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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Hundreds of friends, colleagues and family members crowded into the St George's Anglican Church Friday to pay their respects for the life of Brenville "Bulla" Hanna, during a Thanksgiving Service. Mr. Hanna, a former chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, died last week after a long illness. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a tribute by the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham, Prime Minister to Brenville "Bulla" Hanna at a funeral service at St. George's Anglican Church on March 4th, 2011.
On behalf of the Government and the Bahamian people, and on my own behalf and that of my wife, I offer condolences to the family and friends of Brenville “Bulla” Hanna, especially his daughter, De’Andrea, his son Holland, his brothers and sisters, and other relatives.
Bulla Hanna taught us in the way he lived and the manner in which he departed this life, how to appreciate the gift of life, with generosity and equanimity.
Because we cannot bear to let him go so quickly, this week has been one of celebration for his life, celebrations in which he would have delighted with his signature enthusiasm.
From the memorial on Tuesday to yesterday’s wake and rush-out to today’s final commendation of his body, we are doing Bulla justice. He deserves it all and much more.
There will be many tributes to our now departed brother, testifying to his many contributions to his beloved Bahamas. There will be tributes to his many fine qualities. Yet, there is an overriding accomplishment which speaks to the true measure of Brenville Hanna: He taught us in word and deed the art and joy of living.
Because he knew how to truly appreciate and enjoy life, recognizing it as a precious gift, Bulla did not fear death. To the contrary, he feared not living with enthusiasm and delight.
It was Bulla who was so often asked to eulogize others including his beloved Marilyn who predeceased him. His eulogies usually reminded us that the best tribute we might offer our departed friends and relatives was to press on, to live joyously, to treasure family and friendship, to hope with irrepressible fervour.
In this spirit, it is my great privilege as a friend and as a political colleague, to eulogize a man who has inspired me as he has so many others.
Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham speaks during the Thanksgiving Service for the late Brenville "Bulla" Hanna Friday March 4, at St. George's Anglican Church.Mr. Hanna, a former chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, died last week after a long illness. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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Bulla had a rare combination of a gentle spirit and steely nerves. And, even as his kidneys failed him, his heart grew even more expansive, more compassionate, and more loving.
Bulla had many passions, one of which bears some recollection, namely friendship.
He knew that one of life’s greatest pleasures is friendship. As the saying goes, you can’t pick your relatives. But you do get to choose your friends – and they also choose you.
Bulla chose well as testified by the presence of so many of his friends who are here to mourn his passing and remember what made friendship with him so enduring and joyful.
Among the qualities that made friendship with Bulla life-giving was his generosity of spirit. It was an extraordinary generosity that led him to put others before himself, even in the midst of his own struggles and pain.
This generosity was reciprocated by so many, including friends like Dr. Adrian Sawyer and Tommy Robinson who, together with others from the Lunch Bunch and many of us present here today, were faithful companions as Bulla completed his journey in this life.
So busy and fully was Bulla enjoying his life and those of his loved ones as well as his Bahamian homeland, that he was unable to waste precious time on self-pity.
Rather than using his often diminished energy in the last years of his life to complain, Bulla used that energy to ask about and care for others. His did so even through his last days.
This magnanimous and generous example is the measure of not just a good man. Bulla Hanna was an extraordinary man. While his name may never adorn public buildings and monuments, his example is written into the hearts of many and will continue to inspire the many generations that hear his name and of his example.
Bulla was loyal to his friends, faithful to his beliefs and a man devoid of fear. He was a man of conviction.
Bulla Hanna, a son of Acklins, was a patriot, a community servant, and an enthusiastic citizen, whom a grateful nation salutes with great pride and thanksgiving.
We thank him for his personal witness and testimony to those virtues needed to live well and to die well.
Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes was among the congregants saying farewell to Brenville "Bulla" HJanna during a Thanksgiving Service Friday, March 4 at St George's Anglican Church. Sitting behind Sir Arthur from left: Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Brent Symonette, Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest and former Governor General Arthur D. Hanna. Mr. Hanna, a former chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, died last week after a long illness. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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At his birthday celebration in November, Bulla demonstrated hope and courage as he celebrated the gift of life with his family and friends and prepared to die. Then this year, facing the end of his earthly journey, gladdened by hope and with unrelenting courage, he patiently and one by one said his goodbyes.
Today, we say our final goodbye with thanksgiving and praise which may be expressed in a promise to Bulla and ourselves.
Perhaps, that promise and our greatest tribute would be to summon the hope and courage that will embolden us to live more fully and generously, and with grace and dignity, not merely in imitation of Bulla, but in celebration of the gift of life.
Though we cannot but mourn the passage of such a truly extraordinarily good man we also celebrate the life and labours of Brenville Bulla Hanna, and thank God for the time we had with him. May he rest in peace as we continue his legacy and honour his memory.
© Copyright 2011 by thebahamasweekly.com
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