A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Anna Consuelo Ebanks nee Yates was held at South Sound Community Centre last Sunday (19). The Community Centre could not hold all the persons who turned up to pay their respects to a much loved Caymanian, and there were tents provided to take the overflow.

The officiating ministers were Pr. Stanwyck Myles and Pr. John Macmillan. Bradshaw Taylor was the organist.

With 67 honorary pallbearers listed in the programme, together with the six pallbearers who bore her coffin, it showed the depth and the diverse cross-section of Cayman’s community Consuelo’s life had touched.

Mr. Bryan Bothwell read the obituary.

Tributes included ones from Quincy Brown, Cayman Islands Seafarer’s Association, Henry Muttoo, Dave Martins, Billy Adam and Janilee Clifford.

The following are excerpts from the tributes:

“Today I pause to pay homage to a true Caymanian legend, a lady whom I consider   to be a cultural treasure, theatrical icon, thespian and a friend. Consuelo Ebanks, first and foremost was unashamedly Caymanian. Her pro Caymanian (representing all things Caymanian attitude) was sometimes misinterpreted as xenophobia by some who have joined us from other countries. This was not the case.  If one can not feel proud to be Caymanian in the Cayman Islands  – in what territory then? Consuelo was an activist, an environmentalist, an actress and comedienne. She was a member of the Cayman Orchid Club and assisted with secretarial duties at the Cayman Islands Seamen’s and Veteran’s Association. She also worked tirelessly to produce ‘The Southwell Years’ coffee table history magazine honoring   the lives of Caymanian seamen.

“Consuelo had a knack for comedy and on stage timing.  She appeared in the CNCF short film ‘Granny Backyard’, Frank Mcfield’s “Down Side Up” and many other theatrical   exercises too numerous to mention.  I’ll always remember her starring role, alongside Penny Phillips in the stage production of  ‘The Fallen Angels’, a play CNCF took to England on tour in 1995.

“We have lost a true daughter of the Caymanian soil – a giant on the Cayman stage and I can’t help but feel a sense of sadness for those who live here but didn’t know her and her great work on stage.  Younger generations   will now only be able to watch and listen to her interviews and recordings at the CNCF archives. We will never have another Ana Consuelo Ebanks, for her kind passes by only once in a while with talent that’s rare.” – Quincy Brown

“Consuelo was born into a maritime family, her Great Grandfather and also her Grandfather were Captains. When Consuelo was a young schoolgirl she was very attached to her Aunt Gwen Bush, also known to all Seamen as Miss Gwen. Miss Gwen was employed by Mr. Bertie Panton who was the Local Shipping Agent who recruited Seamen for various shipping companies!

“Consuelo was very interested in hearing the stories that the Seamen would tell when they returned home.  Seamen congregated at Miss Gwen’s house for patties when they returned home and Consuelo was always there to listen to their stories about the sea.

“From an early age Consuelo thought those stories should be recorded. In the year 2002, Mr. Warren Watler and Mr. Tony Martinez wrote the story of the sinking of the Sinclair Petrol Ore.  Consuelo was very interested in that story and decided now was a good time to fulfill her dream, so she started to collect stories from the Seamen and also from the records which her Aunt Gwen preserved.

“Consuelo started to write the stories of Seamen and from this came the book entitled “The Southwell Years”.  Consuelo being the person she was never took  “No” for an answer.  People said that she could not do it, but she persevered and knocked on many doors and soon the funds started rolling in. The book was completed in record time and in 2003 she had a Grand Opening to launch her book. To my knowledge that was the first time that Harbour Drive was closed down in the middle of the week.  There was a huge crowd and every Seaman was presented a copy of the book and a medal free of charge.

“Consuelo was like her Aunt Miss Gwen, she had the Seamen at heart and appreciated what they did for Our Beloved Cayman Islands.” – Cayman Islands Seafarer’s Association

“Consuelo Ebanks was, by any measure, the finest Caymanian actress. She was, by an even greater measure, certainly during the time I have been in the Cayman Islands, the country’s only fearless advocate for all things Caymanian. Whatever the subject as long as it affected the lives of Caymanians or attempted to tamper with what she considered the natural state of things – be it culture, the arts, the environment, tourism, jobs, immigration, development or the political direction – you could guarantee to hear her voice and see her swing into action.

“As a member of the Board of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, she brought intelligence and the wide-ranging knowledge and understanding of Caymanian    cultural heritage that informed all of our work. Consuelo was adamant that Caymanians must always have the strongest voice in delivering the cultural   preservation and arts development mission of CNCF, and she fought with absolute   assurance for the Cayman she knew and wanted.

“As an actress, Consuelo was blessed with gifts not possessed in the same measure, by most:  intelligence, stage presence, an actor’s voice, comedic timing, the ability to improvise and incisive thinking.  She was equally adept at playing comedic as well as tragic roles.  She created some of the most memorable female characters seen on the Cayman stage including, the forgetful old woman in the Foster’s Supermarket   line; the irascible Cousin Hattie, Mavis and Fannie Mae in “Rundown”; Lettie in “The  Fallen  Angels” and  Aunt Addy  in “Downside Up”,  and so many other characters  who made  us howl with laughter. No one who saw her perform will soon  forget  her.” – Henry Muttoo

“The second time Tradewinds performed in Cayman, 1980 or so, I recall like yesterday standing in the area where we would play, as a group of women came striding through the crowd, fired up and ready for the fete.

“At the head of the bunch, the loudest mouth belonged to a tall, lanky brown skinned woman with red hair down to her waist, delivering some salty language ……..

“When I asked who she was, a Caymanian next to me smiled and shook his head, That’s Consuelo Ebanks, bobo; she not easy.”

“……. Consuelo was one of those rare people who lived the precisely the life she wanted.

“Among her choices in life was the singular disposition to speak bluntly, to pronounce on sensitive issues making points that most of us  would think but not say…”

“If she didn’t like you, you knew it. She was particularly averse to pomposity and  more than  once I’ve seen prominent  people cautiously sidle away at Ebanks’    approach.

“ I particularly remember ……. when I was grumbling about the amount of time and energy it took to write the  script and music for the show [Rundown] every year. In her usual fashion she came right at me. “God gave you the ability to write songs and scripts, Mr. Martins. What the hell you complaining about.”

“Many people sing the Paul Anka song, but Consuelo truly “did it her way”. – Dave Martins

“Consuelo’s friends are friends of the Cayman islands. Her enemies are …..

“Most of the beneficiaries of the work she did to preserve Things Caymanian will not even know she was the person who sparked the consciousness of the need to fight to protect.

“Many, many times in the wilderness of greed that has enveloped us, she was the lone voice crying out love, protect, preserve for future generations the paradise God freely gave us. She understood that bigger is not necessarily better.” – Billy Adam

“I was privileged to work along side her [Consuelo] during a petition for a people-initiated Referendum to call for single member Constituencies/one person one vote. During this time in our many discussions I appreciated her love and devotion for the environment of our islands. She was [a] truly and intelligent person.” – Janilee Clifford.

Rudy Myles sang the song “Amazing Grace” and the congregation joined together singing the hymn “How Great Thou Art”.

Consuela Ebanks was born March 1948 and died 7^th May 2013.

RIP