McKee
31-01 2022 02:42
wrote:
Stephen, why you don't come for Karen?" That was a call for help (usually from Yolande Alleyne and a few others) whenever I was out of order. Stephen's response was the same everytime! He would pause whatever conversation he was in. Look over at me. Shake his head with a big, long steupse, and reply to the others: "Man she! Don't worry 'bout she, you hear wha' I tell you. Man, when God ready for she..." And he would go back to his conversations with no further response even if someone else tried.
But why would they call on him for help? Stephen Gittens was a young evangelist going to various churches in Barbados, and other countries preaching the Word of God. I was a ball of fire somewhere, way over the other side of the fence, and who hadn't stepped into a church for over 10 years. I was feisty when I got ready, fearless, and I always loved to have a good laugh. Although it would appear that we were very different, Stephen became my closest friend at Erdiston Teachers' Training College, where we met, as part of the 1987-1989 cohort.
Stephen was always so full of laughs and he had this distinct way of talking that if you didn't start off laughing, you would certainly end up there. Tears dropped as I thought of Stephen being gone from us. But when I look back on our interactions, in the midst of tears, I still smiled or even cackled a bit. I can't explain this. You would've had to experience a conversation with Stephen to understand.
Every greeting with a male started with, "Old man..." and he made up his own nick names for you, whether or not you wanted one.
What made me cackled the most was remembering when Mr. Roett's bread van showed up at the college every day. Lawd havis mercy!! lolol. Stephen wasn't missing that bread van. I also cackled at our conversations, and arguments sitting outside on his front steps, when I passed thru Welches. I had my strong opinions, Stephen had opinions too, but added wisdom. But never did I have to behave, or be, like someone else. Stephen accepted me for who I am.I was pregnant with my daughter, when we first met, and Stephen would then be the Reverend to bless her, and dedicate her unto the Lord. (Caribbean Christening).
In 2017, I was bringing a group of entrepreneurs from North America and the UK to Barbados, and Stephen would help me organize a volunteer project for our travelling group. We did a Storytelling session with students from his school. I'm thankful that birthdays, Mothers day, and Christmas seasons never passed by without Stephen reaching out. We continued our banter over whatsapp.
My greatest appreciation of Stephen will always be his life's demonstration of how to be a Christian and live amongst others, while loving them despite any differences, and maintaining your Christianity. Ohhh and yes, Stephen was right! When God was ready for me, because I didn't think I was ready for God at the time, but when he was ready for me, I said, "Yes." Stephen was one of the first people I called to share that news.
I offer my condolences to his wife Laura, his Bird and wifey from all the way back then. I also offer my condolences to all of his other family members. Stephen, your voice, your loud laughter, your jokes, your style of communicating, all live on here with us. We are already missing you, after the shock. but we also understand that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." So we'll just say, Bye for now and Thank you!!!!
McKee
31-01 2022 02:42
wrote:
Stephen, why you don't come for Karen?" That was a call for help (usually from Yolande Alleyne and a few others) whenever I was out of order. Stephen's response was the same everytime! He would pause whatever conversation he was in. Look over at me. Shake his head with a big, long steupse, and reply to the others: "Man she! Don't worry 'bout she, you hear wha' I tell you. Man, when God ready for she..." And he would go back to his conversations with no further response even if someone else tried.
But why would they call on him for help? Stephen Gittens was a young evangelist going to various churches in Barbados, and other countries preaching the Word of God. I was a ball of fire somewhere, way over the other side of the fence, and who hadn't stepped into a church for over 10 years. I was feisty when I got ready, fearless, and I always loved to have a good laugh. Although it would appear that we were very different, Stephen became my closest friend at Erdiston Teachers' Training College, where we met, as part of the 1987-1989 cohort.
Stephen was always so full of laughs and he had this distinct way of talking that if you didn't start off laughing, you would certainly end up there. Tears dropped as I thought of Stephen being gone from us. But when I look back on our interactions, in the midst of tears, I still smiled or even cackled a bit. I can't explain this. You would've had to experience a conversation with Stephen to understand.
Every greeting with a male started with, "Old man..." and he made up his own nick names for you, whether or not you wanted one.
What made me cackled the most was remembering when Mr. Roett's bread van showed up at the college every day. Lawd havis mercy!! lolol. Stephen wasn't missing that bread van. I also cackled at our conversations, and arguments sitting outside on his front steps, when I passed thru Welches. I had my strong opinions, Stephen had opinions too, but added wisdom. But never did I have to behave, or be, like someone else. Stephen accepted me for who I am.I was pregnant with my daughter, when we first met, and Stephen would then be the Reverend to bless her, and dedicate her unto the Lord. (Caribbean Christening).
In 2017, I was bringing a group of entrepreneurs from North America and the UK to Barbados, and Stephen would help me organize a volunteer project for our travelling group. We did a Storytelling session with students from his school. I'm thankful that birthdays, Mothers day, and Christmas seasons never passed by without Stephen reaching out. We continued our banter over whatsapp.
My greatest appreciation of Stephen will always be his life's demonstration of how to be a Christian and live amongst others, while loving them despite any differences, and maintaining your Christianity. Ohhh and yes, Stephen was right! When God was ready for me, because I didn't think I was ready for God at the time, but when he was ready for me, I said, "Yes." Stephen was one of the first people I called to share that news.
I offer my condolences to his wife Laura, his Bird and wifey from all the way back then. I also offer my condolences to all of his other family members. Stephen, your voice, your loud laughter, your jokes, your style of communicating, all live on here with us. We are already missing you, after the shock. but we also understand that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." So we'll just say, Bye for now and Thank you!!!!
