Latjor,
I must confess that Aunty Belinda is a loss to humanity at large. You have tried a lot in your write-up to portray the kind of angel she was. It is only her creator who knew the type of angel she really was. I don't think there are enough words to fully express what she was indeed. All I know for certain is the world has lost a beloved one, especially The Gambia and Gambians. I feel tears running down my cheeks as I reflect on some of those short moments when we were in Saint Augustines and Gambia High Schools. Todate, I cannot really make out who her actual children were out of the very lot. This is our berevement. We all heve lost a very dear one that no enough words can ever describe. I extend my condolences to whoever has been touched by this incident and especially to Latjor, Jerry, etc........ May her soul rest in perfect peace. AMEN.
Yorro K Sanyang.
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From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 2 May 2007 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: Condolence / clarification
G-Lers,
On behalf of my family, I wish to express our gratitude for your concern and
prayers for the passing of our dear mum.
Below is a short write-up I prepared (under much duress) to insert in the
Funeral Program. Hope it sheds more light on this gentle giant. She was 71 years
old and not 72 as some are reporting.
Latjor
BELINDA GEORGETTE MARY-MAGDALENE BIDWELL (nee FAAL)
“To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst
not then be false to any man.”
It would be a futile exercise to make any attempt to write a short biography to
fit the spatial requirements of a compact Funeral Mass Programme, on the earthly
life of Belinda G. Bidwell. Thus, this will be an attempt to lay bare the
varied pieces of fabric that may bring to light the noble and just life of this
giant of a lady we come to pay tribute to.
Belinda Georgette was born on April 22, 1936 in Banjul, The Gambia. The second
child of Gabriel Julian Faal and Matilda Faal (nee Johnson) of 28 Lancaster
Street, Banjul. At an early age, it became evident that here was a true gift
from heaven.
Having lost three of her siblings at a tender age, she took up the
responsibility of helping her mother and father raise her other siblings. It
was during those formative years that her maternal instincts became highly
developed. It was to become her hallmark for the rest of her life. It could be
said that in the course of her life, she has raised, not a village, but an
entire city! A mother, who never turned her back to anyone who came to her
seeking assistance or love. Among these, she was known simply as: “Mummy”, or
“Aunty Linda”. Her embrace of them was complete and unreserved. “They are all
God’s children”, she would often remark.
Belinda attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School where her intellectual
potential quickly became evident. She excelled in all her studies while she was
at St. Joseph’s High School. Upon completion, she enrolled at the then newly
established Yundum Teacher Training College.
In 1962, she obtained a scholarship to Oxford University, UK and graduated with
a Bachelor of Arts degree, in the process becoming one of the first Gambian
women to study at this prestigious institution. Upon her return home, she
taught at St. Joseph’s Secondary School and later as a Lecturer at Yundum
Teacher Training College.
In the 1970s, Belinda’s passion in the pursuit of education remained unabated.
She went for further studies to Reading University, UK, University of Chicago,
USA and undertook many more short training courses in faraway lands such as the
former USSR, Germany and Australia. Academic disciplines she studied ranged
from Geography, Environmental Studies, Linguistics, Mathematics, and English
Literature.
Her love for sharing her knowledge when and where it was needed, brought her out
of retirement. She volunteered to teach, free of charge, Mathematics and
Geography at St. Augustine’s Secondary Technical School.
While Belinda was blazing a trail as a role model for Gambians in the academic
world, she was also busy raising her family. This difficult act of balancing
the quest for family stability while pursuing her academic and career interests
was a marvel to watch.
She was married to the late James J. Ndow with whom she had all her five
children. The untimely death of her husband in 1976, left her to raise alone
her very young family, the oldest of whom was only eleven years at the time, as
well as all the other relatives she had adopted. She raised them all in a
loving and fiercely protective environment. She gave her all ensuring that they
had a good education, teaching them the importance of family, the joy of
sharing, caring, giving, especially to those in need, and above all to always
have a close relationship with the Creator.
Belinda had also acquired important life skills at a tender age at the feet of
her mother. These would come in handy during those many years she had to
struggle to raise the family. Her sewing skills helped generate extra income
for the family. Ever the industrious woman, she imparted the joy of purposeful
labor on her children. Teaching them skills in the art of Haute Couture. Over
the years, she has designed many a bride’s wedding dress and clothes for all
occasions.
In 1990, after all her children had left for the United States and France having
reached adulthood, she finally decided to remarry and enjoy the rest of her life
with a companion. She married Dr. Ernest Bidwell and remained with him until
his passing away in November 2006.
In 2001, Belinda’s career took another direction. Responding to the call to
serve her beloved country, she accepted the position of Deputy Speaker of the
National Assembly of the Republic of The Gambia. During her five-year tenure,
she became the Speaker of the House, thus becoming the first Gambian woman to
ascend to this position. Some of her major accomplishments include the
construction of the Assembly annex, ensuring professionalism and staff
development, and of course, mentoring both deputies and staff. Here, her
motherly qualities again came to the fore, caring for and embracing all no
matter their political leanings. She emphasized that one must always have the
interest of the nation first in making any decision that would impact the lives
of people. No wonder she became known within the corridors of the National
Assembly as “Ma”.
Belinda was a devout practicing Christian. Whether working, relaxing with
friends or family, she was always immersed in prayer. She loved to sing sacred
hymns and was blessed with a beautiful angelic voice. No matter the day, time
or place, there was always a song of praise to her Maker emanating from her. Her
devotion to her faith was complete and unquestioned.
Belinda was ever the optimist. No matter how great a problem, she would place
her faith in God, confident that He will guide her find an answer. As she would
often say, “God will provide. Just have faith.”
While many thinkers and philosophers through the ages have contemplated on the
true nature of Love - this sustainer of life, in truth, it is only fully
understood when it is made visible. Belinda, in her brief journey through this
world has shown us how beautiful true Love can be, when it is embrace and lived
fully and completely.
Belinda is survived by her mother, sisters, children, grandchildren, adopted
children, aunts, cousins, relatives and all whom she has touched in her special
way.
May her gentle soul ever remain in eternal peace!
_________________________________________________________________
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