VETERAN EDUCATOR Matthew Farley was known for his big voice in pushing education in Barbados.
But what was less known was that the 62-year-old, who died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital last Sunday after briefly suffering from a rare illness, had an even bigger voice for sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and calling on people to accept Him as their saviour.
In fact, as his widow Althine said, since Farley made the decision to take the Christian walk four years ago, he had been all fired up for God.
The 61-year-old struggled to hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes as she spoke to the SUNDAY SUN this past week about her husband, whom she is preparing to say farewell to on Thursday at a thanksgiving service at the Abundant Life Assembly. She said she was relying on God’s strength for support and comfort to see her through this difficult time.
The couple renewed their vows in December 2013 following a 13-year separation. Althine said she saw this as an opportunity for them to grow into old age together, with God as their guide.
Farley, who retired in August 2014 as principal of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School, will be remembered for his no-nonsense approach to education and discipline.
But Althine, sitting in the living room of their home, reflected on the softer side to her husband which she said will always give her a good feeling whenever she thinks about him.
She described him as a gentle and loving husband who never failed to look after the needs of his family, paying special attention to his three daughters – 30-year-old Maachelle, Karessa, 27, and Richelle, 25.
“He was there to counsel, he was always there to give advice, he was a confidant. We had a good relationship. We loved one another. When we got back together, he always asked God to give him a passion for Him so that he can transfer it to me and the family. That is exactly what happened,” she said.
She said his passion for God could not be questioned, and since he retired and had more time on his hands, he was occupied with saving souls for the Lord.
He was an active member at Restoration Ministries under the leadership of Reverend Dr David Durant, playing a pivotal role in evangelism, intercession and the hospital ministry. He also worked with young people in the congregation because he wanted to see them walk the straight and narrow way.
“Even in our community here, if God placed him to go and minister to someone, he would leave home and go. He would advise them that it is time to come to know God. He always told people it was time to know God. He would go to the hospital on Sunday evenings to visit the sick and if there was anyone there who needed to know God, he would encourage them as well.”
Althine also stressed that Farley’s love for education could not be doubted, from when he started his career as a young teacher in 1973 at St Jude’s Primary School, to retirement.
Farley taught at St John’s Mixed School, and Vauxhall, St Lawrence and Ellerton primary schools. In 1996 he took up the post as principal at St Mary’s Primary in The City, later moving to head Garrison Secondary, since renamed Graydon Sealy Secondary.
Matthew Farley’s wife Althine (centre) being embraced by daughters Karessa and Maachelle.
“He made a tremendous contribution to education. He was a strict disciplinarian when it came to his students. He just had this love for teaching. He was always doing his best in every field, as a teacher and then as a principal. He was always forthright in giving his views when it came to education and he never backed down from what he believed in.
“When it was time for him to leave the service, he felt he had made his contribution. He said he heard bells ringing and felt like that was God speaking to him to tell him it was the right time to leave,” she said.
While not divulging all the details of his illness, she said it was painful watching his condition worsen as she sat at his bedside in hospital. They were not expecting him to deteriorate so quickly after his admission.
“He had this pain in his back. He went to the doctor and the doctor said it was arthritis, but then it became so excruciating. So he said, ‘Look, let me go to the hospital and get to the bottom of this’. So when he went to the hospital, they took blood tests then and found out it was something different; it was not arthritis.”
She said she prayed for the best and left the final decision in God’s hands, but added that when she was told of his passing on Sunday, November 27, it was heart-rending. She had hoped that he would come back home with her.
“It was shocking because the doctors called to say he was deteriorating, but two days before he had looked so well and you could see like he was improving. But he had a relapse somewhere along the line,” said a soft-spoken Althine.
She said she has received overwhelming public support and encouragement. The telephone has been ringing constantly and the callers have been telling her what a special man Farley was. She said some of those uplifting voices belonged to past students, teachers, colleagues and recipients of prayers offered by Farley when he hosted special gospel programmes on radio.
“People used to call here for him to pray for them. He came back to God with such a passion, devotion to do the work of God with joy, and that passion could be heard through the airwaves.”
Keeping a close eye on her mother was second daughter Karessa. She too spoke glowingly about her “Papa” and how much he wanted grandchildren “to dribble” on his chest, and to take them to swimming and piano lessons while spending bonding moments with them.
“He was always saying he wants his grandchildren, to hold his grandchildren,” Karessa said with a smile.
Sitting next to Karessa, Maachelle, the eldest child, noted that Farley, a former NATION columnist, often expressed a desire to write a family memoir, but did not get the opportunity to do so.
“He loved to cook. He loved to sing and would walk around the house singing the same song over and over. He was always joyful and jovial,” Maachelle recalled. His famous Maakarich Red Ruby Sorrel Drink, which was sold at Foreplay Deli in Sheraton Mall, was also one of his loves.
“I never had a doubt in my mind that he loved me because he always said, ‘I love you forever’, like ten or 15 times a day. I live here so he would tell me face to face, but to my sister living overseas he would send voice notes like ten times a day just telling her how much he loves her. I mean, we had no reason to doubt that he loved us,” Maachelle said.
The girls said though they had the drive to succeed and valued the importance of a solid education, it was their father who laid that foundation.
The other daughter, Richelle, who lives overseas, is expected home for the service and to spend time with family.
