On Saturday, March 8, a service of thanksgiving was held in Rock Hall for the life of our brother Windsor Swaby, a member of the Kingston ecclesia (see Kingston ecclesial news) who lived and witnessed in isolation in that mountain village. It was organized by the Rock Hall – Red Hills Citizens’ Association, of which he was President, and the Mico College Past Students’ Association. Several of us from Kingston and Port Maria were privileged to attend and take part. The service lasted more than four hours.
This service was held at the Faith Deliverance Church of God in Rock Hall where Windsor’s widow is not only a member, but the Choir Director. The large church was filled to capacity, and there were more people on the outside than inside. The procession to the gravesite took more than twenty minutes to pass by us. This was a true testimony to the life and work of our Bro. Swaby.
There was a mixed cross-section of mourners, which ranged from dignitaries of government, media personnel, pastors of several churches, nurses in uniform, teachers on the staff of Mico Practicing School where he had worked, and representatives of the many civic and farmers’ organisations to which he was connected.
The eulogies and tributes all spoke in glowing terms of the Christian-heated, kind, helpful, caring, devout, devoted, and disciplined person who Windsor was. He played the role of adviser, counselor and supporter to many, even to those in highly placed positions in the village of Rock Hall and adjacent areas. He was determined to help to stamp out the corruption and violence that has taken over these communities, and to try and restore peace and harmony so that life could be what it used to be. Many spoke of Bro. Windsor as an utterly fearless man who depended wholly on his God and refused to cringe before the wicked. The wrong doers saw him as a threat to their way of life and therefore killed him.
The sermon and talks were very moving, and a special prayer was given for the bereaved family, and most of all for the young men of the area, that they would be strong. They were urged not to resort to retaliation, but try to help their communities be the places of love and harmony that Bro. Swaby wanted them to be, so that his death would not be in vain.
Bro. Alan Eyre spoke on behalf of the Christadelphian Brotherhood, and scholarships were offered to Bro. Swaby’s two daughters from us, so as to assist them to finish their schooling. It was said publicly by his daughter that Bro. Swaby was not baptised into his wife’s church, although he gave some support to it. She clearly stated that her father considered himself a Christadelphian, although he was a lone representative in their midst. One quite remarkable feature of the long service was the constant emphasis on the Bible hope of resurrection. Not once was there a mention of heaven-going or any other error. One pastor emphasised most vigorously that unless we believe the Bible doctrine of resurrection and judgement at the second coming of the Lord, we have no hope of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. By the graveside it was the same emphasis: an epitaph runs like this
My friends, read this and shed no tears; I must lay here till Christ appears And at his coming hope to have a joyful rising from the grave.
So another great Jamaican brother’s life has been brutally snapped away, but the Lord knows all things best. Let us who are left behind continue to prepare ourselves so that we can be ready to face death when it comes, in whatever shape or form or time.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One