By Shirley Thomas
AFTER having given practically a lifetime of service to God and humanity, faithfully shepherding the flock of the Anglican Diocese and tremendously impacting the lives of people in the communities he served in diverse ways, retired Bishop of Guyana, Randolph Oswald George, was on Friday laid to rest. Bishop George passed away peacefully at his home at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara after a brief period of illness. Born on July 15, 1924, he died on July 17 last, exactly one week before his 92nd birth anniversary.

Educated at Codringnton College, Barbados, and after curacy at St Peter Barbados, he spent a decade in England. During that time, he served as Curate at Leigh, Ardwick and Lavender Hill, before returning to become Chaplain to the Bishop of Trinidad.
From there, he became Rector of Couva, then All Saints, Port-of-Spain before being elected to the Deanery of the Anglican Diocese of Guyana in 1971.
He was promoted to be the Suffragan Bishop of Stabroek (Guyana) in 1976 and by 1980 (four years later) he became Diocesan Bishop, a position he held until 2009.
It was on the death of former Archbishop of the West Indies, Alan John Knight, who was also Bishop of Guyana, that Randolph George of Georgetown was ordained Bishop of the Diocese.
Ironically, the most recently sworn in Bishop of Guyana, the Right Reverend Charles Davidson, who was the Chief Celebrant at retired Bishop George’s home- going, was ordained by him (George) in 1978.
He came to the helm earlier this year, following the death of The Venerable Cornell Jerome Moss in May 2015. The Right Reverend Charles Davidson was required to officiate at the memorial and funeral of two former Bishops in less than two years.
Bishop George has left to mourn his widow, Sheila George and his children Christopher, Gail George and David, as well as his grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
A Mass of Resurrection for Bishop George CCH was celebrated at the St George’s Cathedral in a service attended by hundreds who came to pay their last respects.
Among the distinguished congregation were President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, former President Donald Ramotar, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Vicar-General Canon Thurston Riehl, and other Bishops from the Caribbean.
The service was presided over by Chief Celebrant, the Right Reverend Davidson, Bishop of Guyana, Suriname and Cayenne, while the organist was Dr Wendy Rudder.
AN INSPIRATION
Bishop George, whose life had impacted hundreds of thousands with whom he came into touch, was a source of inspiration, as attested to by Bishop Davidson in his opening sentences at the Mass of Resurrection.
In bidding the fallen Bishop farewell, Bishop Davidson expressed gratitude and appreciation for the many lessons that he had taught about life.
“We come together this day to say farewell at the Parish of St George, for this is where Bishop George sang in the Choir. We come today to say farewell to a former Dean; and we also come today as a Diocese to say farewell to a former Vicar,” Bishop Davidson declared.
Noting that death is the last enemy and separates one from those loved and cherished, he took comfort in the fact that it (death) is overcome through the death and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Bishop Davidson shared many other stories about fun times, pastoring and other positive experiences with Bishop George.
Bishop Davidson spoke of their conversations and the way he had “planted a seed,” which resonated well with Bishop George in the early 1980s and developed into the ordaining of indigenous males into the priesthood in Guyana.
“He indeed abounded in the work of the Lord and we thank God for his witness, both inside the church and in the Guyanese society. We thank God for his life: Choirister; Deane; Bishop of Stabroek; Diocesan. And today we say our final farewell, knowing that because of his baptism and our baptism, we fear not death,” said Bishop Davidson.
Meanwhile, son of the deceased, Christopher George, spoke on his father’s outlook towards life, contending that the thought of death never caused him to cower. He was not afraid of dying. In his eulogy, he noted: “When the doctor gave him the news of the tenuous nature of his condition, he [Bishop George], with a smile on his face, responded: ‘We all have to die sometime.’ with a smile on his face.” This, he considered to be the evidence of his father’s mature faith, and continued to be there for him until he breathed his last.
And Bishop Davidson reflected on his last moments with Bishop George, recalling that his visit had infused new energy into the retired Bishop, so much so that they engaged in a lengthy, interesting conversation, memories of which he will hold dear.
CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY
Over the last week, there were many glowing tributes in favour of the life and works of Bishop George. He was hailed as a true champion of democracy and a fighter for social justice, human rights, as local politicians, social activists, his family and the Anglican community continued to mourn his passing.
President Granger, in a statement described the late Bishop as a distinguished son of the soil, who he remembered as a towering figure in the life of the Anglican Church, having served the Episcopate for 28 years.
He was bestowed the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) in 1994. The late bishop was described by the President as a sagacious, soft-spoken and amicable leader of the Diocese.
“Randolph George will be recorded as a person of quiet and unassuming dignity, whose respect and stature amongst the faithful never diminished, even after his retirement. He will be remembered also for his steadfast commitment to social justice, his advocacy of democratic reforms and his service to the Integrity Commission of Guyana,” the statement said.
The Opposition in their statement said Guyana has lost a true son, a spiritual leader and a patriot.
“Bishop George’s contribution to Guyana goes beyond that of just a spiritual leader,” the statement said, adding that “As a spiritual leader he was dedicated to his flock and sought to promote both their spiritual and physical well-being. His work among the indigenous peoples and persons living in the hinterland of Guyana is well known.
“As a patriot, he was a fearless supporter of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He assumed leadership of the church during a difficult period in Guyana’s history, but his outspoken honesty and integrity assisted in ensuring that Guyana returned to the path of democracy,” the PPP said.
And the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), also expressed condolences on the passing of Bishop George, lauding the contributions he had made to that body and to the Guyanese society at large.
“As one of the first trio of Co-Presidents of the GHRA, Bishop George’s astuteness and wisdom lent dignity and a sense of purpose in challenging the widespread repression of the late 70s and 80s. His courageous and unflappable spirit was re-assuring to human rights and political activists, in times of tension. ”
The GHRA also lauded the Bishop’s willingness to be “the voice of the voiceless” and his contributions to defend human rights violations, among other things.
And in a tribute to the late retired Bishop, Canon Thurston Riehl said George became Bishop of Guyana at a time when many changes were taking place in society and the Church.
“In this challenging situation, Bishop George brought a pragmatic and prophetic approach. Bishop George was always willing to work in the difficult situation which God had given him, but he was also a great respector of tradition, and was never willing to accept change simply because it was popular. In the life of the church, he will be remembered as the one who initiated the Alan Knight Training Centre, a place where indigenous priests were, for the first time, trained locally for ministry in the interior areas of Guyana. This wise and foresighted decision has changed the face of the Church and will continue to change it for many years to come.”