A time to be born
On Wednesday 31st January1962 on the most beautiful Island in the Bahamas, The Great Exuma; in a littlesettlement called The Hermitage, a beautiful baby boy was born to the lateMother-Deaconess Esthermae Mckenzie-Bodie and the late Minister Irvin Bodie, whomthey named Prince Philip Alexander Bodie. He was the second child out ofthirteen and the first boy, being the oldest son. He received his earlyeducation at the Moss Town Primary School. After completing primary school, hethen went on to the Exuma Senior High School now called L. N. Coakley SeniorHigh School, where he graduated in June of 1978. While in school he obtainedcertificates in B. J. C’s. Also, he learned how to play the guitar afterschool. He was taught by Audley Dames in their club in Moss Town, Exuma,Bahamas. He was self-taught to play the keyboard. PA loved music.
A time to live
PA as he was affectionately calledby his family or big “Bro” and on his job “Ma Lawd.” He was a quiet and conservative man. He did not have much to say, but his actionsspoke for him. He was the one that all the boys looked up to. When it was timefor dinner, mom would take up everyone’s food and put it on the table, eachchild would go and get their plate, please note all the girls’ plates werepink, and the boys’ plates were blue. Everyone would get their food; PA wouldeat his food before everyone could finish eating. He knew everyone was notgoing to eat all their food, he ate everyone’s leftovers. Mom gave him the name“long belly”. Boy, if you had known PA you knew he loved food. In 2000 hisfather had to be air lifted to the USA for heart surgery, while their PA said,“No one worry about how you’re going toeat, I have the food on Lock down.” Hesurely did not disappoint. A storywas told on returning to the USA with his Dad for a follow-up, PA asked his Dadafter his check-up, if he wants to have lunch at Red Lobster, dad said yes. Ohboy it was on. Red Lobster was PA’s favorite restaurant. While dining at Red Lobsterit was a fun time eating. It was about 10 of his siblings who accompanied theirDad to his doctor’s appointment. PA ate his food, turned around and ateeveryone’s leftovers. The waiter came to the table, he said, “Sir, May I askyou a question? Are you store it all? There was an eruption of laughter untilsome began to cry. He said, “Yes sir, I am the original store it all, Do youhave a problem with that?” PA never played around with food.
Growing up in Hermitage PA did nothave many friends because it was his brothers that he kept company with. Therewere a couple of home boys he hung out with, like lil John, Sam (deceased) andWentworth Musgrove, whom he went to school with. Coming from a big family withseven girls and six boys it was such a loving and caring family. PA was veryprotective of his sisters. He got that from Mom and Dad who were very strictparents. They did not spare the rod. Everyone had their chores to do. OnSaturdays there was plenty work to be done. PA was none of the domesticatedboys. He was the hard core strong one who grind corn, tote rock for mom tocrack, go in the field to slash bush. Despite the fact that he was notdomesticated, growing up in the Bodie family he still knew what to do and howto do it. He loved to cook and clean. His favorite dish that he would preparewas “smothered chicken”, white rice and mixed vegetables. When you ate that youwould’ve believe that he fried the chicken first, before steaming it. He wasgood like that. That was his kind of thing. PA gave everyone nick names. Someof those names that you may be familiar with are Nethree (Baby Sis) Sherilyn(Sister Mouths) Michie (Sister Mick) Janet (Sister Nancy) Sherell (Pookkie)Sheamean (Sister Sham) Phillip Jr. (Philly) Travis (Doukkie) and Pharon(Rumpy). If he could not remember your name, you surely would get one.
During Sunday school PA had a littlemischievous side to him; he would make the jokes and kept a straight facecausing Ken and Nard to have an outburst of laughter. Ken and Nard got intotrouble from Daddy and Mommy. However, he was always the life of the familygatherings. Usually, he would call “Sister Mick” or “Sister Mouths” and askwhat you’ll saying? Where are we hanging out on Sunday? When PA was born, momalways referred to him as her biggest child out of thirteen and the one who ateso much that when he was born, his grandmother Emmaletha Bodie (deceased) hadto make corn meal for PA so he could stop crying for food as a baby, breastmilk and SMA was not enough to satisfy him. That never changed as he grew andgot older. When it was time for family gathering, he would say make sure wehave plenty, plenty food. Anyone who has ever attended one of the Bodie familygatherings would know the food was like a fair, even if it was just a Sunday afternoon.After church it was like a party in the back yard. PA would say I have the soft drinks and iceon lock. He was not one to consume libations. But he was the one to make you laughand laugh. Before PA came out to the gatherings he would call “Sister Mouths”and say, “don’t come without that Asthma pump you hear me, because I don’t wantthat episode to happen again aye, I can’t take it”. As you see, the laughterthat you would encounter caused asthma and many other things to happen to you.Before the gathering started, PA would say, “Whopraying you know Esthermae Bodieloved to pray. Ok sister Mouths take it away”. He believed in settling anydispute that would come up in the family. He would bring you inline. PA was ano-nonsense man he was kind and loving, very respectful, very dignified andprideful. Let’s not forget his name was “Prince” he was truly an office and agentleman. Many persons really did not know that PA could’ve smile. You had to be in his circle like his familyto know that side of hilarity. He was that brother who protected his sisters nomatter what. When the girls came to Nassau for Christmas the only time, theywere allowed to go to Junkanoo was with PA and if he couldn’t take them, thetelevision would have to do. During the summer breaks while the younger oneswere in “Town”, PA made sure that they visited all the historical sites.
A time work
After graduating from High School,Prince Philip Alexander Bodie (PA) now, an official adult, worked at the OutIsland Inn hotel as a Bus Boy. His Dad asked Phil, “What is your intention now that you are finished with school”? “He replied to his Dad, I want to be a PoliceOfficer”. However, Daddy told him,“In the main time I am taking you with me to Normans Cay to work. I havealready spoken to my Boss about you coming to work on the cay and he said tobring you along”.
It was a Sunday afternoon PA andDaddy left for Normans Cay. When he returned home, he would tell his sibling’slots of stories about how they would drive those big trucks and go fishing. OnNormans Cay was where PA learned to drive a motor vehicle. However, Normans Caywas short lived. The Cay was closed down.
After leaving the Cay, PA and Daddyreturned to Exuma. After returning to Exuma PA was home for a short whilebefore moving to Nassau. Being in the big city PA knew that he had to work ortry get on the Police Force as he wanted to do. However, in the main time hebecame gainfully employed at Fergie’s Food Store on Baillou Hill Road andCarmichael Road. He worked for a couple of years, before being employed at theParliament Hotel on Parliament Street Nassau, Bahamas. While working at thehotel, PA applied for a job at Her Majesty’s Prison. However, not long after,he was called to join the Prison Service. Prince Phillip Alexander Bodie wasenrolled into the Her Majesty’s Prison on November 13th, 1984. He did not start when all the other officersstarted who was in squad because the Parliament Hotel did not want to releasehim of his duties; hence, he had to join a week later.
During his service at the nowBahamas Department of Corrections, he made an indelible name and mark forhimself. He was a person who did not smilea lot, but he had a heart of gold. He was a serious character who believed inbeing strict and positive on the job. He was a person who never believed inmediocre work. Many of his colleagues can attest to his strictness and boldnessin a positive way. Consequently, when PA walked into a room his presence wasacknowledged and felt. If you were sitting you had no other choice to stand andsalute him. That’s the kind of affectthat PA had on persons.
A story was told that PA got hisname Ma Lawd from the inmates and his Colleagues. When fights broke out on thegrounds with the inmates PA would break up the fights, while most of theofficers would scatter just leaving a few with him. PA was never “scared’ as the younger generation wouldsay. PA rounded up all his nephews one summer when they were on summer breakfrom school and took them to the prison and locked them in a cell for a while.Oh boy that was an experience for them. He told them this is what happens whenyou behave bad and become a criminal. To date none of PA nephews nor niecesnever ever been before the courts, nor in jail. He made sure that it neverhappened. When some of them misbehave to their parents, all they had to saywas, “calling Uncle Phil for you right now”. Once those words were uttered,“Uncle Phil” they became back in line. His job was not just at the Prison, but it was displayed in his family.He was from the old school that believed that it takes a village to raise achild. Therefore, being instrumental in the shock treatment program was nothard for him, as he was already a disciplinarian at heart. His stern,strictness, no-nonsense character made him the person he was in the shocktreatment. He was able to do his job without prejudice. He helped redeem manyof the uncontrollable boys and girls. Some were unredeemable. Fortunately,those who were redeemable never returned to shock treatment while he was there.His colleagues always said that PA loved his family, especially his mother andsisters. If you were around him you would hear these words, “you’re not talking to Esthermae Bodie son or“not Esthermae Bodie Child.” It waseverything Esthermae Bodie. That’s how much he loved his mom and respected her.He was a welled mannered individual, well dressed and clean, his shoes were soshined, that when you looked at them you would think you were looking into amirror.
PA worked in many areas of thePrison system. He was at the Remand Center where he was in charge of the “BackYard’ at the Remand Center, Medium Security, Maximum Security and SpecialSecurity Service (SSS) where he was the officer-in-Charge of escort until hispassing. PA elevated through the ranks at the Bahamas Department ofCorrectional Services. He obtained the rank of Chief Inspector shortly beforehe passed. He received medals forservices of Eighteen (18) years, Twenty-Five (25) years and Thirty (30) years.He was honored for long time service. PA was instrumental in the Prison PopBand.
A Time to Die
On Monday November 15, 2021, PA slippedaway from us from time into eternity. Two weeks prior to his death he had aminor outpatient shoulder surgery at Doctors Hospital. He was not sick with anyother ailments. On the morning of his death, he had spoken to his brotherKennedy (Ken) via text and by phone call. The last message that was receivedfrom PA to ken was at around 10:05am that morning, he was the last person onthis earth that PA had his final conversation with. PRINCE PHILLIP ALEXANDER BODIE (PA) silently went home to be with hisMaker the one that he trusted and believed in, the God of all Hope. The life helived exemplified the way he died; PA lived a quiet and peaceful life, may hissoul rest in peace and rise in glory.
Left to Cherish his memories are his:
Sons: Philip Bodie Jr., Travis (Bernadatte Lloyd), Kenton andPheron Bodie; Daughter: Menishca Barr; Common Law Wife: Deborah Cartwright; StepDaughter: Antaniece Cartwright, & Step Son Antonio Cartwright; Sisters: Janet Bodie, SherilynBodie-Forbes, Michie Bodie (Dwayne Kemp), Yersamine Bodie Rolle, Sheamean BodieNeilly, and Nethree Bodie Peterson; Brothers:Kennedy Bodie Sr. (Dedrie Cox), Anthony Bodie, Irvin Bodie Jr. and JeffersonBodie Sr. (Meredith Miller); GrandChildren: Nathan, Noah and Talia Bodie,Deon and Mendonique Seymour, Auldrin Barr II; Daughters-in-Law: Kelly Ann Bodie and Danielle Brown-Bodie; Son-in-Law: Auldrin Bar; Brothers-in-Law: Rhodvil Neilly Sr.,Ernest Peterson, Samuel Rolle; Sisters-in-Law:Renee Bodie, A.S.P. Betty Joe Bodie RBPF, Sheryl Ann Bodie; Nieces & Nephews, Grand Nieces & Nephews: Sherell Clarke(Reginald Turnquest), Derez and Blair Bodie,Alexis Rahming, Reshae Dames, Ziniah Bodie, Lloychara Smith, Meah Miller,Eugina Mckenzie, Meagan and Flavio Cox Jr., Hartwell Armbrister Jr. Carson andAshely Gray, Jamier and Dia Gray, Alexander Rahming Jr. Aleigha Rahming, EdwardCunningham Jr., Rhodvil Neilly Jr., Raynard, London, Zariya, Paris (Lezibeth)Munroe, Bernard Jr Breon, Bercario, Bryson, Brandon, Kennedy Jr., JeffersonJr., Bodie, Ryan Carey, Savannah Mills, Veronica Sanon, Caley & Kylan Gray; Aunt: Rose McKenzie; Extended Family: Margaret Bodie &Family Ray, Shirley, Halan, Glenroy and Sgt. Derek Bodie and family, ReneeArnie and Family, Donnamae Bodie, Stevie Ferguson Paulette Smith, Jackey Moxeyand Family, Peggy Arthur and Family, Evangeline and James Lewis and Family,Melanie and Barbara Johnson, Kendal, Monty, Erica, Kendal, Monty and DanyaWilliams, Christine Forbes, Preston and Perry McKenzie, Terry Archer andFamily, Elizabeth and Antia Arnett, Jacqueline and Anthony Longley, DeniseFerguson, Jonathon Woods, Simone and Gary Rahming, Gano and Preston Humes, Seanand Carol Arnett. Jen Rolle and family, Diana Bodie and Family, Janet Rolle andfamily; Friends and Other Relatives: HelenJohnson and Family, Ruthermae Brown, Bruce Clarke, Samuel Smith, Hermitage& Moss Town Family, Shanelle Major, Alexander Rahming Sr., EdwardCunningham Sr., The Brice Family, First Baptist Church Family, CommissionerCharles Murphy, Acting Commissioner Insp. John Thompson, The Squad of 1984, andthe entire Bahamas Department of Correctional Service including theAdministrative Staff and especially the Prison Pop Band.
