Christobel Ariantze Hughes, who was 84 at the time of her demise, lived a fulfilling and inspiring life before her untimely death at the hands of a drunk driver last week.
This is according to tributes shared yesterday at a thanksgiving service, which was organised in her memory at St. Andrews Kirk.
Hundreds that filled the wooden pews of the church building and the dignitaries included President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger, Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan as well as other current and former members of government.
Hughes was eulogised by her children, Nigel Hughes, Elizabeth Hughes and Stuart E.B. Hughes. They all spoke of their mother’s strength and determination as well as her drive to make sure they all succeeded and realised their full potential. She did this, they said, in part by retiring from her career to raise her family full-time. Elizabeth Hughes described her mother as being an “awesome, multi-tasking, multi-talented, multi-dimensional woman.”
The shared sentiment in the speeches delivered was that Christobel Hughes was indeed a phenomenal woman that left an indelible mark on the lives of all she came into contact with. But underneath the pride surrounding all she had achieved and the air of loss that lingered in the cathedral, was the acknowledgement that this was a woman who had been robbed of her life.
Stuart Hughes, in his eulogy, alluded to the fact that although his mother had fought for years against the ailments of her failing body, it was the weakness and irresponsibility of another that ultimately took her life. “The irony of her death was that mom fought hypertension almost her entire life, had heart disease for the past 20 years, survived a cancer scare, had diabetes and suffered from severe arthritis, living to the ripe old age of 84. But in the end, she had no answer to an intoxicated young man who in effect turned his vehicle into a missile and launched it directly to her,” he said.
He pointed out the harsh reality of road fatalities and implored the government to take the steps necessary to reduce the
number of deaths that occur from road accidents every year. “Our pain, our loss, our suffering, are not unique and are in fact shared by over one hundred Guyanese families every year who lose a loved one due to road accidents. As a transportation professional, I will implore the government to carefully implement the current road safety diagnostic and action plan for Guyana’s facilities and, more importantly, to commit to implementing the recommendations of the study once they are made and agreed upon so that we as a nation can start to reduce road fatalities in a holistic, consistent and structured way,” he added.
Hughes was a member and past President of the Guyana Heritage Society and a champion for the preservation of Guyanese heritage. She was the founder of Women Reaching Out as well as a member of many other organisations and committees, including the Guyana Association of Administrative Professionals and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers.
Tributes to her good works and her unending commitment to the causes of education, culture, youth and women empowerment flowed from the church’s pulpit. “She had a strength and a light to her that touched and inspired people,” said a young man, who spoke on behalf of the Guyana Heritage Society. Others spoke of her charm and humour and described her as the “epitome of dignity, elegance and grace” and an “ever passionate patriot.”
Though gone, she was remembered as a woman of action who shepherded change in many arenas and left behind a legacy that will live on for years to come. One of her favourite quotes, according to her son, Nigel Hughes, was “Exegi monumentum aere perennius,” which means, “I have built a monument more lasting than bronze.”
