The name “Menes” invariably strikes a note of fond familiarity for a man of high honour in the Anguillian community. As a consequence, the morning of Friday, January 30th saw a show of solemn support and love as all-and-sundry converged at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary in The Valley to pay their last respects to the life of this noble man, Reverend Father Vanier Menes Hodge.
Rev. Father Menes Hodge was truly “a man of the cloth”. According to an extract from the pages of his Formal Remembrance his profound and enduring legacy was within the Anglican Church, where he had answered the call of God with humility and resolve.
The funeral service began with several video presentations dedicated to the Reverend’s memory and snapshots of reflections on his life were read from his eulogy by two of his sons, Arnie and Trevor.
The reflections spanned a scope of history that chronicled the Reverend’s childhood; his upbringing; his education; his diligent apprenticeship as a carpenter, then as an Agricultural Officer in the Public Service; his dedication as a Customs Officer; his professionalism as a Director of Broadcasting at Radio Anguilla; his loyalty as a Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office; and his epic service as a devoted member of the Rotary Club.
Rev. Father Menes Hodge was an avid Commissioner of Scouts, and attained the Silver Acorn award for prolonged service in Scouting. He was naturally “always prepared” even as the Scouts Motto dictates. It was this mode of preparation that caused him to answer the call of God in 1975 as a Lay Reader in St. Mary’s Anglican Church, becoming ordained to the Diaconate in 1993. He further advanced the call of God into Christian service through his ordination to the Holy Priesthood in 1996.
His funeral service proceeded as undertakers wheeled his casket up the aisle, led by opening sentences pronounced by the Right Reverend Ernest Flemming, Bishop of the Diocese of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, accompanied by Priest in charge, Canon Reid Simon. The hymn “How Great Though Art” was sung, followed by the first scripture reading delivered by Reverend Hodge’s daughter, Menesa Campbell, Esq.
The singing of Psalm 23 preceded the second reading by his son, Vanroy Hodge. The Combined Choir then melodiously sang Richard Smallwood’s signature song “Healing”. The Gospel from St. John 14:1-6 was read by Canon Reid Simon. Reverend Hodge’s younger brother, the Venerable Valentine Hodge presented the sermon. Prior to delivering the actual sermon, however, he conveyed words of comfort to the children of Reverend Hodge from the extended family.
“I am sure I would be speaking on behalf of everyone here today, together with those sharing in the various media, in extending our most sincere condolences and the assurance of our prayers to Menes’s four children, Ash, Trevor, Vanroy and Menesa and their families. At the same time, we wish to remember with gratitude his wife Britannia, deceased, and his daughters Joy and Mathis who have preceded their dad in death.
“Condolences go out also to his siblings, Elvese in Texas, Stafford in Virginia, Joycelyn in the UK and Roy of the Virgin Islands who is with us here today.”
“Recently I found on Facebook,” he continued, “where someone was lauding the ideals of family life, saying that there is nothing like family. That is a sentiment which I would readily endorse.” “I wish that more people would recognize the value of family bonds and the need for unity within the family.”
Archdeacon Emeritus Valentine Hodge reminisced growing up with Menes, and he reflected upon the youthful days of their development, especially their experiences in riding a 2-horsepower Triumph Tiger Cub motorbike. He spoke about the many falls they sustained and said, “We both learnt how to recover from falling only by falling. By falling off that bike several times, we eventually learnt what balance feels like. And people who have never fallen are actually riding life off balance.”
Then, focusing on the sermon, he elaborated on St. John 13: 12-15. He explained how Jesus, the master teacher, taught his disciples the valuable lesson of Christian service, demonstrating the lesson of humility. He explained that as Christ washed the feet of His followers, He required them to wash one another’s feet, likewise, even as he was humble enough to wash theirs.
“My Brothers and sisters,” he charged, “more and more in our world today we need people who are willing to serve others rather than to be served. We need more persons who are willing to wash the feet of others rather than just to have their own feet washed.”
“It is for this reason that service above self should become the motto of all Christ-like people,” he stressed. “So we see that Father Menes’ life was characterized by service to humanity. And in this way he tried to imitate his Master, our blessed Lord.”
Following the sermon, the Holy Communion was offered, followed by the Prayer of Thanksgiving, A Hymn (Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us), The Commendation, the Nunc Dimittis, and The Blessing. The final hymn sung was “To God be the Glory”. The interment took place at a plot, just a stone’s throw from the church building.
As a tribute to his fatherhood, his surviving children have borrowed a line from the pen of Focus on the Family’s James Dobson: “A Good father will leave his imprint on his children for the rest of their lives.”
May his soul rest in perpetual peace.
