What is abundantly clear is that Herbert M’cleod has meant a lot of different things to so many people. For me, as his only son, he has obviously been a role model. He shared his love of music and taught me how to dance. He showed me how to play football. When he discovered I had a talent for running, he would wake me up to run around the neighborhood while he followed me — of course, being smarter than me, he did so from the comfort of his car. He taught me the value of education, and the importance of confidence, resiliency and diplomacy. He brought me to Freetown and shared his pride and love of country.
He taught me all these things, but the most important thing I learned from him was how to live and love life. That is what I admire most about him. His capacity for love. His ability to love everything in life completely despite all its flaws and warts.
This has been an incalculable loss for our family. But we take consolation in the fact that just as he poured endlessly into his family, he did so for his many friends, colleagues and his country. And so we can be united in our grief, but also as the collective beneficiaries of his generosity, in a shared mission of honoring and carrying forward his abundant legacy
And as we continue to grieve, we can be reminded of the words in Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Thank you for coming today, and for all of your love and support. I know my father would be happy
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