ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Roman Catholic priest Monsignor Eustace Thomas has described the late former West Indies pacer, Grayson Shillingford as a man of God. Monsignor Thomas made the comment as he officiated during the funeral service of Shillingford, who was laid to rest in the village of his birth, Dublanc on Thursday.

According to Monsignor Thomas, Shillingford was close to his God and made every effort to serve him.

“I have known Grayson for a very long time. He was a very humble person and one who was very close to his God. He rarely missed a Sunday service and tried to live a life pleasing to his creator.

Like all of us, he was not perfect, only the Lord Himself is perfect. Nonetheless, Grayson strove to emulate the footsteps of the great man above.”

Shillingford, who played seven Test matches for the West Indies between 1969 and 1972, died of cancer last week Wednesday.

“Grayson was a real pleasure to be with. Nothing was too much for him to do for anyone. He will be surely missed. When I visited him on his dying bed, I told him that he could no longer bowl the bouncers and the in-swingers and out-swingers. He replied I can still do it, but not like before.

He really inspired many individuals and for that we will be forever grateful,” Monsignor Thomas commented.

Shillingford took 15 wickets in his Test career at an average of 35.80, with his best returns being three for 63 off 26.5 overs against New Zealand at Sabina Park in Kingston in February 1972.

He played domestic cricket for Dominica, the Combined Islands and Windward Islands until the 1978-79 season.

During his 77 first-class matches played, he took 217 wickets at an average of 26.54, with best returns of six for 49 against Trinidad & Tobago in St Kitts.
Shillingford played 33 Shell Shield (first-class) matches between 1969 and 1979, taking 98 wickets at an average of 26.20 each.