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On Saturday, July 1st the Bahamas buried one of its great sons, Archdeacon William Thompson, Rector of the St Agnes Parish Church in Nassau. Archdeacon Thompson was a Caribbean bred theologian with a deep understanding of Bahamian and Caribbean history. He was proud of being a graduate of Codrington College in Barbados.

I met Merceline Dahl, married later named Regis, when she studied medicine at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Immediately recognizing that my mother was a Dahl I invited Merceline to meet her. We then learned that Merceline’s father, George, was the brother of my mother’s father, Ernest Dahl. The Bahamian and the Jamaican Dahl’s are close relatives. Following this discovery, on every visit to Nassau on UWI business, I visited my grand uncle and therefore met and interacted with his elegant, dignified and poised wife, Mrs. Marguerite Dahl.

Within the space of one week three remarkable women of our times past away, Dr. the Honourable Gloria Knight, Princess Diana and Mother Theresa, Nobel Laureate. The news has been dominated by the outpouring of grief and tributes paid to them. What is particularly striking is that in a world still biased against women holding top positions at the pinnacle of power, wealth and status these three ladies in their death could so completely take the centre stage.

Paul Ivor Miller, son of Ferris Miller and Olga Phoenix, my cousin, and brother was born on March 6, 1939, in Kingston. He attended Conversorium Elementary School, which was located on Church Street and later renamed Central Branch Elementary Schools. He received his secondary education at St Georges College where he was successful in the Senior Cambridge Certificate Examinations in 1956. This secured him a job as a Clerk in the Supreme Court, which furthered his love and interest in the law.

Joyce Marion Dahl, daughter of Ernest and Louise Dahl, was born on August 26, 1921. However, the public record lists the day as August 29th. She was the sixth and last child of her parents and their only daughter. Only one of the five sons survived past the age of two years. Joyce was doubly precious. She was the only girl and one of the two that survived to adulthood. Hence, her pet name, Dearest, given by her parents or some variation, followed her for life. Mother Dear, Mamma D and Aunt Dearest are others variations.