The funeral service of the late James Wilfred Hughes of South Hill, popularly known as “Freddie Hughes”, was held at the newly restored Bethel Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 8th. A large number of people from various walks of life turned out to show their last respects to this humble stalwart of community life, faith and industry.
Mr. Hughes – a patriotic citizen of great stature in the Anguillian community – passed away on Tuesday, December 24th 2024 at the ripe age of ninety-eight (98). He was the brother of the late former Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, and the uncle of the Honourable Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes.
Several Methodist Ministers officiated at the funeral, including Rev. Vincia Celestine, Rev. Wilmoth Hodge, Rev. Candis Niles and Rev. Clifton Niles. A special prayer of comfort as well as the sermon was delivered by Rev. Vincia Celestine. The sermon focused on sharing comfort with the Hughes’ family and friends, with whom he had bonded for many endearing years.
Rev. Vincia’s scriptural text was taken from St. John 14 where Jesus encouraged his disciples not to be troubled. She alluded to the outstanding patriarch of the church, Martin Luther, who had called this passage of scripture “the most comforting message” that Jesus ever spoke.
“Freddie”, as he was affectionately called, was born at a time when life in Anguilla was mundane and rather primitive. According to his eulogy, as a young boy he would find pleasure in playing tops and marbles with his village comrades in South Hill. Though he had a keen interest in school, he would sometimes skip lessons to go “welking” with friends in Sandy Ground Bay. Here, he developed a great admiration for the sea, and at the age of fifteen he began to earn his own money by fishing.
Freddie’s obsession with the ocean instilled within him a drive to be not only a sailor, but a boat-builder. As an avid seaman, he developed an inbred love for the water, and the sea became an integral part of his life. Through it, he was able to etch out a living, even in his later years. While working in Aruba in the 1950s, he sailed with the Lago-Lake fleet. But the first boat that he built in his own, the Sea Gull, enabled him to ply in trade between Anguilla, Guyana, Trinidad, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In His later years, Freddie took on the role of an author, and with the assistance of the late Rev. Wycherley Gumbs he catalogued his vivid passions in a book entitled “A Man For All Seasons”. He later penned another volume, further depicting his life’s experiences, entitled “The Joys and Perils of Sailing: Freddie at Sea”.
Freddie was one who lived a “full life” – from December 1926, to December 2024. At the age of 98, James Wilfred Hughes proved to be a noble soul, indeed. And may that soul now rest in perpetual peace.
