pope Hill in quick-march to “Onward Christian Soldiers”, played by the Royal Anguilla Police Force Community Band. At the top of the hill, the band made a transition playing, in slow-march, “Dead Man March From Saul” while they solemnly approached the church.
In the church’s foyer, the casket was opened so that Griffit’s body could be viewed, for at least an hour, while many tributes were rendered in his memory. Moderating the tributes was Captain David Christmas, a colleague with whom Griffit had worked part-time as an airport baggage handler in his family’s business (Trans-Anguilla Airways).
Capt. Christmas took the opportunity to briefly share his sentiments as regards Griffit’s passing: “Let me take this opportunity to first say sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to Griffit’s fam?ily, relatives and friends. I would like to extend my sympathy to the Spanish community, the Rey Hill community, the Taxi Association, the Royal Anguilla Police Force, the airport personnel and seaport personnel. In general, I wish to extend sympathy to the entire Anguillian community, for we have lost one of our friendliest sons of the soil…He was our Griffit.”
As the final tribute was sung, the family and relatives were invited to have the last view of Griffit. The foyer quickly became filled with tearful emotions as Griffit’s daughter, Dorisa, in particular, openly expressed her loss with loud cries — most heartrending — as the casket slowly closed.
At 3 o’clock, the church’s pastor, Philip Gumbs, began to read opening sentences while he and other officiating ministers slowly walked along the aisle, followed the flag-draped coffin. Soon, it was stationed before the altar. The actual funeral service then began in earnest.
Capt. David Christmas, himself a devout pastor, rose to offer the Prayer of Invocation. This was followed by the assembly singing “How Great is our God” led by the Worship Team. Griffit’s niece, Dawnett Gumbs, and his sister, Ingrid Gumbs-Simmons, both read the scriptures, taken from the books of 1st Thessalonians and St. John, respectively. The reading of these passages were separated by the stirring rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Colos Beckles, Griffit’s nephew-in-law.
Another sterling performance was the singing of “The Battle is Not Yours”, by Police Officer, Jenique Nedd. And yet another touchìng song was beautifully delivered by Griffit’s niece, Amalia Wattey, who sang Jenn Johnson’s “Goodness of God”. As far as other renditions went, Trevor Queeley and Elliot Gumbs admirably played on the tenor and alto sax the song “I Sing Praises to Your Name”. These consoling songs served to lift the spirit and bring comfort to the bereaved.
In his reading of the Eulogy, Griffit’s brother, Vernol, did what he could to bring cheer to the saddened spirits: “Griffit had many interesting hobbies, one of which was raising animals,” he said. “In fact, he had his own farm on which he raised pigs, goats, sheep, ducks and even dogs. Griffit was a jolly soul, and when attending to his animals, in the mornings, he would sing ‘Old MacDonald had a Farm’. He was by no means a MacDonald, but he sure did have his own farm.”
Vernol continued: “At one point in time, among the things that Grif loved was the setting of ‘killiband’ bird traps in which he’d catch doves. That was an era when the turtle dove was not yet designated as the national bird of Anguilla, and Griff would savour fried dove as a special delicacy.” Vernol also spoke about the Sunday dinners and Christmas dinners around which Griff was the centre of family fun. “He would maliciously eat from his siblings plates if he thought they were wasting time. Then, he would stretch out on the floor and gingerly rub his big belly.” Such stories brought laughter to the congregation.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Lynch, read the Formal Remembrance. Commenting on Griffit’s legacy, he reflected: “I had met with Griffit for a few minutes on two or three occasions, and each time I was left with lasting impressions. Not everybody who dies leaves behind such a legacy of positive experiences. Griff has left such a legacy. He has left remarkable memories for all the people who knew him.”
As Pastor Philip Gumbs delivered his sermon, he recounted fond memories of Griffit, who he had come to know as the man “Rambo”, and one of the sharpest shooters in the RAPF. He spoke in glowing terms of Grifft’s skillful aim in killing an annoying monkey which had been menacing the fruit trees in his yard. Griffit wiped out the troublesome monkey with one solitary shot.
The Pastor’s sermon was taken from the Book of Daniel 2: 26-44, and was entitled “Two Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Good and the Kingdom of Evil”. Before he preached, to the grieving family, he said: “Today on behalf of the Church and my family, I wish to extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved. Griffit was my cousin, and so we stand in solidarity with all who are gathered here today, with the hope that Griffit has made peace with God.”
At about 6 o’clock, the interment process began at the cemetery of the Pro-Cathedral St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, The Valley, where Griffit’s body was laid to rest. The graveside service was officiated by the church’s Lay Reader, Lindon Hodge. A 6-gun salute was made in honour of the fallen officer, and the flag which had covered his casket was presented to his daughter, Dorisa Gumbs, by Sergeant Delvin “Ronnie” Fleming.
The Anguillian takes this opportunity to express its deepest condolences to the family and friends who are left to mourn the loss of the late Griffit Gumbs.
