KEITH BOOKER…VILLAGE ADMIRAL…DIES

Kenny G – The Moment

BY  EWALT AINSWORTH             08 20 2013

Legendary Keith Booker had a full and robust life; every activity he engaged in was simply beautiful.  On the national stage he was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports with the PPP; prior to that he was head of the Young Brigade and national cadet corps…YB & NCC…youth arm of the Guyana National Service.  Keith was also an accomplished musician and sports enthusiast.

This writer saw him and had a great ganga September of 2011 at the 60^th birthday bash of Dr Kenneth Smith in the foothills of the sprawling Pennsylvania exurbs.  He walked with a cane but his intellect, humor and good manners were all in touch and in tandem.  GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AHWEE-BOY. 

 Somewhat top-heavy Keith was a child prodigy, self taught, self-motivated and helped himself in more ways than one.  He was also family and friend, never knowing where one ended and the other begun.

A citizen of Golden Grove…born, raised admired and ambulated in the same homestead was most comfortable at the pulpit as a lay-preacher and resident organist.  And those of you my age would also remember him more as a Sunday school teacher and a founder member of the  JOY THOMAS AND THE BIWANAS R&B VOCAL  ENSEMBLE.

Back in the day…BC…before Cheddie…when men had to be self-sufficient, Keith became an expert in developing radio communications and satellite transmitters.  That is how he became a lifelong friend with Stanley Gomes and Stanley Barnwell, Winston English and MYRO…among others…real men in their own right.

On a personal note when Teacher Constance died…my primary care giver, it was Keith who held things together.  And it was Keith again when both my parents…LESLIE and DOREEN, died that he rose to the challenges.

In his death and dying the village…the league of friends and family has grown still because we all know and knew how great thou art.

Funeral arrangements as submitted by his only sister…Joan Albertina:

Keith will be buried on Thursday August 29th in Ann’s Grove, where his Mother Ambrozine Amelia Limerick Jenkins Marsh was buried.

Grover Washington, Jr. “Ain’t No Sunshine”

Dave Koz – I’ll Be There