The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

PROVERBS, Chapter 31, verse 10 says: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

These words from scripture best describe what the late Muriel Baker meant to her loved ones.

Mrs Baker was lay reader, a seasoned vestry member and Anglican Church Women chaplain at St Peter’s Parish in North Long Island.

This past Saturday, the community of Simms witnessed how this local leader in healthcare, civic and church matters was laid to rest. A memorial service was held afterwards at St Barnabas Church in New Providence.

Canon Basil Tynes preached to a packed church, describing how Mrs Baker’s dedication and determination far surpassed that of many others in her generation or age category.

He said met this “heroine of the Anglican Church” while serving as priest-in-charge of St Peter’s in the early 1980s.

“The entire community of Simms was dressed and draped in a sombre mood. Canon Sebastian Campbell, Father Donald G Kerr and Father Berkley Smith were all present to celebrate this requiem eucharistic mass. Father BJ Smith, assistant curate at All Saints Parish where Muriel sons attend, received her body and did the rite of reception,” said Father Chester Burton, Rector of Anglican Churches in Long Island.

During the service, Father Burton said a long-time friend and confidant of Mrs Baker’s, Malinda Pratt, principal of the North Long Island High School where all of Muriel children graduated from, gave the “As I knew her” tribute.

“Ms Pratt in her cheerful disposition stated that after the sudden death of her husband in the early ‘90s, she saw Mrs Baker as a beacon and bastion of hope. For many years as principal of North Long Island High School she used lay reader Baker as her proverbial ‘armour bearer’,” he said.

The official sermon was given by Canon Campbell and was taken from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 16, in which Jesus shares the Parable of the Talents.
In the chapter, Jesus posits that five, two and one talent were given out respectively. The person who had five went and invested and received five more talents. The same happened with the person who had two talents. However the person with the one sat on it and did absolutely nothing. In the parable, the first two who did what their master wanted them to do received the verbal commendation of, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’.

“Canon Campbell asserted that these would be the words lay reader Muriel Baker would hear resonate and resound in her ears upon meeting the Blessed Saviour,” said Father Burton.

Canon Campbell said that the words “well done” qualify and quantify the full embodiment of Mrs Baker’s faithfulness. Father Burton said in essence, the life of Mrs Baker speaks volumes of her dedication and determination to serve her God.

“Canon Campbell said that this level of commitment can be seen in three critical areas of her life. Firstly home and family; secondly, God and church; thirdly, civic and extra curricular activities; this determines a man or woman true value. Canon Campbell referred to Mrs Baker as a rock in a weary land because so many people looked up to her for spiritual or emotional guidance. Her spiritual journey and fitting home-going service denotes one in honour of an elder statesman. He stated emphatically that God sent her to the Anglican Church after the closure of the Methodist, where she once was a vibrant member,” said Father Burton.

Mrs Baker started out as a janitress at the Simms Clinic after being urged by Nurse Inez Spence to take the job. Father Burton said this should reminded congregation members that God limits nobody. Mrs Baker’s indomitable and herculean spirit, he said, was passed onto her eight children.

Canon Campbell admonished family members to keep Mrs Baker’s legacy alive by espousing things she loved.

At the conclusion of the eucharistic send-off, Father Burton instructed the congregation that they would parade to the Simms Clinic where Mrs Baker worked for many years before heading to the cemetery.