Rest Peacefully Uncle Wesley

LEVI WESLEY MILLER Sr. was born on the 27th day of November 1917 in Miller’s Long Island, The Bahamas to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Priscilla Miller. He was one of six children born of this union. He was also brother to three half sisters.

At about the age of maturity for a man, 18 years or so, “Wesley” as he was preferably called, left his less developed home, Long Island, for the more progressive City of Nassau, New Providence. Like many of the sons and daughters of the “Out Islands “ of The Bahamas, Wesley found the courage to launch out and make a better living and a life where there were greater opportunities. Who would have known that this single step would have eventually led him to a First World Country, where he would in his lifetime be blessed with a first class, long and prosperous life.

It was through gardening for a wealthy American family who were second home owners in The Bahamas that Wesley found himself eventually resident in the United States of America in 1948. From his very young years he had already demonstrated that he was unafraid of change and that he was always inspired to embrace the chance to do more, and see more, and through hard work, achieve more. With a failed marriage, and other disappointments behind him, West Palm Beach, Florida became his new hope of dreams and aspirations. Wesley Miller went on through humble and honest work to see the United States of America as a Chauffer for the likes of the founders of Campbell Soup, the Colliers who own Collier’s County, and the Grossman’s, originators of the Renuzit company.

Love found Levi Wesley Miller in 1963 when he was introduced by a mutual friend, Willa-Mae Mackey, to the very beautiful and industrious Delphene Hall, who had recently left West End, Grand Bahama for a new life in Florida. It was a tale of love at first sight. A few months later in September 1963, they married and truly became a formidable team. Their union bore two sons, Levi Jr. and David, and in time grandchildren and great grandchildren. It also bore many investments in real property and banking, allowing the two of humble origin and the limitations of their time, through innovation and determination to build a lasting legacy, and to retire on a canal in Palm Beach County.

The two committed themselves to a lifetime of love as described in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Wesley was above all known for his hospitality to all who passed his way. He never denied anyone a smile, a meal, a song or the reminder of God’s word which he had hid in his heart. God’s Love was the law which ruled his life – it was an unwavering love for the stranger, his neighbors, his family, his friends, and most especially, his darling “Del.”

To describe him as an over-comer and over-achiever is an understatement. Throughout his journey, he was always challenged by life threatening illnesses. Losing a leg to cancer and the early research of cancer, Wesley also survived two major heart-attacks which amounted to six by-pass surgeries. Yet he always found the strength and resolve to press on. Notwithstanding his many health scares, Levi Wesley Miller’s life was 90 years full.

On February 19th however, Wesley was hospitalized once again for what appeared a mild heart attack. Soon after he took an unforeseen turn for the worst and fell into a deep sleep for some ten days. Then on the leap day, the 29th of February, in this leap year, at 12:10 in the afternoon, he took his final breath and made a final leap to the next phase of life, to the ultimate land of the ultimate hope, dream, and aspiration - to spend forever with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We love him and will surely miss him but God truly loves him best.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE!

In Hopes They Receive Bail ...

Last year, I felt compelled to, in a literary way, lend my voice to a very necessary anti violence effort. I did so by writing the editor of the Freeport News weekly, often time demonstrating through our political differences, that people can opt to disagree, peacefully. My commitment to an anti-violence campaign was unflinching however, lyc – etv, Love Your Country, End The Violence, was something I had hoped would have resonated with at least a hand full of persons, thereby ensuring that my efforts were not in vain. A few Grand Bahamians assured me that they had heeded the call, and some of them in their own quiet way committed themselves to their own anti violence initiatives. I say this to reiterate that I do not condone violence!

Grace however, is an essential component of anti-violence. Grace is perhaps the foundation of anti-violence – it says – “I will not rightfully or unrightfully retaliate, even in the face of a wrong perpetrated against me.” I go further to include early in this letter, my support for Law and Order. Rules and the enforcement of rules secure the stability of societies – this is not a function of some higher wisdom, it is common sense!

The 2007 Bimini riots should not have happened but they did. At the heart of the matter, we must never forget is that a life was lost. So as not to pre-judge what is still under investigation, I note that a life was taken by a police officer under a heavy cloud of suspicion. That officer has been suspended from active duty but while being investigated is not behind any bars while authorities await the process of justice which will determine his fate. But his is a fate tied to the loss of life – life which cannot be replaced, which no amount of money can restore, rebuild, or return to the family and community of those who suffered the loss.

Temporary insanity or rage associated with provocation or perceived injustice is something very real. This heightened emotional response may not be a very successful defense before our courts but in this instant, at a time when our social fabric is being threatened by crime and violence, perhaps as a people we should come to lend our minds to the idea behind why people sometimes riot. An ordinarily peaceful people do not just wake up one day and decide to wreak havoc on their own community. Their temporary insanity, their temporary loss of control is often time fueled by a sense of injustice. And so South Central Los Angeles burned, shops were looted, and order was lost in response to the unfair beating of Rodney King, at the hands of corrupt police officers. And so too did Bimini. And although they try to cover it up, the Government building on another Island purportedly also went up in flames in response to abuse of power by those hired to protect us, just a few weeks ago.

Three men have been arraigned for their alleged role in the riots of Bimini – the supporting evidence must heavily be grounded in hearsay. Yes buildings were destroyed and the chaos instigated was simply unacceptable. But these three men are not responsible for loss of life. Government property can be restored, rebuilt or replaced. Yet these men have been denied bail. Forget the idea of grace or even some far fetched notion of temporary loss of sanity or good judgment, as a defense. Where is the fair-play in all of this? How can a police officer connected with the loss of life which triggered the rioitous response, await his fate free, and under the tenet of “innocent until proven guilty” while three men who have no cause to ever be that senseless or violent again, find themselves already punished under the harsh conditions of Her Majesty’s prison, having been denied bail?

Come on Bahamas! In order and decency and in the absence of violence, I challenge some of our leaders to question this resulting perceived injustice. Persons must be held accountable and should even be made examples of for their roles in violent acts against society - absolutely. But the system must be seen to be fair or at least trick us into believing it to be so. As for the matter at hand, we run the risk of being more suspicious of authority where there is no equal treatment of civilians. I mean no disrespect to the Magistrate who ruled, clearly the ruling has been influenced by the politics of the day but these men should not have been denied bail, and as a people, we should not allow this travesty without some peaceful opposition.