A Matriarch Passes

Having reached the century

She has passed on,

Five months after the celebrations

Mother Hewitt is gone.

She appeared in good health

When she reached the mark

So when I heard of her passing

It gave me quite a start.

Appreciation is in order

For a race well run,

Tribute must be given to her

For all that she has done.

Many a life she has touched

In her inimitable way

And all of us that knew her

Rejoice to see her day.

She has left a mark

In her church and in her home

And many will reap the harvest

From the seeds she has sown.

It was a long sojourn

That she spent here on earth,

One hundred years and five months

Since the time of her birth.

Sharing the centenary spotlight

With that of her church,

She is now out of her pain

For her limbs no longer hurt.

She is gone but not forgotten

And her legacy remains

For having entered this world

She has not left it the same.

Many are beneficiaries

From the walk that she walked

And not her family alone

But with all whom she talked.

  

So Farewell we must say

Until we meet again

Over in that wonderful land

In which Jesus will reign.

Stewart Russell © August 2018

Mother Hewitt

The hundred metres record

Was absolutely smashed

When Usain Bolt

And the titans clashed.

A mere 9.58 seconds

After the start of the race

The finish line was reached,

What tremendous pace!

Bolt had won it

Like a lightning flash,

For a race 100 metres long

That was certainly a dash.

Talking about a dash

Brings to mind Mother Hewitt,

She recently demonstrated

That she is quite fit.

She ran a hundred too

And that’s not the end

Because last time I checked

She was still running my friend.

We rejoice with her

For running so well,

This poem is to congratulate her

And to the whole world tell.

Although life is a dash

She has not completed yet,

Hopefully a super centenarian

Would be the next goal set.

Setting a steady pace

From 1918 to this time

She has run with determination

And a focused mind.

Many a milestone

She would have accomplished

Many an achievement

And many a wish.

  

A longstanding member

At Carrington Wesleyan Holiness

Celebrating a century together

Well, more or less.

The church’s was in February

Mother Hewitt’s was in March

What an achievement for both

From a very humble start.

I remember Mother Hewitt

When I was a little lad

She always had time for the youth

Both good and bad.

She didn’t make any distinction

She treated them alike,

Perhaps because of that

Many turned to the right.

The last time I saw her

Her memory was quite remarkable,

Her recall was exceptional

About events and people.

She spoke of the time

When she came to Carrington,

We were going to a birthday party

And for her that was fun.

It was the ninetieth birthday

Of a very good friend,

Mum Norris was the celebrant

And she was delighted to attend.

I took some photos of her

As she enjoyed herself

Sitting by her old friend

She appeared in good health.

I am not surprised

She has reached this score

And somehow I feel

God will grant her some more.

I bless God today

For precious Mother Hewitt

And congratulate her being a part

Of this great bajan trait.

Almost every week

A bajan reaches this mark:

Centenarian after centenarian,

It’s like a walk in the park

Stewart Russell © July 2018