Church & Guyana News
News Capsule from the ELCG (August 28, 2008). - click here to view
News Capsule from the ELCG (July 2, 2008). - click here to view
News Capsule from the ELCG (June 21, 2008). - click here to view
News of Individuals
Death of Pastors Desmond Hamlet and Richard Smith - The Rev. Desmond Hamlet (served 1961-63) and his brother-in-law Richard Smith (served 1962-65) died about a month apart toward the end of 2007. They were both former pastors in Guyana. Both received their doctorates after leaving the ministry and were college professors.
(Information sent by Pastor Winston Bone.)
Prof. Desmond Hamlet - Dr. Hamlet, age 73, died on Friday, September 14, 2007 at home with his family by his side. A ceremony to celebrate his life will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 21, 2007 in Swasey Chapel at Denison University in Granville. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday September 20th at the McPeek Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect, Granville (Phone: 740-587-0161). A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday September 22nd in College Cemetery at Denison University.
He was born on December 8, 1933 in Georgetown, Guyana, South America to the late Nathaniel Clarence and Una (Smith) Hamlet. A recently retired full professor of English at Denison University and holder of Denison’s Lorena Woodrow Burke Chair of English, Dr. Hamlet taught English, African-American, African and Post-Colonial Literature for over 22 years at Denison University; for 7 years at the University of Ife in Nigeria, West Africa; and for 6 years at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Hamlet holds a Bachelor of Arts in English summa cum laude from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary in Canada, and an M.A. and Ph.D in English from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He was a specialist on John Milton and the author of One Greater Man: Justice and Damnation in Paradise Lost (published by Bucknell University Press in 1976); several published articles and book chapters; a manuscript on the works of acclaimed Guyanese novelist Wilson Harris, and an unpublished novel.
Dr. Hamlet was also a dedicated community activist who served as Faculty Advisor to Denison University’s Black Student Union for a decade and led efforts to increase diversity at Denison. Dr. Hamlet was the first faculty recipient of Denison's Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award in 2005 and was named Faculty Member of the Year by Denison’s Cross Keys Honorary Society in 1988. He also served as Chair of Denison’s English department from 1996 to 1999, and as Acting Head of the Department of Literature in English at the University of Ife, in Nigeria.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Hamlet was passionate about reading, music, and theatre. He acted in two plays: as Prof. Drembitsky in Denison’s 1990 production of POOR MURDERER and as God in Denison’s 2002 production of EVERYMAN.
Desmond is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara F. Hamlet; daughter Sharon E. Hamlet of Brooklyn, NY; son and daughter-in-law Lawrence (Larry) L. and Michelle Hamlet of Rockville, MD; grandson Jonathan Weldon Hamlet; brother Kenneth Hamlet of Brooklyn, NY; sister Joyceline Berkley of Georgetown, Guyana, several nieces and nephews, in-laws and friends. Please visit www.mcpeekfuneralhome.com to sign an online guest book, send condolences, or view Desmond’s video tribute.
ABOUT DESMOND HAMLET: Mary Barter writes: “My dad (Catechist Arnold Persaud) was stationed at Epiphany in Albouystown around 1950 to1953. Desmond Hamlet, Ernest Richie and Joseph Richie and a lot of other young people I do not remember, were all Luther Leaguers. My dad got all these boys to accept the Lord and join the church. I think Pastor Hanson was the one who confirmed them. We moved to Stanleytown shortly after that and I was only ten, so I had no idea what became of the boys, until I heard that Desmond was a Pastor.”
Prof. Richard E. Smith - Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Office of the President November 2, 2007
Dear Colleagues,
Richard E. Smith, Associate Professor of English, emeritus, died at home on Tuesday (October 30, 2007) after a long illness at the age of 71. Richard, who was an accomplished teacher and scholar of medieval English literature, was the first black professor on the university faculty, which he joined in 1971. He was an engaging teacher of Chaucer and of folk motifs in medieval literature, which was the subject of his doctoral dissertation from Ohio State University. Born in Guyana, Richard, along with his wife, Yvonne, and children Mark, Hazel, and Martin, brought their unique brand of West Indian culture to the Lewisburg community and to the University. For many years Richard was the only black faculty advisor available to Bucknell students, and even long after his retirement students constantly found their way to his and Yvonne’s house on 3rd Street. There they found intelligent conversation, personal support, and friendship. Richard was also an ordained Lutheran minister.
Richard was much loved by his colleagues for his wit, charm, and gentleness. A world traveler and a man of international sophistication, Richard was one of the founder of the Bucknell London Semester.
A celebration of his life ands work is being planned by members of the Black Student Association and by his colleagues in the English Department.
S/ Brian C. Mitchell, President (Richard Smith was ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church in Guyana and served at Armadale.)
Missionary Newsletters
Our missionaries in Guyana send wonderful newsletters from time to time. We have received newsletters from Pastor Richard Young, serving Ascension Parish, and Pastor Judy McGuire, Christian Education Director and serving St. Michael Parish. They include great stories and information as well as photos. If you would like us to send one or both to you, write to: PTidemann@aol.com. They will be sent as an attachment.
Historical Information
We have just received a wonderful History of the St. Andrew Parish, East Coast Demerara. It was written by Pastor Peter Debra and Michael (Davy) Ram, with significant input from retired Pastor Samuel Pillay. If anyone would like an electronic copy of this history, write to Ptidemann@aol.com. It can be sent as a PDF attachment.
THE GUYANA MISSION NETWORK is compiling historical information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana, its pastors (both Guyanese and missionaries), catechists and congregations. We think it is critical that before more of us get any older that we collect as much of this information as we can.
Just as an example, we were asked to search for any information that we might have about The Rev. Wylock J. E. Scott. We have uncovered a lot of information about him. He was a missionary of the United Lutheran Church and lived with his family at Lutheran Courts from 1951 to 1954. He was a mission developer, among other things. He died suddenly in Georgetown Hospital of a heart attack after having been transported from New Amsterdam. His wife, Viola, died in Minnesota in 2002. He is survived by two daughters and a son. We have received quite a bit of information from one of his daughters and reflections from some others.
SO, IF YOU HAVE ANY MEMORIES, LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ISSUES OF “THE SOUTHERN CROSS” please make copies and/or send them to:
The Rev. Paul Tidemann
Guyana Mission Network
1079 Goodrich Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-3135
or by email: Ptidemann@aol.com
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