Yesterday we took you to the P.G.I.A for the arrival of the remains of the late Dr. Dame Minita Gordon. It was a somber occasion with the coffin which was draped in the Belizean flag received by the current Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.
The ceremonies continued today, as the remains of Dame Minita was paraded Albert Street, and laid in State at the Belize City House Of Culture.
And even as the skies seemed to join in the mourning, soaking BDF soldiers, Cherisse Halsall made her way to the viewing ceremony.
Here's that story.
The rain didn't stop them; It was their duty, and in that spirit, a bearer party of B.D.F. soldiers marched up Albert Street and around St. John's Anglican Cathedral,
The cortege proceeded through the pelting rain, up to the gates of the House of Culture up the steps, and into the former state dining room of Dame Minita's former residence, where she now lies in state.
And with a violin quartet providing a hauntingly beautiful ambiance, Dr. Dame Elmira Minita Gordon, the first woman in the Commonwealth to rise to the rank of Governor-General, rested upon a catafalque covered by a black pall.
Here, she was paid last respect by some of the country's highest-ranking officials, among them women for whom she helped to pave the way.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development
"One of my fondest memories of her is when she used to walk down with a nice big handbag over her elbow and she wore bright colors and a big broad brim hat and she would go about her business quitely but with the kind of dignity that I believe in Belize. we need to emulate today."
And while this morning's ceremony was a stately and ceremonious event with government and municipal leaders, opposition members, the teachers union leader, and the most important guests were the late governor General's siblings.
Her sister and caretaker in her last years, Kelora Smith, spoke to us and shared some of what gave Dame Minita her drive.
Kelora Franklin, Sister of Dr. Dame Minita
"She had a heart of gold, Dame Minita was the eldest of a family of six children she was kind loving caring and she was also a mentor for the rest of us with her motivation and she passed that onto us and we also had that drive to do ur best. Whatever we needed to do we could look to her, to motivate us to advise us and to do whatever deemed necessary to make sure that we were successful."
"I remember kissing her every day and telling her how much I loved her and I told her thank you for being my sister, for being my mentor, for being my teacher, and for being my friend. And because I told her I loved her every day, several times during the day, one day, because she did have a sense of humor and so one day when I said I love you sister and then I would call her sister dame I love you and she would say don't I know it."
"My sister adapted the motto aim high, aim high, and she had that written on all of her books, so as she went through her education she didn't stop until she got her PhD and whatever she did it was always her best."
"She was very involved in girl scouts until she rose to the position of the commissioner and also the red cross, and she opened several links of Red Cross, whatever she was involved in she made sure that it was her best efforts."
And Dame Minita's best efforts were far from selfish, she held a firm belief in advancement through education and made a point of paying it forward.
Kelora Franklin, Sister of Dr. Dame Minita
"Those who couldn't afford it my sister would give scholarships to go to highschool, not only pay for tuition, but those who needed books or clothing, she would supply those so that the young people could get an education."
An extraordinary woman with a gracious heart who today was honored with all of the pomp and ceremony befitting her station and her singularity - a black Belizean woman head of state in 1981.
Kelora Franklin, Sister of Dr. Dame Minita
"My family would have been proud and my brother and I represent the family and we're proud and I was reminiscing about the things I heard she did in Belize and some of the things that I participated in for example when the Queen visited Belize in 1985 I flew to Belize and I participated in all the activities. I felt thankful to God and thril that some who was my sister had given so much of her self first to god and family and the country. She was with me for the last four years of her life and I heard her pray for the children of Belize. I would hear her say: "God please bless the children of Belize, God please bless Belize." not just one time, but over and over even though she was getting down but she didn't just pray for herself she prayed for Belize and she prayed for the children and the people of Belize and that touched me. She loved her country dearly and I'm just very very proud of my sister, and I'm thankful that I was a part of her life, she was a part of my life, she was a part of all our lives."
