Tribute to a Cleaner of our World

As a storyteller, I am well aware that everyone and even everything that
crosses your path has a story to reveal--or to silently nurture for soul growth in their inner depths.  Ralph Ellison once wrote a popular novel entitled The Invisible Man.  Everyone is life artistry in motion; and so to us storytellers, there is no true invisible person--only a life tale to artfully behold--from the innocent gaze of the newly arrived babe to the averted eye of the once financially comfortable homeless person searching a corner trash bin for a discarded remnant of a meal. 

The South American stock clerk in the fruit and vegetable isle of the
supermarket--an aspiring artist who has sparse time for his craft as he works to
send meager earnings home to a family dependent on his support; the brilliant
former scientist in her birthland now working out of economic necessity as a
cashier in her adopted home land; our"super buddy", one of the humble cleaners of the world yet also a history buff who spent his free hours reading and listening
to political talk shows between running errands for the health-challenged
elderly in his world.

When he is found bereft of life in the basement where he skillfully took
care of the building's needs, the affable gentle-man lies for weeks unclaimed in
a city morgue with no family coming forth from any quarters to carry him forth
to a final resting place; despite the calls of concerned tenants to the varied
numbers on his now silenced cell phone.  And so the building where he shed his
last breath of life became the building where tenant families and neighborhood
friends assembled to memorialize him in the lobby he had swept and mopped
countless times--and where he had greeted with a quiet but warmly radiant smile each one who crossed his pathway.

This lover of life and humanity in his world is now somewhere in an
anonymous "Potter's Field" type grave in this huge city.  Friends and tenants
are still hopeful that the family of whom he so proudly spoke
will one day appear.  If you recognize him and know of such family--reputed
to be in Texas (grandchildren and son-in-law) and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island
(siblings), then tell them that the beloved "super buddy" whom we knew as Lionel
Edward but whom they may know by another name has left his body temple for
another world and perhaps, just perhaps they may want to locate and take that
body temple to a more scenic, clearly beheld resting place.  (They can e-mail Akan@aol.com and the information will be swiftly  shared with those whose eyes and ears are still attuned to finding his kinspersons.)

Here is the life contemplation I wrote that day of the lobby memorial for
Lionel (Dec. 16, 2012).  And here is the photo of the tribute table the tenants
created for him in perhaps the only spot where a final thank you and a final
farewell would be rendered.  

In Tribute to LIONEL EDWARDS – Our Beloved  “Super Buddy”                                                                                                  
                                                            
A former boxer who instead of knocking down was always
lifting up   

A Vietnam War-era veteran who was a harbinger of
peace                         

A St. Croix “island boy” who spread love in  the big city

A brilliant, probing mind in one of the humble
“cleaners of the world” 

Without hesitation, Lionel...

Would walk into nail salons and caution women to don face masks to
protect themselves  from the toxic chemicals used there

Would sometimes use lunch breaks to go to buy medicines for the
building’s seniors.

Would call up hate radio talk shows and chastise the host and
callers for thoughtless, unkind  remarks; (even though they would hang up on him, he would just call right back again!)

Would clip out newspaper articles of interest and enthusiastically
knock on my door to share them.

Would bring up products used in his work and point out how purchase
of such would help in apartment maintenance.  

Would use his leisure time after work to take his hand cart and get
a like-new discarded bookshelf. 

Would collect clothing and toys to distribute to churches for the
needy.

Would smile broadly and praise to the high heavens any small gift
shared with him.

Would meet you at the staircase to the basement and insist on
carrying down trash items for you despite your facetious protests that you are "a strong country woman".

Would purchase from his scarce funds  a book of interest in your field to
share  with you.

Would go “above and beyond the call of duty” to be of love in
service to others in both his work and  private life.   

Would demonstrate immense pride in his own ancestral heritage and
culture but also deeply loved and  respected those of other cultures, races, and
religions.

Would not bite his tongue – would openly and candidly voice his
opinions, but never unkindly.  (“If I’m  such a great super, then show
it in my pay!”)

Possessed a bright, probing, inquisitive mind – loved books,
“talking politics”, and occasionally spoke of going to the
library to research a topic of interest.

A proud grandfather who often spoke of his grandchildren—his visits
and chats with them and taking  them to sports events.

Lastly, Lionel had a warm, refreshing sense of humor.  Once when my late kitty, Cuddles, brushed against his ankle, purring loudly,  he looked down and said, “Do I know you?” :)

                                                               
****************************

Lionel our beloved “super-buddy” left in his short life a legacy of
love and service worthy of emulation and particularly of warm, smile-promoting,
soul-lifting memories.  God bless you immensely, Lionel—you and all of your loved ones--as you take a well-deserved celestial rest from being one of the humble,  efficient and definitely treasured cleaners of the world.