BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 16th 2011 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian was among hundreds of mourners who attended the funeral service of his cousin, the late Hon. Derek Hodge, former Lt. Governor of the United States Virgin Islands on St. Croix last week.
Hodge was laid to rest following the funeral service on Friday June 10th 2011 at the St. John's Episcopal Church.
In compliance with his wishes the Service forego any lingering sadness and instead celebrate his life and accomplishments.
“Lighten up, folks,”" said the Rev. Dr. Wesley Williams Jr. “This is a celebration.”
The Virgin Islands Daily News reports the words came to the priest from Hodge's widow, Monique Sibilly-Hodge, who had been asked by her late husband to pass along the message.
True to his wish, speakers at the service Friday filled the expansive church with stories of an intellectual and charismatic man, towering in every sense, and who was, above all else, passionate in his love of the Virgin Islands. Family members, prominent politicians, childhood friends and legal associates spoke, providing snapshots in words depicting a man who embodied “live the life you're given,” as friend and fellow attorney Treston Moore put it.
“He had a sparkling, infectious personality that made you just want to be around him,” said Peter Hiebert, also a friend and attorney. “He made you feel alive.”
Derek Hodge was the consummate conversationalist, with strong opinions and stronger loyalties, according to those who knew him. He had a taste for the finer things in life - wine, food, art - but he was equally at ease talking to people in a fish market as with those in the halls of U.S. Congress.
“Derek had a way of inviting you to lunch, but in the ancient Greek way, it was a symposium,” Moore said.
Although he was only 69 years old when he passed away May 31, after an extended battle with cancer, he lived his life with vigor and energy, many said.
His body lay in state Wednesday at Government House on St. Thomas, followed by a memorial service at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of All Saints. On Thursday, he lay in state at Government House in Christiansted, St. Croix.
On Friday June 10th, hundreds of mourners filled the pews of St. John's Episcopal Church as the service began promptly at 9:30 a.m., the church's narrow windows thrown open to a bright, clear morning. Those gathered stirred the stagnant air with fans and programs as the somber tunes rang from the organ.
From the altar, a large photograph of Hodge appearing to be deep in thought looked out over the congregation.
Hodge’s daughter, Marisol Cohen, said a look from her father - or “daddy” as she called him - could stop her in her tracks. As a child, she remembered running in the space between his legs as he walked - his tall frame allowing her to move in between his strides.
Cohen described her father as dedicated to being the best in everything he did. His ambitions consumed him at times, making him “sometimes unpredictable,” she said.
“He seemed sometimes to always be moving from one thing to the next,” Cohen said.
While Hodge moved around throughout his life, he always returned to St. Croix, speakers said.
Born on Oct. 5, 1941, Hodge grew up in Frederiksted alongside a tight-knit group that included his brother, Winston Hodge, Rupert Ross Jr. and James Ross, the latter two both speaking Friday. V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen said she looked up to him from the time she was young, as their families interacted, and later as a colleague.
USVI Governor John deJongh Jr. commented about how he nearly showed up late to his wedding because he was deep in conversation with Hodge.
Along with the Rosses and a number of other Virgin Islanders, Hodge attended the Colegio San Justo on Puerto Rico. As in the rest of his life, Hodge did not tolerate derogatory comments about the Virgin Islands while there.
But beyond ardently defending his home, he reached out to better it - always helping out the other students in school.
“His desire was for all the students from the Virgin Islands to be on the honor roll, so he would tutor us,” Rupert Ross said. “Those of us that went to San Justo are eternally grateful to Derek, because we are all better people for it.”
Hodge graduated as the valedictorian of his San Justo class, going on to study political science at Michigan State University.
Likewise, Moore said Hodge helped tutor the minority students at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
“Derek never stopped, ever, trying to make all of us better people,” Moore said. “Derek, upon his graduation, returned home. His goal was to go back and use what he learned to help the Virgin Islands.”
Hodge served as St. Croix District Chairman of the Democratic Party, President of the V.I. Legislature, and two terms as Alexander Farrelly’s running mate. Many commented on how hard and successfully Hodge lobbied in Washington, D.C., to get federal funding to help rebuild St. Croix after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Hodge’s body was moved from the church, followed by the V.I. National Guard, family and friends as "Amazing Grace" echoed in the church.
Soon after, Hodge was buried at Frederiksted Cemetery
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