Bishop Pompey to be laid to rest Monday

Submitted by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Melford M. Pompey (Son)

The Supreme Head of the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be laid to rest on Monday, February 22, 2010.{{more}}

His Eminence Most Rev. Cosmore Mathias Pompey OM MO, Supreme Head of the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese and the Lord’s Anointed Holy Patriarch of the Faith, died at his home in Overland on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the age of 76.

Patriarch Pompey was born in the most northern village of St. Vincent, Fancy, but moved to Overland around the age of 10.

Having completed his education at the Fancy, Sandy Bay and Byrea primary schools, he then went on to acquire the skill as a tailor and excelled in this field including tailoring all of his clothes and his spiritual garments, among them, his Archbishop’s cope and mitre.

He was a hard-working farmer, baker and also operated a retail business in Overland from the mid 60s, a business now managed by his son called “Cosmel Groceries”.

Patriarch Pompey met and later married Mona Pompey née Franklyn on December 27, 1962. His wife gave birth to all of his five children, in the order, Rt. Rev. Bishop Melford Pompey, Manager of Garifuna Radio, Prudence in Canada, Esther, Managing Director of Sunshine Pre School, Cornelius, a police officer in the Cayman Islands, and Jestina in Tortola.

Patriarch Pompey actively joined the Spiritual Baptist in 1955. He was made a Minister in 1967 and a Marriage Officer in 1973. Upon the death of the Archbishop, His Beatitude Percival Dick in 1984, he was elected Archbishop, Primate and Supreme Head of the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese on January 20, 1985, until March 22, 2009, when he was elevated to the position of the Lord’s Anointed Holy Patriarch of the Faith, the occasion when the St. Mary’s Spiritual Baptist Cathedral which he founded celebrated its 50th Anniversary. He remained Supreme head of the Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese until the time of his death.

Patriarch Pompey also carried the spiritual titles of Shepherd, Leader, Teacher and Pointer. As a gifted pointer of souls, he had many spiritual children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and abroad.

He traveled throughout the Caribbean and internationally, representing the Spiritual Baptist, and from all reports gave a good account of himself and was well loved by everyone, yet he remained humble.

Of special mention, when Patriarch Pompey opened his career as a Minister of the Gospel, the first baby he dedicated was his fourth child, Cornelius Pompey, and when he closed his book as a marriage Officer, he joined his first child Melford to Chermar and pronounced them husband and wife.

Further, in 2006, he was given a diplomatic passport by the present administration.

Patriarch Pompey was indeed a faithful and committed husband, a responsible and caring father, a kindhearted and loving grand-father, a wonderful and trustworthy brother, a sincere and cherished father-in-law, a loving and well-rounded family man, a giant and devoted spiritual leader, a nation builder, a community icon, a role model, a stalwart, a pioneer, an unsung hero.

Archbishop Pompey’s funeral service will take place on Monday, February 22, at the St. Mary’s Spiritual Baptist Cathedral at Overland from 1:00pm. The body will lie at the church from 9:00am for viewing; interment will be at the Overland Cemetery.

Rest in Peace.