Rev. Bertram Gaston "Brother-B, Uncle Gaston" Armbrister

Rev. Bertram Gaston "Brother B, Uncle Gaston" Armbrister 
Age 82 Years of #54 Fifth Street The Grove, off Robinson Road was called 
to a fuller life at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Saturday, July 02, 2011.

He was born at New Bight Cat Island, the Bahamas on Saturday, September 22, 1928. 
He was the first son and fifth child.

Gaston as he was affectionately known throughout Cat Island, was a driven 
youth who received his early education at New Bight's All Age school. 
He grew into was a handsome, debonair young man, and admired by most of the girls. 
He would spend his afternoons "going to the field" to cultivate crops for the family, 
raising goats and chicken, and caring for his father's horse "Diamond". 
His father was one of the few men in his settlement with a horse, 
the premium means of transportation at that time. He also collected wood for the cooking each day. 
One of his passions was fishing, and he would sometimes sneak away from home with his only 
brother Elisha (deceased) to go fishing.  He had an intricate knowledge of all types of fish, 
how to catch them, and which conditions and environments produce poisonous fish. 
After becoming a Christian, he reflected back and said he must have loved fishing so 
much at an early age, because Christ knew ahead of time, that he would become a fisher of men. 
He became an evangelist, a soul winner.

After completing the early years of school, Gaston went to the United States 
to work on agricultural contracts. He worked for years in Florida, Montana, and Pennsylvania. 
It was after working on a farm in Montana, and his love for horses, that he was nicknamed "Cowboy". 
After completing the contract work, he returned to Nassau to reside. His hobbies included a fitness 
regimen of daily cycling on his bicycle, and then swimming in the sea. He began to work as a mason, 
and became a master mason, and used his masonry skills to build for himself and his family. 
He later worked as a security guard at H. O. Nash School, and while at this job mentored many youths.

Dedicated to Family
He honored and appreciated his parents. They had a significant impact on his life, 
and imparted so much wisdom to him. He retained that wisdom throughout his life. 
He lost his father as a young man, but clung to his mother. He took care and supported 
his mother for the duration of her life, until her homegoing to glory. Monthly he would 
ship his mother grocery and sundries, on the mail-boat to Cat Island. Gaston had a special 
relationship that made each of his sisters (Curlene, Alma, Ginnete, Constance, Maggie and Clarie) 
feel as if they were his favorite sister. He was involved in each of their and their children's lives. 
He was a father figure to all of his siblings' children. He loved, protected, and cared for them 
and their children selflessly. He hardly missed a birthday celebration of his nephews, and nieces. 
He was a disciplinarian, and his sisters could call him at anytime if their children were acting up. 
He truly believed in the biblical principle, "spare the rod and spoil the child".  He never spared the 
rod of discipline. In fact, most of the older kids have a very fond memory of a "good cut hip" by him. 
It is now, that each of them can reflect back and share the greatest appreciation of their uncle's 
rod of correction. Uncle Gaston's early intervention of discipline, allowed his nephews and nieces 
to become model citizens.

Uncle Gaston was the consummate priest of our family. He was loved, respected and revered by all. 
The kids in the family had a high reverence for this giant man of faith.  Whenever they saw his station 
wagon approaching their home, they immediately checked themselves to make sure they met an 
acceptable holy standard. The girls would have to make sure they had on a skirt, no shorts or pants, 
and the skirts had to be long.  He required that the young ladies in his family be dressed modestly. 
When the boys saw Uncle Gaston approaching, they instantly had to "straighten up and fly right."

Man of Prayer
He was spiritually steadfast in the faith, uncompromising and always abounding in the work of the Lord.  
We knew that our uncle prayed for each member of the family and all generations of the family daily. 
He was a serious prayer warrior. He and his wife had a habit of praying three times daily, and they would 
disconnect the telephone during their prayer times. They delighted in covering you with prayers. 
When you visited them, you would be blessed by their prayer each time before leaving their home. 
You were not allowed to exit their home without a prayer. Theirs was a household of faith. 
He taught his family how to pray, and to believe in the power of prayer. 
He wanted his nieces and nephews to be faithful. The family knew that they could always go 
to him for spiritual counsel, and feel the confirmation of the Lord in the godly counsel he offered.

Dedicated Husband
On Sunday, June 13, 1954 he was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, a Cat Island beauty, 
Alicia Hepburn (deceased). They were united in marriage at Zion Baptist Church by the late 
Rev. Talmage Sands, and enjoyed a wonderful solid Christian marriage, for over fifty-three years.

A Christ Centered Life, his legacy
Dedicated to Christ, His Lord and Saviour, Brother B was eager at all times to share God's 
love, and God's word in and out of season. He was wise like Solomon, and his wisdom was 
drawn from the bible.  He studied at Bahamas Bible Institute, and sat under the tutelage of 
some of the greatest pastors in the Bahamas, at Bethel Baptist Church.

"Brother B" had a radio program called Hour of Deliverance, and many in the Bahamas 
benefited from his radio broadcast. Brother B ministered many decades with the late Rev Dr. H. W. Brown. 
He ministered in many capacities including his niche, Evangelism. In addition, his areas of ministry 
included Street Meetings, Hospital Visitation Ministry, Prison Fellowship Ministry, Missions, 
Sunday School Teacher and Prayer Team Leader. He traveled extensively on Evangelistic and Mission Ministries.  
His travels included Africa, India, most of the islands and rural settlements of the Bahamas.

He lived a simple life that was not full of things and possessions, but truly filled with Christ and a 
focused vision on building God's kingdom. To him, temporal things mattered little, and what 
mattered most was living godly, winning souls to Christ, and sowing for eternity.

"Brother B" mentored many young men for decades at Bethel Baptist Church, 
throughout the community, and wider Bahamas. He had a special bond with all his god-sons. 
He disciple and taught many character-building traits to these young men. He also shared a 
father-like relationship with his nephews, who were shaped by his discipline. Uncle looked 
forward to his bi-weekly trip to his barber, Dr. P, with whom he had a special relationship, 
and found many occasions in the barber shop to witness.

Faithful Servants
The Bethel Baptist Family and Pastor Timothy Stuart were a model and rare church. 
Dr. Timothy Stuart greatly resembles Timothy of the bible, faithful and wise beyond his years. 
Truly loyal, and has the old fashion faith, honoring senior citizens. He would often speak of 
how blessed he was and the Lord rewarded him with the best church family, and the best biological family.

He is indebted with gratitude to his church family. The ministerial team of Bethel Baptist Church 
consists of faithful men and women who came by regularly, joyfully and consistently to spend time 
with him and his wife, in their sunset years. You honored him with your presence, and awed him 
with your faithfulness in ministry, and loyalty to his family. He appreciated the fellowship and support greatly.

As for the biological family, Billy and the late Patricia McCartney and family were faithful for years, 
bringing freshly baked bread each week.  After Patricia's passing Billy, and Jamal still continued their 
family's faithful labor of love, bringing fresh bread each week for years. Phillip "Bat" Rose was on 
call during the day shift as uncle's top volunteer assistant. He was available and took uncle to the 
barber, doctor's appointments, and was available to check on uncle during the day, and do 
whatever needed to be done for uncle during the dayshift. Ednal Rose was volunteer on duty 
for uncle during the night shift. He would arrive at uncle's home each evening and sleep there 
each night, so that uncle will not be alone and vulnerable. Uncle chose and appointed Ruthie 
as his daughter and executive assistant.  He was grateful to Ruthie for her faithfulness, 
and marveled at how she looked after and cared for all his needs. He called Ruthie on 
Sunday morning to let to her know what he wanted for Sunday dinner, and the menu would change. 
She had to cook what was ordered or go and find it. As for the grafted in family, his caretaker was 
Monica "Moni" Rhodin. Uncle would often say how he could tell the time by when Moni has his 
prepared meals on the table.  We are so grateful for your great care of our uncle.

An Attitude of Gratitude
Uncle always expressed his heartfelt thanks to all who supported him through the years.  
Moreover, he enjoyed the genuine fellowship. He was so grateful for the love, kindness, 
and support, from all. One of his most memorable saying was "thank God from whom 
all blessings flow, He is the source of our strength."

His expressed desire to his family is to become united and love each other as Christ loves 
you and to "see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and let no bitter root grow 
up to cause trouble and defiled many." Hebrews 12:15

 "… Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ 
forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 "Always trust in the Lord with all your heart and be faithful."

Brother-B is preceded in death by his:
Wife: Alicia Hepburn-Armbrister;
Father: Phillip Armbrister;
Mother: Lavenia "Effie" Armbrister;
Brother: Elisha Armbrister;

The Radiance of this "Sapphire of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of his:
Two Sisters: Evangelist Curlene Armbrister-Dorsette and Alma Kaplan of New York;
Thirty Four Nephews: Philip Taylor Sr. of Florida, John, Jeffrey and Albert Bain, 
Attorneys Jacob A. of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Lynden of Houston, Texas, 
Cecil of Houston, Texas, Maxwell, Deacon Ednal and Philip Rose, Cornelius, Barnabas 
and Nicodemus Johnson, Philip and Jerome Armbrister, Bertram and James Bowe,  
Alexander Mullings, Rev. Freddie Stubbs, William "Billy" McCartney, Donald Glass Sr., 
Mervin "Jerry" Hutchinson, Wendell Munnings, Andrew, Gary, Ryan, Marvin and Lavardo Hepburn, 
Police Constable 1275 Carlos Carey, Gladstone Robinson, Delano Knowles, 
Perry "Dr. P." McKenzie and Arnold "Hippy" McKinney;
Twenty Five Nieces: Joyce Smith of Dundas Town, Abaco, Alice of Freeport, Grand Bahama 
and Cheryl Bain, Alma Albury, Lilymae, Lovenia and Sheila Johnson, Philiss Ruthmae, 
Nurse Priscilla and Marilyn of Houston Texas and Sonia Rose, Attorneys Debra Rose-Munnings 
and Sharon Rose-Hutchinson, Daisy Glass, Pamela Stubbs, Christine Whylly of Freeport, Grand Bahama, 
Nurse Josette Armbrister, Marion Bowe, Loraine McKenzie, Janet, Bridget and Alexandria Hepburn, 
LaDonna Hepburn-Thurston, Ingrid Hepburn-LaRoda, Gracie Robinson, Mary Ann Rahming, 
Wendy Knowles, Constance Brice and Freda Taylor of Florida ;
Two Brothers-in-law: Bishop Albert Hepburn and Lionel Rose;
Four Sisters-in-law: Eleanor Armbrister of Freeport Grand Bahama, Deaconess Karen Hepburn, 
Deaconess Julia Bain and Enral Robinson;
Seven God Children: Rev. Patrick Smith, Rev. Christopher Brown, Dwaling D. O. Dean I, 
Cythella Wilson, Robert "Bobby" Pinder, Sandi Rolle of Freeport Grand, Bahama and Barbara Morley;
Twenty-Six Grand Nephews: Philip Taylor, Jr., Julian Bain, Min. Keno, William and 
Jamaal McCartney, Cecil A. III of Norman Oklahoma, Attorney Matthew A. II of Washington D.C., 
Eric, Darion, Terrell, Archie of Utah, Attorney Bambaduklah, John, Jamaal, Tyrese, Drexel, 
Shakke and Bakke Rose, Dr. Donald Jr. and Denver Glass of Dallas Texas, Lamar Russell, 
Valentine Larrimore, Freddie Stubbs, Cyshae Strachan, Bjornae Kemp and Kellen Hutchinson;
Twenty Three Grand Nieces: Nurse Patrice Gilbert, Attorney Rashida of Florida, Phylicia, 
Bianca, Clarissa and Philippa Rose, Jackie, Jasmine, Jonovia and Cyndera Bain, Tiffany McCartney, 
Miadea Hutchinson, Nicole Munroe, Lakeisha Russell, Margarette, Willadale, Phillipa Taylor, 
Judelintha and Alfrepa Stubbs, Cherell  Mullings,  Kara Stimpson, Deneise Prater and Samantha Perigod;
Care Taker: Monica Rhoden;
Other loving family and friends including: Geneva, Daniel, Malvese, Queenie, 
Mayna and Norris Hepburn of Long Island, Rev. Henry Innis, Bishop Philemon R. Wilson, 
Bernice and Courtney Poitier, Mizie Hanna of Opa-Locka Florida, Brenda Johnson of Freeport, 
Idell McPhee, Sarah Horton, Pastor Pearline Cartwright of Long Island, Amos "Bush Doctor" Gaitor, 
Families of the Late Drusilla Dorsette, Enos McKenzie, Leo and Arthur Hepburn, 
Mr. and Mr. Leonard Dames Sr., Rosie and Mr. and Mrs. Haywood McKinney, 
Mr. and Mrs. Arlington Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Ishmael Lightbourne, 
Rev. and Mrs. John N. T. Rolle of Eight Mile Rock Grand Bahama, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Nathalie Hutcheson, 
Administrator Gloria Bain, Mr. Alva Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Barry Scavella, Mrs. Dora C. Dean, 
Mrs. Florine "Ma Flo" Wilson, Ester Carter, Sister Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. Erskin Grey, 
Elizabeth and Mrs. Beverly Taylor, Dr. Cyprian Strachan, Dr. Robert Gibson, Dr. Chin,  
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Glass, Mrs. Loraina Cox, Samuel and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Romer, 
Rev. Matthias Munroe, Rev. Melvin A. Grant, Rev. A. Dewitt Hutcheson, Hon. Cynthia "Mother" Pratt, 
Randy Kurtis, Joyce Robinson-Munroe, Beverley Johnson-Tracker, Freddie Minns, 
Sister Marie "Ree" McSweeney, and their families, the Fifth Street Community, 
Pastor Timothy and Mrs. Sharon Stewart and the Bethel Baptist Church, 
Pastor Ian Braithwaite and Holy Dove Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Rueben E. Cooper Jr. 
and the Mission Baptist Church families, the Communities of Old Bight, New Bight and the Bluff Cat Island.