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	*Informing The Uninformed....*

EULOGY OF

ANGELA "PEGGY" SWIFT

FATHER KEITHLY WARNER

THE EBENEZER METHODIST CHURCH

SEPTEMBER 2, 2004

"IN REMEMBERANCE OF ANGELA INETA SPENCER-SWIFT"

LIVES OF GREAT MEN ALL REMIND US. NO – LIVES OF GREAT WOMEN ALL REMIND US, WE CAN MAKE OUR LIVES SUBLIME; AND DEPARTING, LEAVE BEHIND US, FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME.

HOW DO WE REMEMBER ANGELA SWIFT? I REMEMBER HER AS BEING CALLED "PEGGY". IN FACT, I DO NOT THINK THAT ANYONE WHO KNEW HER IN HER YOUNGER DAYS, REFERRED TO HER BY ANY OTHER NAME. JUST "PEGGY"!

I KNEW " PEGGY" FROM NEWGATE STREET. HER MOTHER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PIGOTTS AND I LIVED A FEW HOUSES FROM THEIR HOME. AS CHILDREN, WE SOCIALIZED, WHENEVER THE OCCASION PRESENTED ITSELF. "PEGGY" WAS ALWAYS A PICTURE OF SMILES. MY MEMORY OF HER DOES NOT RECALL AN INSTANCE WHEN SHE WAS NOT SMILING.

I DO NOT KNOW IF MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT " PEGGY" WAS BAPTISED AT ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL. THAT WAS WHERE SHE STARTED, BUT DID NOT END. SHE BECAME AN ARDENT AND DEDICATED METHODIST, AS MUCH OF YOU ARE AWARE. IN FACT, IT COULD BE FELT THAT NOTHING IN THE METHODIST CHURCH STARTED, CONTINUED, AND ENDED WITHOUT SOME INPUT FROM "PEGGY". SUCH, WAS HER DEVOTION.

THERE WAS NO ASSOCIATION IN THIS CHURCH THAT " PEGGY" DID NOT AFFECT IN SOME WAY. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GIRL GUIDES AND RANGERS; SHE WAS “PRESENT PLEASE” ON THOSE SPECIAL OCCASIONS, SUCH AS HARVEST, WHEN SHE WOULD ENSURE THAT ALL THE PREPARATIONS WERE IN PLACE. PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER DAY WERE NO DIFFERENT. IF THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO YOU COULD BE SURE WOULD BE PRESENT, IT WAS "PEGGY"! MANY OF YOU WOULD ALSO RECALL THE MANY FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CHURCH ON SUNDAYS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH WERE DONE BY GOOD OLD "PEGGY". "PEGGY" OPERATED THE MANY BAZAARS AND ODDS AND END VARIETY STALLS. SHE WAS A CONGREGATIONAL STEWARD, SERVING ON THE EBENEZER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE; AND MISSION AND EVANGELISM COMMITTEE. SHE WAS ALSO A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER AND FOR MANY YEARS, WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SENIORS’ DIVISION. SHE WAS ALSO A PRAYER WARRIOR, AND WAS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THAT FEAT WITH THE ATTENDING MINISTER ON EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY.

SHE WAS ONE FROM WHOM YOU COULD EXTRACT A WEALTH OF HISTORY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. SHE OFTEN BOASTED OF COKE’S LANDING, WHERE WE NOW REFER TO AS “ REDCLIFFE QUAY”.

WE FONDLY REMEMBER TOO, HER ANXIETY TO BE AT CHAPEL ON EVERY DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS MORNING, AT 5:00A.M. TO SING THAT FIRST HYMN, “CHRISTIANS AWAKE, SALUTE THAT HAPPY MORN, WHEREON THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD WAS BORN”. IT WAS JUST NOT THE SAME SERVICE, IF SHE MISSED THAT HYMN.

YES, WE REMEMBER "PEGGY".

"PEGGY" MET VICTOR SWIFT AND LATER BECAME HIS WIFE. THEY WERE MARRIED AT GILBERT’S MEMORIAL CHAPEL; AND SHE NEVER MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP THERE ON EVERY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY SENTIMENTAL. SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF TWO LOVELY YOUNG LADIES AND THE DOTING GRANDMOTHER OF FOUR.

MUSIC WAS ONE OF PEGGY’S GREAT LOVES, IF NOT THE GREATEST. ACCORDINGLY, FOR MANY YEARS SHE WAS THE STALWART “ ALTO” ON THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR CHOIRS OF THIS CHURCH. BUT, THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH! SHE WENT FURTHER AND JOINED SUCH GROUPS AS THE “GARAMEL ENSEMBLE AND THE ANTIGUA & BARBUDA CHORALE. SHE JUST HAD TO SING!

YES, WE REMEMBER "PEGGY"!

WE FONDLY REMEMBER " PEGGY" RIDING TO BROWNE’S HILL, ON A BICYCLE, WITH OTHER FRIENDS. ONE WOULD STAY AT THE TOP OF THE HILL TO TELL THE OTHERS WHEN THE BUSES WERE APPROACHING. ON ONE OCCASION, " PEGGY" WAS FREEING DOWN THE HILL, WHEN THE LOOK OUT MAN YELLED ‘BUS A COME’. "PEGGY", IN HER HASTE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY TOPPLED OVER THE BICYCLE. FROM HER LOWLY POSITION ON THE GROUND, WHERE SHE HAD FALLEN, " PEGGY" LOOKED BACK, EXPECTING TO SEE THE BUS PASS BY. HOWEVER, IT WAS WAY IN THE DISTANCE; SO HER FALL WAS IN VAIN. THE " PEGGY" THAT I KNOW MUST HAVE GIVEN THAT LOOK OUT PERSON A THOROUGH TONGUE LASHING.

ANOTHER OF " PEGGY’S" PASTIMES WAS A LONG “MOONLIGHT” WALK. SHE ALSO ENJOYED THE MANY CHURCH PICNICS, AND OFTEN JOURNEYED ON THE BUS TO THE VARIOUS BEACHES. DURING THOSE OUTINGS, SHE NEVER FORGOT TO REMIND MRS. MC COY ABOUT SUPPLYING THE JOHNNY CAKES. DID SHE TEACH ANY OF YOU TO DOG PADDLE OR FLOAT? THOSE WERE TWO OF HER SPECIALTIES.

DID ANY OF YOU KNOW THAT " PEGGY" WAS AN EXCELLENT SEAMSTRESS? HER CREATIVITY COULD BE SEEN IN THE MANY GARMENTS, WHICH LEFT HER HOME. ONE OF HER FAVOURITE QUOTES WAS, “ SOME PEOPLE PUT ON CLOTHES, BUT I DRESS”. SHE WAS INDEED A WELL-PUT TOGETHER INDIVIDUAL. EVERYTHING HAD TO BE CO-ORDINATED – HANDBAGS, EARRINGS, GLOVES, SHOES AND HATS (SHE MADE SOME OF THOSE HATS TOO). EVERYTHING HAD TO MATCH TO THE “T”. EVEN DOWN TO THE FAN!!!

YES, WE REMEMBER "PEGGY"!

"PEGGY" WAS ALSO VERY MATERNAL AND IT WAS THAT TRAIT WHICH MADE MANY PARENTS ASK HER TO BE THEIR CHILDREN’S GODMOTHER, BECAUSE THEY SAW IN HER, THE ESSENCE OF DECENCY AND MORALITY. IN FACT, I BELIEVE SHE HAD A MINIMUM OF 25 GOD CHILDREN. HER GENEROUS NATURE WAS ALSO ONE OF HER HIGHPOINTS. YOU COULD NOT HAVE VISITED HER HOME WITHOUT HER ASKING YOU TO TAKE SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY FROM HER GARDEN, WHICH SHE DUBBED, EDEN. SUCH WAS THE WOMAN…. YES, WE REMEMBER "PEGGY"!

"PEGGY" TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF MANY WHOM SHE MET. SUCH WAS HER DISPOSITION THAT EVEN IN HER WORK ENVIRONMENT; SHE WAS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS “ AUNT PEGGS”.

WHILE SHE WAS A PATIENT IN THE HOSPITAL, SHE COULD BE FOUND IN THE OTHER ROOMS, MINISTERING TO THE OTHER PATIENTS, AND TELLING THEM OF THE LOVE OF JESUS. THAT WAS "PEGGY"; SHE BECAME THE COMFORTER AND NEVER ASKED TO BE COMFORTED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS BELIEVED THAT HER FAITH IN THE PROMISE, OF A BETTER LIFE, AFTER THIS LIFE, WAS WHAT GAVE HER THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF HER ILLNESS. SHE NEVER COMPLAINED OR ASKED, WHY DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO ME? SHE TOOK IT IN STRIDE AND PREPARED HERSELF FOR THE DAY WHEN SHE WOULD LEAVE THIS EARTHLY LIFE. SHE EVEN THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS CHOSEN, FOR THIS ILLNESS, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

I WAS NOT ON THE ISLAND WHEN SHE DIED, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONE OF SERENITY AND UTTER PEACE. JUST AS SHE LIVED, SHE DIED A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE.

YES, WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER "PEGGY".

IN CLOSING, LET ME SAY HOW HONOURED AND PRIVILEGED I AM TO HAVE DELIVERED THIS “REMEMBRANCE” OF PEGGY. IT IS INDEED A REMEMBRANCE, BECAUSE I ALSO DELIVERED THE SERMON AT THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV. HUGH SPENCER, " PEGGY’S" BROTHER AND CONDUCTED THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR THEIR SISTER, MARIE MERCHANT.

MAY THE SOUL OF " PEGGY" REST IN ETERNAL PEACE, AND RISE IN GLORY!

NEWS ITEMS REFERENCE ANGELA "PEGGY" SWIFT

Friday September 3, 2004: St. John’s City was like a mourning city yesterday, as two prominent citizens were given their final sendoff to their resting place. Oscar Emanuel Mason and Angela “Peggy” Swift received their final tributes and celebration of life at the St. John’s Cathedral and the St. John’s Methodist Church respectively. And mourners did turn out in large numbers. Mason’s body lay in state at the Multi Purpose center from 10am, where the general public viewed it. From there, it was removed and transported in a procession which made its way up Market Street and right on to Long Street, ending at the St. John’s Cathedral, where he was churched with an official funeral. Mason was described as a boxer, contractor, barber, painter, baker, builder, cricketer, footballer, cyclist, bicycle mechanic, musician extraordinaire among other things, as well as he was carnival, just like carnival was him. Many tributes and musical renditions were done in his memory, and the limited church space looked as though there was a major jam session taking place, with lots of equipment and many players, synonymous with the days when he used to host practice sessions at his home. But this time was a special time as speaker-by-speaker and singer-by-singer played their part. It was a massive turn out, which saw representations from calypsonians, politicians, the military, friends and a large contingent of family among the mourners. Some persons even flew in from North America for the occasion. As the cortège left for the St. John’s Cemetery, the man, who many persons said had mastered the art of stilt walking in Antigua, thereby establishing the “mock-o-jumbie”, was escorted by 10 young stilt walkers, artistically dressed in black and white, towering high in the air. Later they were joined by an eleventh one, who was decked in carnival colours. The marching band was very large, as literally every musician who saw the need joined in. He was buried on the northern side of the cemetery, pretty close to the fence. The eulogy was presented by one of Mason’s sons, O’Neal, who said of his father, “He did nothing at an average level – it had to be outstanding”. (Read the full eulogy at Oscar Mason Eulogy). As for Swift, she too was appreciated with a large turn out, which filled the lower deck of the church and spilled over to the upper level. Swift was described as a lady who was a “picture of smiles”. She was also a church organizer, a choir member, and, according to Father Keithly Warner who delivered the eulogy, the decency and morality in her made her a “woman of substance”. She, according to Warner, was fondly remembered as a person who was known to have said that “some people put on clothes, but I dress”. ><>