Lionel Ferguson BEM also known as “Fergie” & “Papa” Of: Gouyave, St. John - Retired Sexton of Gouyave Anglican Church, Who passed away on: Sunday 19th September, 2010 At the age of: 104

He was the Father of: Yvonne in Trinidad, Arthur Roache aka Pat in the UK, Basil and Dennis

Grand Father of: Fabian, Cecil, Jude, Joanne, Beverly, Yolande, Betty-Ann, Gillian, Keith ,  Carlos Ferguson in Canada

Great Grand Father of: Todd, Junie, Rockell, Darren, Shawn , Reisha

Great Great Grand Father of: 5

Father in Law of:  Joan Ferguson

Uncle of Many include: Chloe Ferguson, Clara Small, Maurice, Alberto, Millicent DeCoteau, Barbara Archibald, Osmond & Heather Small, Pansy Hosten, Amanda Frederick, Daphne Samuel, Monica and Paul- Benjamin, Rosa, Yvonne,  Evelyn Mc Intyre, Cora & Jasmine Ferguson

Many other relatives and close friends include: His Excellency Sir Carlyle Glean, Claris Charles, Arthur Hosten, Dr. the Right Hon. Keith Mitchell, Sir Paul Scoon, Justice Lyle St. Paul, Frederick Thomas, Edzel Thomas, Rosie Campbell, Danny-boy, Velma, Julyn, Pastor Theodore La Blanc, Father Evlyn in St. Lucia,  Priest and Parishioners of the Anglican Churches in G’da, friends and neighbours of Gouyave and surrounding areas,

Special Mention:  Josephine Walters & Management of LIME, Kevin  Andrews of Grenada Breweries, Ben Gittens & Management of Gittens Agencies, Management of Real Value Supermarket, Hugh Dollan & Management of Flow and Management of NAWASA.

                                                                                             
                                                                                      DELIVERED BY ARTHUR GEORGE HOSTEN

                                                                                                                            ON
                                                                                             WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th 2010
                                                                      AT THE ST. JOHN’S R. C. CHURCH ACC. TO ANGLICAN RITES

In God’s eyes, the greatest heroes of the faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success or power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment, and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity.
This analogy best describes Mr. Lionel Ferguson BEM aka Mr. Fergie or Papa.
He was born on April 19th, 1906 in the town of Gouyave to Maryann Burns and Peter Ferguson, attended the St John’s Anglican School and first served as an altar boy in the Anglican Church. Later, he became the sexton and as he liked to repeat, the sexton of HIS church. He was the longest serving sexton, so much so, that he and others lost count of the number of years. We simply say that he was the main pillar and post of the church.
Most Anglicans, who remember him when they were young, speak of a stern man who kept law and order in the church. Fergie did not allow anyone to talk even in whispers and everyone had to stand, kneel or sit down as the occasion demanded or face his wrath.

Deceased Father Pruvin Phillip spoke of him as humble, honest, a true Christian and one of the holiest men he knew.
However, Fergie was many things to different people. A man for all seasons. He was once the best tinsmith on the island. Poor people who could not afford chinaware (plastic ware was not available yet) depended on him. So “all over the world” milk tins, Frico. Klim and Irish butter among others made good cups. He would solder pots, pans and plates.
One did not have to walk to Gouyave with poorsies (tensils) or pails. He saved them the embarrassment by going house-to –house.

A fish vendor (Selma Smith) remembers Fergie, when she just entered the fish vending business, trying to fix an old beat up scale she brought to him. He ended up giving her an almost new one, saying, “I know you and I know your family.”
Christmas was real busy for Fergie. So many stoves to be made, cake and bread tins and funnels from tinning sheets or biscuit tins.

Selling and repairing took him walking around the island. He could walk real fast. His son Denis remembers ,that while Fergie was effortlessly walking, he had to run in order to keep up or he would be left behind. Fergie would walk from Gouyave to Sauteurs, then to Grenville, St David’s to St Georges and back home. He would sleep by various friends along the route. Therefore, this journey took many days, since Fergie was never in any hurry. He would stop to chat and fix whatever needed to be fixed no matter how long it took. He was satisfaction guaranteed.

Fergie had a memory like a computer and eyesight like a chicken hawk. A few months ago we took him for a drive. He demanded that his good friend, Miss Evelyn Mc Intyre (We jokingly called her Mrs. Ferguson) must accompany him. He loved to go for drives and he loved sitting in the front of “his van.”
Driving around, he would call out several persons when the vehicle passed close to where they lived; of course, most of them are dead but that did not seem to bother him one bit:
-----Fedora
-----Peter Bhola
-----Leader Gabriel
----Miss Dolly
That day, when we arrived in Balthazar at Gwess’s bar we stopped for refreshments.
“Fergie, what would you like to drink?”
With the most mischievous smile on his face, he replied, “A shot of rum”.
Of course, we bought him his usual, orange Fanta.
While sitting in the van he began to read a sign on the side of the road. “Park on this side of the road.” He said, “I see Arthur park right, ah doh want police to come for that boy nuh.”
Fergie had planned other drives, including a visit to Justice. Lyle St. Paul whom he said was sick, another to his grand son, the barber to trim his hair (hair we told him he did not have) and one to St. David. On the day when he said he would definitely go and we called, Fergie said that he could not make it that day; he would go another day since rain was falling or might be falling. (To be honest, we were at a loss, searching for where the rain was).He had simply changed his mind for a reason only he knew.

Older folks recall him diligently lighting the lamps on the poles in Gouyave (that was before electricity) at the same time each evening like clockwork, never late.

He loved cricket and that is how, he said, himself and Dr. Keith Mitchell became friends. Fergie said that when Keith was teaching at Shaper’s school, he would pass by to get the score and discuss the game, before taking the bus to his home, especially when the West Indies team was playing. He would joke about it. “When it come to cricket, he good you know, but I good too.”
Fergie visited the national stadium after its completion to “see whats happening” the headlines in the papers read “National stadium attracts its oldest visitor”
So, when World Cup cricket arrived in 2007, Fergie could not miss it. He boasted that the ladies, both young and old treated him like a king.
Everyone at the game that he attended(2 days) was amazed at his strength of character and ability to follow the game and read the score board without glasses at such a distance.
People from all over came to pose with Fergie and take out photographs, which were shown internationally. At the age of 101, he was the oldest person who attended those games.
He used to speak of this experience all the time, stating, “The ladies treated me well”.
When asked about the men he would say, “Yes, they were okay, but the ladies treated me better”.

Young persons, when they got to know him, loved him. He remembered all of them, some he knew by their school uniform—“Waltham boy”.
He would advise them to go to school everyday, study hard and go to bed early. He said, “Take care of God’s body.”
He was very proud when anyone from Gouyave excelled and spoke about their achievements to any and everyone who cared to listen.

It was a real puzzle, when Fergie said that he could not hear well. Many friends and family doubted that, since he knew all the latest news about what was happening or what had happened in the community and everything that was said in the house and around the house.
Fergie listened to television; he did not look at television, blocking his view with a small piece of cardboard. This was very comical to see. Anytime he felt that the television was playing too loud he would threaten to throw it outside. When those concerned got the message, then he would smile , in that same mischievous manner, that everyone who knew him had come to know and understand.

He never forgot friends and family, calling them regularly on the phone. Some of his calls would go like this:
“Hello, is this Miss Arthur, call Arthur for me please”
“Sorry, he is not at home. How things?”
“Tell Arthur, Ah not feeling well at all, at all.” “Ah think ah going this time”
“Going where Fergie? To St Davids ?”
He would then laugh and say that he wanted to see Dr. Varma.

In recognition of his outstanding services to Gouyave and by extension, Grenada, he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second.
Thereafter, he would participate in Queen’s birthday activities every year. Fergie always made a grand entrance. When he came out of the vehicle, he would allow his niece Chloe to hold his hand and help him to walk. But as soon as he approached the door, he would let go of her hand quickly and without notice, fix his jacket, tie and medal, collect his stick, straighten his back and walk upright all by himself to the door. Everyone admired Fergie, dancing and making his moves on the floor, stick placed in a corner.

On the occasion of his 100th birthday, and with the approval of the relevant authorities, the street where he lived was renamed ‘Ferguson’s Lane’.
Fergie enjoyed life and the community enjoyed Fergie--------his smile, jokes, dedication, care and love for all; that is why most people, old and young called him, “Papa”.
His marriage to Clarissa Wilson bore Denis, Basil and Malcolm who died in January this year. Before that, he had already lost two of his sons, Lincoln and Kenneth. Yvonne, who resides in Trinidad, is his only daughter.
Papa’s two sons who lived with him, Basil and Denis took great care of him. Even on his death bed, he kept calling, “Ba, Ba (meaning Basil) wey dat boy? Come here boy”.
He called Basil so often, that most days during the four days that he was ill (Thursday to Sunday) Basil could not remember to eat and went without food for long periods, almost every day. He had to be reminded over and over to eat. Even when Fergie could not speak, Basil kept on rushing to the room thinking that he was hearing his father calling.
On the evening of Sunday, September19th , at approximately a quarter to six , Fergie passed away peacefully in the arms of Miss Velma Charles with his head resting on her bosom, surrounded by five women ( he loved to be around women) and his two sons ( Basil and Denis). His nieces Chloe and Millie had just left. He lived a quiet life and he died just as he lived-------quietly-----without a murmur.

We regret his passing, mourn his loss and grieve for his presence but we are thankful to God for his life, love, advice, companionship, humour, dedication to duty and a wonderful example of what a Christian should be.
There are numerous persons who cared for him but family and friends need to be especially grateful to the following:
• Kevin Andrew of the Grenada Breweries who supplied his monthly vita malt
• Josephine Walters and L.I.M.E. for free telephone service
• Ben Gittens of Gitten’s Agencies for his nutritional drinks
• George F Huggins for the provision of cooking gas
• NAWASA for the water supply
• Hugh Dolland and FLOW for cable television
• Real Value Supermarket
• Edzel Thomas, Frederick Thomas, Mrs. Rosie Campbell and Justice Lyle St Paul, Mr. Thomas La Qua
• Valdon Baldeo of Signs and Designs
• Claude “Mayor Bain, for his medication needs
• The Anglican Church Community

These acts of generosity to an old man, by persons, some of whom had never even met him, are testimonies that love and Christian charity are not dead and must be recognised.
Lionel Ferguson, was born on April 19th, 1906, married on January 19th 1959 and died on September 19th 2010.
We, who are alive, are assured that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God.

So until we meet again, Fergie Patat, Fergie, Papa, Mr. Ferguson------Rest in peace, my friend, my father, my uncle, my godfather, my neighbour, my father-in- law, my step- father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, my adoptive father---------
Rest in peace.
 

click here for photos of The Life Of Lionel Ferguson BEM

Fergie's Funeral 29th Sept. 2010