TRIBUTE
In Loving Memory Of
Keith Meredith Ellsworth Ford KC
1936 – 2024
Hon. Asot A. Michael
Parliamentary Representative St Peter September 19th, 2024
As we gather to lay to rest Keith Meredith Ellsworth Forde KC, a towering figure in the legal and governance affairs of Antigua and Barbuds, I wish to express the sympathies of my family and of the entre constituency of St Peters to his family and in particular his wife Mildred and his daughter Jacklyn.
My Comrade was born before the Antigua Trades and Labour Union was created on January 16, 1939. That institution made 85 years this past January 2024. My brother is 87 years, having been born on Dec 20, 1936. He lived for 45 years before Antigua and Barbuda became an independent nation; yet, he exhibited all the qualities of one who was born free and sovereign, determined to serve his God, his family, his community and country.
My dear Comrade and Friend lived for 43 years following that great November 1st morning in 1981 when he became the first Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Justice in Antigua and Barbuda. He was the chief legal advisor on the VC Bird led team that
engaged the British authorities at Lancaster House in London to finalize Antigua and Barbuda’s transition from colonial rule to independence. He saw many changes in his great little country, and he was very appreciative of its magnificent leadership. He lived a very long and productive life which afforded him wisdom to make smart choices.
No matter how long one might live, and no matter how fulfilling a life may have been, death makes us all sad. It is a human condition. Cultures deal with death in different ways. As a culture steeped in Christianity, we believe that death is not final. We believe that the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will rise, and the judgment will determine whether one joins the good in heaven or is sent elsewhere for sins committed.
“Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?”
Despite these un-knowables, we have a God and teachings which sustain us. And we have creeds which help to explain what joys await us.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.”
If my brother Keith could speak here, in this farewell service of worship, he would recite Christ’s greatest expression of a promised reward:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”.
Keith Forde was the longest-serving Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda from 1980 to 1994. Today, we reflect on the life of a man who dedicated himself not just to the law, but to the people and the
nation he served so faithfully. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew him, but his legacy will continue to shape our country for years to come.
Keith’s journey to becoming Attorney General began after the dismissal of Cosmos Phillips by the VC Bird administration. It was Lester Bird, then seeking a capable successor, who turned to Patrick A. Michael, my late father, for a recommendation. My father, knowing Keith Forde from their boyhood days playing marbles on lower Nevis Street, suggested his name. That recommendation would prove to be a pivotal moment in the history of our legal system.
Keith Forde KC was not just a distinguished barrister and solicitor who studied law in the U-K and was called to the English Bar; he was a true family friend. Every afternoon, after leaving the Attorney General’s office, he would visit our home at Dry Hill. There, he would sit quietly by himself, often reading the papers or listening to the BBC or Voice of America on his shortwave transistor radio. Sir VC Bird senior, then Prime Minister would often remark:
“If you want to find the A-G go down to Dry Hill”.
His presence was comforting, his demeanor gentle. Mom and Dad would often return home from their day at the Department Store to find him there, quietly absorbing the world’s affairs.
He was a man well-read, deeply knowledgeable about local, regional, and international politics, and always eager to engage in thoughtful discussions. After spending time with us, Keith would leave just as quietly as he came, embodying humility and grace.
Keith’s depth as a lawyer was unmatched. He had an incredible grasp of the law, was meticulous in his research, and brought important and progressive laws to the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. Yet, despite his legal brilliance, Keith was never truly suited for the rough and tumble of politics. My father assisted him in his bid to win the seat in the St. Mary’s North constituency primary, but success eluded him. His heart was with the law, not the political arena.
Keith was also closely tied to our family in ways that went beyond friendship. He traveled to Guadeloupe to attend the funerals of my grandparents and was the one who drafted my grandmother’s will. His love for his family was evident in all he did, especially in the way he cared for his daughter, Jacklyn Forde, whom he and his wife Mildred adopted from a very young age.
Personally, I learned so much from listening to him speak about the law and the world. I was always fascinated by his intellect and his ability to see the bigger picture—both in legal matters and in global affairs. His sharp mind, combined with his quiet, unassuming nature, made him a truly remarkable figure.
As we mourn his passing, we find solace in the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
“Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.”
Keith Forde has left behind not just footprints but a legacy that will endure.
To lose someone of his stature is to be reminded of our own mortality, but as Helen Keller once said,
“What we have once enjoyed deeply, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
Keith Meredith Ellsworth Forde KC will forever remain a part of our nation’s legal and moral compass, guiding future generations towards justice and fairness.
Let me close with words from the Psalms, Book Verses 1 to 3:
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful
Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and they meditate on his Law Day and night
They are like the trees planted by the streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither, everything they do shall prosper
May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory be a lasting beacon of dedication, humility, and intellectual brilliance.