Nolisha Miller was unrestrained in her mourning last Saturday at the funeral in Rose Bank for four of her relatives who died when two houses collapsed under the weight of a landslide there on Christmas Day.
Before the service began, she sobbed loudly, moving from each of the four coffins to the other, reaching inside to touch her departed relatives.
When the priest, delivering his sermon, said that the gathering was to bid goodbye to the departed, Miller wailed “Noooo!”
(Click for photos of the funeral.)
At one point, so overtaken by grief and crying was she, that one of the priests left the platform, took her to sit with him and consoled her.
Miller was among the last to leave the cemetery, where the four mounds, decorated with fresh and artificial flowers, marked the final resting places of four of the five who died on that fateful Christmas day.
Among the five persons who died and were buried on Saturday were Miller’s grandmother and grandfather, Walsy and Horna Nanton, and Miller’s mother Hazel Nanton-Baptiste.
Bernard Nanton was the fourth person buried on Saturday, while, Yannick Bartholomew, who also died in the tragedy, was buried in Barrouallie on Thursday.
A large crowd attended the funeral, where the departed were sent off in true Rose Bank style, accompanied by the music of the bum drums and pan-around-the-neck, as funeral-goers danced in the street in a scene that was reminiscent of Monday Jam in Kingstown, with soca swapped for lively gospel.
During the procession, the Police Force Band was but a footnote, with its musical renditions and was only allowed some prominence during the rituals at the graveside.
But the procession from Rose Bank to Dark View Cemetery, was in stalk contrast to the sombre and mournful atmosphere inside a cramped Rose Bank Anglican Church.
The extent of the loss and the impact on the family, the community and the nation, was not lost on anyone there, and each persons who spoke at the ceremony, used their words to try to bring comfort.
In his sermon based on Revelation 7:9-17, Father Ashton Francis said that the tragedy was not just about the Nanton family, but also about the community in Rose Bank, and the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
But he focused his 15-minute message primary on trying to comfort those directly impacted by the tragedy.
“This tragedy is due to the passage of a nameless weather system. Can you imagine that? This system had no name. It was of little significance to the meteorologist,” he said of the trough system, which triggered floods and landslides across the country, claiming a suspected 12 lives — nine persons confirmed dead and three missing.
(Read also: Counting the dead and missing in St. Vincent)
Francis noted that Christmas is the most joyous time of year on the church calendar, but last Christmas the Nanton family lost five members.
“I cannot stand here and imagine the extent and the intensity of the pain that you, the members of this family, are experiencing,” he said, adding that their tears might flow for years.
He, however, noted God’s promise in Revelation 7:17 — And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
“God will enable you to face this tragedy in peace,” he said, citing the Bible account of God enabling his people to come out of great tribulations.
“… God will enable you to come out of this family tragedy. I therefore beg you to stay connected to God, who is more than able to carry you through this period of mourning,” Francis said.
He pointed out that God was with King David when he lost the son that Bathsheba bore.
“And so God is with you now and forever will be. Please stay connected to your God who never fails, a god who always keeps his promises. He will turn your sadness into joy and gladness. He will wipe away every tear from your eyes,” the cleric said, adding, “In order for that to happen, you must stay connected to him through acts of public worship and private prayer. Scripture reading and other acts that will help you to face the days, the months, the years ahead.”
He said that when the bereaved family stays connected to God, he would comfort them and transform their sadness into joy.
“If I can give you any advice as you continue to wrestle with the effects of this tragedy, it is simply this: please stay connected to God, who is more than able to carry you through this period and beyond. [A] simple message, but it is important, because, if you the members of the Nanton family who are wrestling with this tragedy decide to turn away from the God who created you, the god who loves you, the god who is ready to conform you, the god who is ready to transform your sadness into joy, you are in for more tragedy…
“So it is, we are here to thank God for the lives of Bernard, Horna, Walsy and Hazel. Never mind it is due to a terrible tragedy. God is bigger, God is better, and God will carry you safely through from this side to the other. Please, stay connected to God.”
Among persons at Saturday’s funeral were Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and area representative, Patel Matthews, who both spoke; Deputy Prime Minister, Girlyn Miguel, Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace, other Members of Parliament, other government officials, former MP for North Leeward, Jerrold Thomas, and ULP North Leeward hopeful, Carlos James.
ULP hopeful,Lawrence Hooper was at the funeral too Kenton. So too was the Ecclesiastical Affairs Minister and Central Leeward MP Mr. Charles. What is so significant that Carlos James should be given mentioned? Oh I forget that’s your buddy..
I think it was helpful of you to highlight the journalist’s omissions. I think also it was unbecoming of you to assign motive to the journalist’s intent. What was your intention when you made the comment in the way you did? By the way, keep cool. Luckily for us, we live in a democratic part of the world. You are free to comment any how you feel. So am I. It’s all good. Peace!
My condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the deceased. They suffered a tremendous loss and I hope that they find healing.
Even as we appreciate the reporting, I find the detailed coverage of the mourners to be excessive and beyond what’s necessary to convey the story. We must be mindful of respecting their rights to privacy so as not to victimize them twice. They were kind enough to make the funeral a public one but that shouldn’t come with the price of having such intimate, personal, sensitive moments captured up close and in great detail then posted and disseminated on the internet.
Always knew the deceased as Walsy. Had been a bit surprised to read his name in earlier reports as Wesley. May those who have passed on all rest from their labours and may those who mourn be comforted.
Kenton you dwell to often and to much on the politicians and not the issues. You are appearing to be Ralph’s media person, reporting on every move he makes.
my sympathy to relatives and friends may GOD give you the strength to go through such grief and pain ,you are in our prayers always.