Ann Marie Duggins, the 39-year-old daughter of my good friend Rose Duggins, died two weeks ago. She’d been sick for more than a year. It was a blood clot close to her lung that finally killed her. She would have been 40 on October 13th.
Yesterday Hugh and I went to the funeral at the Coney Island Cathedral of Deliverance Christian Church on Mermaid Avenue.
A large crowd of family, friends, neighbors and co-workers filled the church, whose senior pastor is Bishop Waylyn Hobbs, Jr.
I’d been to the church before on Rose’s 65th birthday five years ago. That was a regular Sunday service with a special portion dedicated to Rose. Ann Marie was a devoted member of that church and a very good friend of Jannia Cooper, an elder at the church.
"This is not a funeral," the bishop told the crowd. "If you were expecting a sad funeral you are not going to find that here. This is a home-going, a celebration for Ann’s trip to heaven."
Indeed it was.
The funeral was set to begin at 11 am after a two-hour viewing of Ann’s body in an open casket. When we arrived, the fancy white casket, surrounded by huge circle and heart-shaped flower arrangements surrounded by elaborate ribbons and banners, was closed. Brother Timothy Moses, the church organist, played the chords of "We Shall Overcome" as a large crowd filled the seats.
The family solemnly entered the church and I watched as Rose, who
recently had a knee replacement surgery, made her way down the aisle
with a walker.
The picture of strength and composure, she had a Jackie Kennedy
grace and looked beautiful in a black suit as she bravely sat down in
the front row with her three remaining children. Her son, Junior, died
eight years ago, a terrible loss for her as well.
With a sudden burst of energy, a door in the back of the church opened and Bishop Waylan Hobbs and his staff walked quickly down a church aisle and set the home-going ceremony in motion.
The ceremony began with a reading from the Old Testament: "To everything there is a season…" Ann’s niece Regina read from the new testament and began to sing in a sweet, high soprano. Sadly, the poised 12-year-old, overcome with emotion, was unable to finish the song and was escorted to her seat.
A gospel solo by Charlotte Taylor was so heartfelt and wrenching it brought the crowd to its feet. People raised their hands and clapped openly. This home-going was not a hushed, nervous affair. People expressed their appreciation of the music and the presence of God in the room with raised hands and cries of hallelujahs and amens.
Heartfelt words were expressed by Ann’s siblings Regina and Gregory. Gregory talked about Ann’s sass and style. He remembered her cool square-shaped glasses and the way she dressed up just to go shopping on Mermaid Avenue. He expressed his appreciation of the way he encouraged her to continue his education and "reach for his dreams." He said he’s miss their arguments and the way that she was his spiritual and religious adviser. He told the Bishop, "I guess you’ll have to be my adviser now." Finally he said, he’d miss their late night card games and conversations that went on until the "wee hours of the morning."
Another song, I Won’t Complain" by Ann’s friend Cathy Drumgo was also heartbreakingly beautiful and effusive.
Finally, the energetic eulogy in song and sermon by Bishop Waylan Hobbs, Jr. brought the crowd to its feet with poignancy, joy, and jubilation. Using song, scripture, inspirational language, and a James Brown level of energy and performance, Bishop Waylan Hobbs paid tribute to a woman who was loved by many.
"I need a witness," Bishop Hobbs said to the crowd. "Does anyone feel the presence of God in this house?"
The crowd roared.
