Board member of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation and former president of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO) Angela Watson was revered as a woman with many hats during her funeral on Friday.
The well attended ceremony was held at the St Mark’s Anglican Church’s parish hall, as the St John church was undergoing roof repairs.
Watson’s first cousin John Goddard said she was a born leader who helped looked after her siblings when her mother passed away, adding that she was also a “mother” to many young people in the College Savannah community and led a number of grassroots projects in that area.
Goddard said Watson was a loving woman always willing to share the crops she grew in her backyard and the meals she cooked.
He said she played a tremendous role in raising the state of the fishing industry and outlined some of her contributions. These include advocating for improved working conditions for fisherfolk, unionism, fighting for proper maritime arrangements between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, sending relief to Grenada impacted by hurricane Ivan and her involvement in a sea moss project which sought to revive the fast becoming endangered species.
In his sermon, Reverend Dr Marcus Lashley, who was also a close friend of Watson, said the 63-year-old woman was a devote Christian who was always willing to take part in church activities even when it meant going the extra mile.
He recalled an incident where persons, involved in illegal activities in a nearby area, threatened to burn down the church to keep members from attending night assemblies, as they feared some church goers would have caught them in their wrong doings. Lashley said Watson’s faith was put to the test as she was present at every meeting and encouraged the congregation to come out.
Among those in attendance were Democratic Labour Party (DLP) incumbent constituency representative for St Philip North Michael Lashley and candidate for St John George Pilgrim, incumbent representative of that area Mara Thompson and Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley.
Entertainer Tony Grazette and William “Smokey” Burke were also present. (SB)
