While the eyes of Barbadians, the region and even the world, were on the late Prime Minister David Thompson as this country bade farewell to him on November 3, funeral director James Wilson also shared the stage that day.
Albeit, for another reason.
It was his task to make sure that the late Prime Minister looked his best as Barbadians saw him for the last time.
This director knew he would be under watchful eyes to make sure that the five-day viewing of Thompson’s body as it lay in state, his funeral service and the interment were flawless.
Based on several calls and feedback, many believed, he delivered.
Wilson, who has more than 30 years in the business, didn’t flinch once when he was told by Thompson’s family that they wanted him to take care of their loved one.
Instinctively, he knew what had to be done and just did it.
It was 20 minutes after Thompson died on October 23, that Wilson knew the responsibility would be his.
“I got the call at 2:35 a.m. I was told the Prime Minister had died and they wanted me to look after the arrangements,” he recalled, during an interview with the SUNDAY SUN at his funeral home last Friday morning.
Wilson sprung into action. Well, that was after informing his wife Hyacinth, who cried, like so many other Barbadians on that day.
He admitted he did not shed tears, even though he was very sad.
“I am trained to be a professional. When people cry, I am supposed to be very strong. I have to be.
I have to be able to advise, that’s what I do,” said the dapperly dressed director.
Wilson knew he had to take Thompson from his Mapps, St Philip home where he died.
The information about who died and where it happened, was kept close to his chest even as he called one of his funeral directors.
That information was only revealed when they were on their way to St Philip.
“Confidentiality is very important in this business. In these days with cellphones, Internet, and Facebook, we have to be very careful in the things we say and the things we do,” he said.
“The first thing to do is to bring him here and make sure the property is secure where no one can come and pull doors. We locked the fridge. We locked the doors to the mortuary.”
He admitted that while this was normal procedure, in this case, they had to be especially careful.
Wilson also revealed there was 24-hour police presence at the funeral home in Black Rock, St Michael.
“When you are Prime Minister, there are certain privileges that are accorded. The same thing occurs when you die,” he said.
At that time, the public did not know he was charged with the responsibility of the service – well, until THE NATION broke the news the following day.
“Nobody really knew he was here at first. We just kept it quiet. We didn’t tell anyone. We didn’t make an announcement. People were wondering where he was,” he recalled.
Wilson said he was also operating with the full knowledge that there is a plan in place for state funerals which Government activates when necessary.
“I know the Government has everything under control. There is a documented plan for state funerals in Barbados. This comes from Cabinet Office. As long as the Government says there is a state funeral, everything falls into place with the Barbados Defence Force, the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Cabinet gets involved, [and] the Transport Board. There is a certain team that gets involved immediately,” he explained.
While all those planning meetings were taking place, Wilson’s priority was to take care of the late Prime Minister, making sure he looked the best he could.
He admits it was challenging but quickly noted that this was what he and his team at the funeral home do.
“It was challenging but it is what we do. We deal with challenges as it relates to death and dying. That is what we are trained to do,” he said, confidently.
Details surrounding death are never discussed, he said, underscoring again that confidentiality was key in their business and sensitive information is always kept close.
“We never discuss cause of death, what people die from, how someone looks. It’s not public information,” he added.
That confidentiality was extended to the late Prime Minister, as it is to everyone else, he explained.
Wilson and his team had their hands full making sure everything was ready for the first day of viewing, in Parliament.
“We were happy with the way he looked,” he said quietly, boasting that they knew their work could last “five days or 50 days without any problems”.
He said the positive feedback from Barbadians here and abroad was also very encouraging.
Had a plan That made him even more than ready to face the day of the state funeral. The night before that big day, he admits he slept well, all because he had a plan.
The morning of the funeral, Wilson said he prayed for guidance.
“I prayed that the Lord would guide me and the family through the day,” he said.
“Everything went according to plan. We knew we had to raise the bar and we knew we had to carry it to a very high level. I even pulled out my top hat, silver-top cane and grey gloves to match what I was wearing.
“The limousine drivers and other personnel all wore white gloves,” he said, adding there was a team of ten working that day.
Still, despite the pressures of the day, Wilson maintained his composure and never got nervous.
“I can’t afford to be nervous. If I get nervous, it will be noticeable that I am nervous and I am the one standing up front,” he said.
Wilson did not take all the credit of the smooth flow of the funeral service.
“It took hundreds of people to put it together. It took the BDF, the Coast Guard, the police; it took people like [Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office,?Senator] Dorcy Boyce, who did the stage; it took the Ministry of Transport and Works to build the grave; it took the Transport Board to transport people that day, also the people who kept the streets clean. It took hundreds of people to make it work,” he said, also recognising that the public too, played a big role in how that day went.
Overall, Wilson said he was satisfied with how that day went. In fact, he said he was able to use some of the experience he gained while assisting with the state funeral of former Prime Minister Tom Adams in 1985. At that time, Wilson was an embalmer with the funeral home, Parkinson and Gill, which is now Lyndhurst.
An honour
He said it was an honour to be responsible for the state funeral of Thompson, which he believes was the largest.
“There has never been a funeral like the one for the late Prime Minister of Barbados,” he said, noting it also had the most views with the exposure on the Internet as well as the five days of viewing.
Wilson said they were still receiving calls from all over the world, including Australia, England, the United States and Canada.
He is not getting tired of this business, even after 30 years.
“This is my passion. I love a challenge. I don’t know fear.
“This is a job that one should really love because it is not always pleasant. There are things that are not very easy that you have to deal with,” he added.
Wilson has another passion.
He loves boots. In fact, that’s all he wears, wherever he goes. In fact, he wore eel-skin boots at the funeral service earlier this month.
He has about 20 pairs, noting that sometimes he is teased that he has to get a special room for his boots.
“I always loved boots. I think they are interesting and they help me walk better. There is a whole world in boots. There is leather, there is eel, lizard, all kinds of skins – exotic skins.”
Wilson admits he has been wearing boots since the 1970s.
During the interview, he points to his ostrich boots explaining their intricate work and detail.
His boots are definitely made for walking and that’s just what he plans to do. In fact, Wilson smiles and admits he’s has no plans on giving up his profession any time soon.
