Tonight, after three days of public mourning Belize's first Governor-General has been laid to rest, in the soil of the country she prayed for every night - even into her senior years.
Dame Elmira Minita Gordon was afforded the honor of a State funeral, the highest expression of honor given by the Government of Belize to a woman who rendered outstanding service. Today's procession and ceremony carried the full weight of the state and it declared that Dame Minita had been a key part of Belize's history.
Cherisse Halsall has the story form the cortege to the cathedral.
You could hear the tolling of the Bells from churches countrywide this morning. The tolled to celebrate the life of Belize's first Governor-General, a woman who aimed high in all things, and loved her country above all else.
She's been honored with three days of national mourning and a state funeral that this morning started with a cortege at the foot of Belize City's swing bridge.
And as it moved along Albert street one couldn't help but notice spectators, elegantly dressed and with an air of reverence from a bygone era, who followed the procession and made sure to pay their respects.
On the way, the Cortege would pause marking the somber occasion with a moment of silence that stilled the air casting a spell that could hardly be broken by the next toll of Wesley Church bells.
It was an occasion that could hardly be ignored.
Dame Minita's remains were then escorted to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at the end of East Albert Street.
And inside the Cathedral the few invited guests were treated to words of admiration for Dame Minita from the Prime Minister himself.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Dame Elmira Minita Gordon was a beaming, brilliant, and towering renaissance Belizean. Her parents Fredrick Gordon and May Dakers migrated from Jamaica to Lucky Strike, Belize in the 1920's Elmira along with her five siblings grew up like all the Belizean children in their generation. I am sure none would imagine that the little girl who was born in Belize City on 30th December 1930 and grew up on Plues street would become our nation's first governor general and the first woman governor general in the Commonwealth."
And while becoming the Governor-General may have been her greatest achievement, it was far from her only one.
Kelora Franklin, Sister of Dame Minita
"In recognition of her impressive achievements Dame Minita is included in publications such as the who's who in the commonwealth, who is who in intellectuals, who is who of professional and business women, who is who in Latin America, the international yearbook and statesman's who is who and marquee who is who. With her very busy schedule, Dame Minita set aside time for recreation and to pursue her hobbies. Her hobbies included craft, knitting, crocheting, making macromey handbags and making soft toys for children. She learned to play the recorder while she studied in Canada and played alto recorder in the recorder band. She also enjoyed travel and interacting with people of different cultures. Dame Minita was a loving, thoughtful, caring, and considerate person. She was always ready to help those in need, she hosted annual Christmas parties for underprivileged children. She gave a number of scholarships to Belizean youth to attend high school and also to adults to study abroad."
Patrick Faber, Leader of the Opposition
"It would be remiss of me not to comment on her work as an educator. I pay tribute to her and place on record on behalf of our entire education system and on behalf of all my colleague Ministers' of education pass and present. Our deepest gratitude to her for her contributions to our children and their teachers."
But Dame Minita's impressions were made on more than just her students. Stanley Lizama used to attend tea parties at the Governor general's house and even remembers being scolded for drinking out of the sugar bowl because the teacups, in his opinion, were much too small.
Stanley Lizama, Mortician, Coye Funeral Parlor
"My family and the governor-general were very close friends and I used to take bread and buns at her house for her because my grand-aunt used to sell bread and buns. We also had tea parties and when my dad was the mayor in 84 she was the Governor-General and they also invited the Queen of England."
But whether she was serving the Queen or serving the underprivileged Dame Minita made sure always to do her best.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"The sum total of all is that Dame Minita served us well as the first Governor-General of Belize. A job she executed with excellence and grace, so today we honor her, we pay tribute to her lifetime of work, dedication, and sacrifice and sacrifice to our beloved nation. And we celebrate a life well-lived. Dame Minita Gordon ended her pilgrimage here on earth on January 1st 2021, but her legacy will live on and should inspire generations of young Belizean women."
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