By Tahna Weston
The late Victor Emmanuel McKay Sr, GCM held many positions such as clerk, insurance agent, supermarket owner, driving instructor, newspaper editor, choir and vestry member, senator and board member of several boards. However, in spite of all these earthly accolades his proudest titles were father and grandfather.
His granddaughter Joelle Edwards delivered the Eulogy during the Official Funeral yesterday at St John’s Cathedral for McKay, who died on January 6, 2025.
She recounted the fond memories she shared with her grandfather, who she said carried out all his functions with grace and pride.
“This is both the hardest and easiest thing I’ve ever had to read, especially in front of family, friends and other well-wishers. My grandpa is one of the funniest people I ever knew. He could make everyone’s belly ache with laughter and had the ability to make anything into a joke. We could share literally hundreds of thousands of hilarious moments with my grandfather,” Edwards said.
In addition to being a funny character, the young woman recounted the adventures she shared with McKay, citing that he would take her everywhere he went including, at age two, a trip to Aruba. She joked about being able to visit more countries than her peers and even her mother.
McKay taught his granddaughter card games and recited poems to her and even made up lullabies with her name in them in order for her to fall asleep, which she said were cherished memories of him.
She said her grandfather taught his children to be tough and ensured that they were prepared for what the world had to offer by he himself being a bit “brutal” by giving them nicknames.
Edwards also described McKay as a lover of people, noting that anyone who would stop by at his house was treated like family.
“My grandpa was the father figure of many children, countless. My mom said she could hardly remember a time in her life where there wasn’t somebody else living with them … he loves children. For instance my cousin Matthew used to struggle falling asleep as a baby. My grandpa would gladly drive around day or night for hours to help him fall asleep,” Edwards recounted.
In delivering the homily, The Very Reverend Dean of the St John’s Cathedral, Dwayne Cassius, focused on peace and what God offers in contrast to what the world refers to as peace based on John 14: 27.
Dean Cassius noted that peace is not only for the end of life but also for this present time.
“What is the latest news between Israel and Palestine — peace talks are ready to fall short again or have already begun to crumble?
“The world will forever offer peace, and will forever offer peace that is limited and, in many ways, self-serving until we can embrace the peace that only God offers; real lasting peace. We will continue to hear of peace treaties a thousand times over between nations of our world,” Dean Cassius said.
He also expressed sympathy to McKay’s family, promising that members of the Anglican congregation will continue to keep them in prayers.
In attendance at the funeral service was Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, who did the First Reading, and Prime Minister Gaston Browne who presented the Second Scripture Reading.
The service was also attended by members of the Lower House, the Senate and former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.
McKay, who was one of the last surviving members of the former Progressive Labour Movement (PLM) Government and Member of Parliament, was laid to rest at the St John’s Public Cemetery yesterday.
McKay was elected to office in 1971 and represented the Constituency of St Mary’s South. McKay was a devout Anglican who also served as Sunday School Superintendent.
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