The family of David Leslie Loraine Melville sadly announces his death

1. Eulogy for Leslie Melville –

   Eulogy for Leslie Melville – By Gillene Nelson (nee Melville)

   Forgive me if in my eulogy, I reference my parents or mom and dad a little more than expected.  You see, my parents have been together for 63 years and over those years they have become one unit to our family, mom and dad, my parents, Uncle Leslie and Aunt Lila, Lila and Leslie.

   A eulogy is defined as a formal speech that praises a person who has passed. Usually a eulogy makes the person sound a lot more impressive than they really were.  Today, I pray that for those of us who call him Husband, Dad, Granddad, Brother, Cousin, In-law, Uncle, Comrade and Friend will take the time in our period of mourning to learn and/or reflect on how truly impressive my dad’s contribution to his world has been and going forward that we will honor his memory by our own actions.  For those of us meeting my dad for the first time today, I pray that as I share with you our memories of him you will leave today as inspired as he has made us. 

   To give you a window into my dad as a person, let me share with you one of his favorite quotes – “Stand on your feet before man, and on your knees before God and only God”.

   In his 89 ¾ years of life, as documented in his Obituary, my dad served in many roles, performed various functions as a public servant to his country, and received many awards in recognition for his service to mankind.  He spent his entire life working for the poor.  For the poor in stature, he worked tirelessly to ensure that their rights were respected and exercised.  For the poor in spirit, he worked tirelessly to reach their soul.

   As a son, he was the ultimate mothers boy.  He undertook the role of her protector upon the early passing of his father and eventually her caregiver until her passing at the age of 91.

   As a brother to Stella and Lucille, he was a friend and protector.  To their children and grandchildren, he was Uncle Leslie, their mentor, and to some like Sheron, a substitute dad.  For Sheron he was person who made her believe in herself and gave her the courage to become the entrepreneur she is today.

   As a cousin to the descendants of Donald and Rose Hunter, he was a friend and brother.  Their relationship matured from young kids thoroughly enjoying their youthful life in his hometown of New Amsterdam, Berbice, to them becoming his comforter after the early passing of his younger brother Patrick, to becoming lifelong friends as they matured into pillars of their communities.  My siblings and I thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of these relationships as recently as watching my dad and our Uncle Oswald sitting an enjoying their wine while reliving their youth.

   As an in-law to the 10 Spooner children, and an elder Hunter cousin to Charmaine, he undertook the role of older brother and father. To the girls he was their protector, and whereas at times very challenging, guided them in his expectations of appropriate behavior for young ladies.  For the boys he was much firmer, instilling discipline as taught by his father David.  My aunts and uncles who experienced this love, were themselves given the opportunity to share this love as other elderly members of my father’s family were welcomed into their home.  Over the years spouses were added who today share in their recollection of the good times in my parents home.

   As a grandfather and great grandfather, he encouraged each child to explore and achieve their full potential. Whether it was completing college, and/or exploring their creative talents he was relentless in pushing them to achieve with the constant greeting of “How’s the grades”. Michele, his eldest, is the little American girl who upon meeting him for the first time could not understand why everyone in the family were rushing to serve him hand and foot who quickly came to understand his importance to our family as she herself kept vigil at his bedside taking many trips between New York and Maryland to be with him. Nicole who enjoyed several CVS and ice cream trips is the only child that got away with bullying him, of course except for the Boss, her mom.  Nicole’s relationship matured to one of mentorship as she made it a priority to have her son Evan experience a relationship with our parents.  Simone is left with high expectations of completing an engineering degree like his brother Patrick.  Meagan’s favorite granddad story relates to his intolerance for overeating.  Meagan was taught that his intolerance was not only health related but reflected his disdain for excessive human indulgences, which could be better used for the benefit of others.  Dylan, our latest college entrant, matured to engaging in the family political discussions.  Lola’s art brought his pride. Evan our youngest, whom he insisted learned to explore his environment by touching items including his stereo, of course that is until he started touching his music which most of us can understand having run through the house while he was reading a book totally ignored until one of our missiles touched his book and we heard the famous “cut it out”. I am proud that I can say that all the kids in our family experienced the right of passage, which was a swing in his arms.  

   As father to my siblings and I, who are privileged to call him Dad, we are very grateful for the simple joys of life he taught us to appreciate; music, Christmas, family, conversation, humor to name a few.  We enjoyed the full spectrum of his parenting from caregiver, to disciplinarian, to mentor, to friend and companion.  I say privileged because there have been so many that have experienced a parent/child relationship with my dad and these relationships provided us with such joyful memories as young kids that later matured into mentoring and friendship in our later years. We are especially grateful to have so many of them around us today to reminisce and share the glory of his passing. 

   For Ferial, Patrick and David, three of the most wonderful children any parent can ever dream of having, to whom my parents’ talent of unconditional love was bestowed, the friendship/camaraderie of my parents enjoyed over Friday evening dinners were priceless; Mom shopping during the week to prepare the dinner, dad orchestrating the music selections, arguing with Pat over any and everything, Ferial, cleaning and ensuring that not even a fly touches her parents while aligning with dad in driving the heated political discussions and David, maturing in his relationship of camaraderie with my parents, being thoroughly entertained. Many friends often wondered how they could spend almost every Friday and most Sundays in the company of our parents.  Those who shared in this experience with my family quickly realized that these evenings were just as enjoyable to my siblings as to my parents as not only were they reminiscent of the many occasions that most experienced in my parents home in Guyana, but our parents are very fascinating people and a pleasure to experience.

   For me, having lived away, I was only fortunate to experience very few of these evenings.  My relationship with my dad matured from the little girl totally infatuated with her dad who cried with her when he accidentally stepped and broke her bando to the teenager who stood nervously needing his approval while he opened her report card to check only the math and science grades before handing to mom to check the other subjects, to an admirer and promoter of his works and talents, still always wanting his approval which on reflection was one of the drivers in my life.

   For my mom, his wife of 63 years he was her lifelong companion and friend.  Sharing with each other wonderful memories of family and friends that only few in this world would experience.  My mom is forever grateful for him accompanying her in their wonderful journey of bridging the Hunter and Spooner families, and the many other families that entered into our lives that never left and still remain with us today.

   No one who knows my dad will be offended if I say that his most favorite role was that of a son of Guyana. 

   • As a boy scout, unlike most Guyanese, my dad was afforded the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of our country by trekking across the interior through our rain forest, ending up at Guyana’s most magnificent Kaieteur Falls. This experience was not only the impetus for my dads admiration of natural beauty which is reflected in his life works, but it drove his compassion for country and family by giving him the passion to work towards preserving the paradise he experienced at 12 years old for all generations to come. 
   • As an artist his works celebrated the untouched landscapes of Guyana.  Over his time spent in the US he gifted several of his paintings to members of the family
   • As a poet, his works honored man in his natural state as noted in his poem Coastman
   • As an author he reported on the requirements for his country to stay true to its motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”
   • As an educator he emphasized learning with a purpose.  He taught his students the importance of such topics as relevance and value add long before these became common business buzzwords. He was a visionary. In one of his articles written in 1968, my dad put forward arguments on the effects of an enforced minimum wage on the economy, the impact of irrational mining on the environment, and the preparation required for an increase of women entering the workforce.  He often challenged his students to think about what they are bringing to the business.  He was always so proud to meet one of his past students. 
   • When he could no longer as a Public Servant affect the change he felt was needed for his country to progress, he left the public service to focus full time on his work in the Union where he fought tirelessly for the respect and freedom of the worker to sell their services for a fair wage in a safe and secure environment.

   Whereas we were saddened that he could not physically pass in the paradise of his sweet Guyana that he treasured, we are comforted in the fact that in his final days of travel he took himself there and comforted himself with his memories.  In one of my last conversations with my dad I was saddened when he lamented that there is so much that he did not complete.  As someone responsible for one of those uncompleted works, that statement tormented me.  Through prayer and reflection I came to the realization that our work on earth is rarely done before we are called home.  Thinking about a line from MLK’s famous I Have a Dream Speech,  “I might not get there with you”, I realized that my dad’s work was left undone for us to pick up and carry the torch.  There are books to be published and written, paintings to be completed and started, poems to be written, injustices to fight and most importantly family and friends to share the joys of life.

   Today I would be remiss if I did not 1) include what appears to be a random comment about Guyana and 2) take the opportunity to make this a teaching moment by repeating what appears to be a random quote that does not appear to relate to the conversation.

   So here goes:

   Random Guyana comment –Leslie Melville’s book “A Voice Crying in the Wilderness” will soon be out an available for purchasing.  All proceeds will go to the University of Guyana.  Publication of his book on his life works is still pending.

   Teaching moment – My father authored this quote “Americans are the only people who would put something in the microwave for 20 seconds and tap their feet impatiently”.  I often used this comment during my career.  This was in relation to appreciating our precious moments in life.  My dad lived a very full life and touched lives around the world.  I am sure you would agree that did not have to embellish his eulogy.  His life was very impressive.  In the spirit of a teaching moment, I ask you the following as you think about how you will be remembered when your time comes:

   1. If asked by your father in law 3 months after getting married to leave your new home to become responsible for 10 of your spouse’s siblings ranging from young adults to teenagers, and babies in arms, what would you do?
   2. When your country is being devastated by violence and terror and your life is endangered would you join the masses and leave or stay and fight?  

   My father said yes to #1 and stayed in #2 until he could no longer physically fight.  This is what defines the wonderful man my father is and the man that will live on in all the hearts of the people touched by him forever.

   So long dad, until we meet again.  We will forever be grateful for your guardianship of our family.

     

Comments are closed.