by Bennette Roach
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On the same day, Wednesday, June 10, 2015, that Fr. Larry Finnegan was memorialized in a Mass in Montserrat another former pastor born in Montserrat, Reverend Cecil Weekes, a Minister of the Methodist Church was laid to rest at the Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery in Anguilla, following a Service of Thanksgiving, held 11.00 a.m. at the Church in South Hill.
Reverend Cecil Osmond Anderson Weekes died at 84 years old born on May 15, 2015. Born November 27, 1930. He was born on Montserrat but grew up in Anguilla, attended the St. Wood Theological College in Jamaica in 1954, graduated in 1958 and was stationed in Nevis.
Reverend weeks of whom it was said, was a son, a husband, a father, a brother, a leader, a friend, a confidant, but first and foremost he was a minister, a man of God, was, ordained in October 1960 in Antigua and was appointed superintendent of the Nevis Circuit 1961. He had a long ministry in the Jamaica where he served as superintendent in several circuits from 1963 to 1981. In1981 he returned to the Leeward Island district and served as Superintendent in Montserrat until 1988 after which he was elected Chairman of the Methodist Church in Guyana for four years. He served as superintendent of the south Trinidad circuit from 1992 to 1994, St. Kitts Circuit from 1994 to 1995 and the Antigua Circuit from 1995 to 1996.
Married twice losing his first wife after his second son was born, and then to Leontine Thompson in Jamaica, who were both blessed with a daughter Carolyn who lives in Montserrat.
Reverend weeks retired in August 1996 but in September that year accepted an invitation from the British Virgin Island Circuit it serve as an active Super Numerary Minister, in 1998 he returned to active Ministry and was appointed to Superintendent of the BVI Circuit. In August 2000 having completed 48 years of active Ministry he retired in Anguilla with his wife who later took up employment at the National Bank Anguilla.
For the late Reverend Cecil Weekes his retirement at Forest in Anguilla was both spiritual and mental, he had come from a background of much demanding stress and commitment, in a Ministry where he …with compassion and sacrificial service, the burdens of the people in the Caribbean region to whom he long ministered, yet for him it was a great privilege having served in a job that brought much satisfaction to him after which in his own words he undertook to come apart and rest a while, yet despite his retirement he remained a willing servant as s spiritual leader in the Methodist Church.
The officiating ministers at his Thanksgiving service were: Rev. Otto O. Wade, Connexional President, Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, Rev. Franklyn E. Manners, President, Leeward Islands District Conference, MCCA, Rev. Dr. Delsol Meade, Secretary of Conference, Leeward Islands Distrit, MCCA, Rev. Dr. Wycherley V. Gumbs, Superintendent Minister, Anguilla circuit and Rev. Joseph R. Lloyd, Supernumerary Minister, Anguilla Circuit.
