Malcolm Smith (1 Jan 1952 - 23 Dec 2020)

Bex_s@hotmail.com

“You lot pack it in!”
That's something I remember hearing more than once when us kids were in the hallway at Aunty Amina's and the adults heard banging from the hallway. You ceremoniously shut up for a bit, then started again five minutes later to repeat the cycle.
Uncle Holly taught me how to play chess (properly), don’t think I ever beat him. Because of him, when I was about 9, I saved up my pocket money to buy an electronic chess set from Beaties in town.
Another random thing I remember was watching him eat a whole chicken niblet in one go like when you see cats in cartoons eat a whole fish. Isaac and I from then on always used to try to emulate this at home.
Bye Uncle Holly, always in our hearts.

Collection From Donation Box

Celebration of Life Malcolm David Arthur Smith Eulogy.

Malcolm David Arthur Smith also known as Holly, Malc and Sapper, was born in Seaview Farm Antigua on 1st January 1952 to Arthur Smith and Muriel Elaine Smith he was their firstborn child, the eldest of their seven children. His parents moved to England in 1958, and after spending a short time in St Kitts he joined them in 1959.

He married Linda in 1975 and they were married for 45 years, after having met by chance at his cousin David’s flat he saw her and asked “who is that”?......and with his charm, good looks and sweet words they got together.

What followed was a wonderful and happy relationship and they were blessed with 5 beautiful daughters.
Natalie, Siane, Rebecca, Elise and Grace.They were further blessed with 7 lovely grandchildren Spencer, Louis, Evie, Tommy, Orlando, Oliver,and Alissa.
Holly was a real proper Family Man...

He spent his early years in Antigua and attended school briefly in St Kitts.
After his parents moved to England, and settled in Leicester Holly attended Green Lane School,Charnwood School and then Moat Boys School.

He loved going into Leicester City Town, to The Palais and other clubs and Pubs where him and his friends from Highfields, had to literally fight to be respected as young black men in the 70’s.
He was fearless and didn’t shy away from confronting racism, prejudice and physical conflict.


After leaving school he started working at a large steel foundry, he left there and joined the Army in 1969, that’s where his nickname Sapper came from.
He did have a rebellious spell after he first ‘home leave’, when he was briefly ‘absent with out leave’ but then spent the next 13 years in the Royal Engineers, based in Cambridge but spending time in Northern Ireland,Germany, Canada,Africa and other parts of the world.

He was a “hard working man” and fearless, he could drive most heavy good vehicles and had a range of HGV and Crane Driver Licenses from his time in the Army, after leaving he then worked for over 30 years lifting and transporting heavy loads allover the UK.

He loved to read and research, looking into history, exploring conspiracy theories and searching for the eternal truths of life.
He loved to reason and educate people with his wealth of knowledge.
Holly was a lover of poems, scriptures, famous quotes and sayings, and would recite these with passion and feeling ;
He was the original ‘WordSmith’.
His sharp wit would put you in your place, and his sense of humour would always make you smile.
He loved his birthplace Antigua and he loved fishing, “one of his favourite places in Antigua was Natty’s and also Kennedy’s, as he loved a beer and sometimes a rum or two”.

Holly is one of 14 siblings; he has 2 older brothers Natty (Nathaniel) and Winston, 4 older sisters Shirley, Daisy, Phelma and Camella; his younger brothers and sisters are Annette, Rexford, Stuart,Thomas (rip) ,Geraldine (Amina),Estella (Aiesha) and Alphonso.

He has approximately 43 nieces and nephews, too many to mention all their names here, and he has numerous family members across the Caribbean and around the world. He made best use of Facebook, messenger and WhatsApp to reach out to any family he could.

He was a great Son,Husband,Father, Grandfather,Brother,Uncle,Nephew,Cousin and Friend to many he really made his impact on this world and his spirit lives on.
We love him, we miss him, we are proud of him.
Holly we Salute you....
Rest in Peace.

To the Smith Family:

God gives life and He takes it away,
He is the Potter and We are the clay.
When We view the last sunset and cross over the sea
We know that the sunrise will be waiting for us.

O what a sunrise it's going to be!
Death will lose its sting, the grave its victory
Silence will be broken,
and the storm clouds rolled away
We'll hear the saints of angels singing
On our homecoming day.

Time will come for the last goodbye
There's a smile though tears will dim the eye
Death will take us only to sleep,
In the arms of Our Savior so sweet.

Ooooooo The Silence will be broken and the storm clouds rolled away
We hear the saints of angels singing on our homecoming Day.

Rest in Peace Holly and Rise in Glory!!

Condolences 💐 thinking of you all today. I had the pleasure of meeting Holly a couple of times in Antigua May his soul Rest In Peace and you all keep the Faith We are thinking of you all here in Bermuda today. 🙏. Love you.

I am grateful that I got you as a farther. I am entirely grateful for the life you brought me into. I know dad and I understand that it wasn’t always easy but you made it look easy, you gave us your strength and love and knowledge. You are a truly inspiring and influential great man in our lives.

No matter what we went through you always where there. You taught us to be brave and installed in us that home would always be where the heart is, no matter how far we would stray, And although it feels like we have lost you the heart our family, I rest assured that the rhythm of the heart still beats with each memory of you.

I am grateful for your wisdom and your storytelling, your pride in your heritage, your knowledge and history an incredible foundation in which you stood us on firmly. I will cherish the time I spent with you in this last year. But Mostly I will miss all the mornings when you would poke your head in and talk and say good morning to Alyssa even when she pretended she didn’t hear you. I thank you whole heartedly for being strong for us even when it hurt to be.

I lift you up in prayers full of gratitude for everything that you was, I love you dad, may you rest in peace and your spirit dance in the heavens x

After hearing something controversial on the news, I'd often think "I bet Uncle Holly would have something to say about that". And often enough, I'd be able to scroll through whatsapp history and find your opinion. I'll miss being able to check in and hear your unique take on things. Rest in peace Uncle Holly

Thank god that I was able to make it to the last family reunion in Bristol . Being with you and the rest of the family was entering and will be ever lasting in my mind.
Holly , Rupert and I will always cherish the moments you spent with us in Birmingham as a youngster, and in Canada during your military days also to say fair well Gigi.
Rest in peace my brother.
Daisy and Rupert

Uncle Holly,

Thank you for all the memories; The memories of the times we have shared jokes, where you have imparted your knowledge and wisdom, the political debates and your speeches at family events (you never failed to deliver!).
These are only some of many and even though you are no longer physically with us, the memories are what I shall reflect back to and what I will forever hold dear.
You always took the time to look out for others, a quality that is truly admired.
You are missed, May you rest in peace Uncle. Love Toyah.

Uncle Holly, thank you for always being so welcoming and kind towards me, from the very first time we met each other on the twin's first birthday in April 2014, to the very last time at a fantastic family gathering in December 2019. It's a shame that we couldn't all get together in 2020, but I am so glad that Isaac was able to say his goodbyes to you, and pass on my love and regards too.
Always in our hearts and prayers,
Love from Anum 💕

Well Holly,
What can I say that has not already been said, First I want to thank you for being my big brother and all the support you have given me throughout my life, thank you for keeping the family together and at family events ensuring everyone was happy and welcome, thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom and keeping everyone laughing even at times of sadness. You lived your life for Linda and the girls and I want you to know that there will always be a place for them in my life, so rest in eternal peace my beloved brother. May God bless you for the joy you have bought to others, words cannot express how much you will be missed by those you have left behind. Alway in our hearts. Your sister Gez.

what a true legend. A true family man. I will take all the life lessons you told an showed an will pass them on to my kids. Rest in paradise nuff love uncle ❤ Gone but never forgotten 💔

Uncle Holly,
words usually come easily to me but not this time. I think because no words can explain away the aching we as a family are feeling. But I write, wanting this to be perfect to do justice to your love of words.
Uncle Holly, you have filled such a big space in my life, with wisdoms and wit I'm sure I'll carry with me forever. Your endless knowledge and teachings that you shared with us all, have shaped us and we can only be grateful. I love how every time I saw you, the first thing you would ask me is if I have written any new poems and then proceed to have me read you something, even in the middle of crowded rooms. Your pride in my poetry will forever drive me and inspire me to never stop pursuing my dreams. And all that you've shared with us are gifts we'll cherish forever. In our memories and in my heart always, Love Aniqah.

Uncle Holly, you are so missed by all of us.
such a huge and vibrant part of our family, I will miss your energy & listening to you share your thoughts and opinions on such a range of different topics. Your absence is going to feel raw forever, but at the same time our memories of you will remain just as long- forever.
I’ll miss hearing you discuss politics with my mom, and hearing the unique jokes you’d share with everyone.
& I’m especially grateful of the time you spent staying with us when you were working near birmingham. That’s probably the most I’ve ever watched the news channels lol but it was all very insightful and now an integral part of my memories of you.
Always in our memories,
Love Nateejah
❤️

Rest in eternal peace Uncle Holly,
The memories we have together will never leave me

Big Mally gentle giant and a top guy 🙏 RIP Butch

Grandad, I’ll miss our chats about the future and what it holds for us, our conversations were short but interesting and all the advice you gave me will not be taken for granted . Rest Easy grandad

Malc you was one of the best man I ever knew. I will miss your phone calls And our chats . Thank you for all the wisdom that you’ve taught me And for being a great father-in-law and grandad to Oliver and a great dad to your daughters

Rest in peace, you were a lovely neighbour

Love Doreen & the clan

Well Malc,
The first time I met you I remember thinking how tall you were you reminded me of a gentle giant .
Malc always seemed cool as a cucumber (we know who spencer takes after) and always loved getting together with his family and having a drink, Malc was always the life and soul of the party at the barneys. The time he had free he was always on bloody holiday in Antigua loving life with Linda.
Your father was one of the kindest people We’ve ever met, Shaun and myself was lucky to have known him, We will miss him, too.❤️
Deepest sympathy to Linda and the girls and all the family our thoughts and prays are with you all x
Love Shaun and Sara ❤️

Rest Easy Sapper, your duty is done, condolences to all the family from Malcolm's Sapper Family and the Royal Engineers

See you on the other side dad rest easy ... we got things from here.... love always ❤️❤️

Malcolm Was a very lovely man, his kindness radiated from within, he was very intelligent and would always have a interesting conversation at hand. Thoughts and prayers are with Linda and the family, sorry this has happened, heaven really has gained a angel . RIP 💕

Holly was one of my first cousins on my mom's side. (Our mothers were sisters). Whenever we met, he could be counted on for great conversations and good laughs. His humor was contagious, I never got the impression he took himself too seriously.

A few years, ago our Bailey cousins started a whats app group chat to keep ourselves connected as we are scattered all across the globe. Holly was naturally a good contributor to healthy discussions on history, world affairs, politics and our jokes. One day, I was heckling him in the chat and he responded all cheeky like back to me. So I replied back....I see you.😀

Holly then took the opportunity to explain what the expression meant in another culture. According to some tribes in South Africa, those words speak to deeper meanings. Literally taken, they acknowledge a person and bring them into being, with those 3 little words. It is a way of offering validation to another human.

I am sharing this exchange we had just to highlight how a lesson, perspective or some sort of learning was always embed in our conversations.

I was saddened to learn of Hollys illness and his sudden departure as I say goodbye to him, I close by saying Holly I see you...the loving family man: son, brother,husband, father, grandfather, father in law, son in law, cousin. It was indeed an honor to have you as my family, sharing love, laughter and time with you. Rest easy even though you know you are missed.

Linda, his girls, siblings and extended family we are lifting you up in prayer from a distance. Peace be with you.

Gone but will never be forgotten. RIP cousin. Condolences to the family.
From the Leeds Bailey family.