Philip Vernon Luke Gomez

Deacon Philip Vernon Luke Gomez Age 47 Years of 
#33 Palmetto Drive, Sea Breeze Estates completed his life 
of service at his residence, on Monday. January 13, 1997.

Philip was born at Matthew Town Inagua, Bahamas to the 
parentage of the late (Granville and Agnes Johnson-Gomez) 
on Saturday, October 15, 1949. He moved to Nassau, while 
still an infant and joined the fellowship of St. Mary the 
Virgin Anglican Church.

Philip began his occupational pursuits at the age of fifteen 
years of age, as an apprentice with Cecil E. M. Jones Electrical 
Company, in 1964. Late he worked at Standard Plumbing, the 
Public Health Department, Batelco technical Corps., were he 
was pegged with the (nick name, One Seven).

In 1969, Philip joined the Immigration Department. 
His affable nature quickly endeared him to his colleagues, 
who tagged him with the affectionate initialization (P. V. L.) 
During his tenure with the Department, he served at some 
time, at every station manned by an Immigration Officer.

However, the greatest encounter of his life was his meeting 
with Jesus Christ, in George Town Exuma, Bahamas in 1983. 
He heard to radio broadcast of a sermon by Rev. Dr. Charles 
W. Saunders (Back to Bethe) that intrigued him. In a careless 
gesture he thought, but actually the work of the Holy Spirit, 
he flippantly purchased two sets of the 1982 Baptist Crusade 
tapes, from Deacon L. E. Moss. A few days later he played 
one of them and was instantly convicted on hearing that sermon, 
by Rev. Andrew Stewart (What is Man)? Based on Psalm 8.

Returning to Nassau in 1984, he eagerly accepted weekly 
invitations by the then Chief Immigration Officer, the late 
Jerome E. Hutcheson to attend services at Bethel Baptist Church, 
joining that fellowship and committing his life to Jesus Christ on 
Sunday, February 15, 1984. Devoted to his Church, he involved 
himself fully in its activities. He joined the Usher Board in 
May 1990 and was elected Treasure that same year.

Milestones: 1962 Entered Government High School, 
1965 1st Student Corporal Punished in a High School, 
1967 Joined Bahamas Telecommunications, 
1969 Appointed Trainee Immigration Officer and confirmed 
Immigration Officer Grade 3, 1970 Promoted Immigration 
Officer Grade 2, 1975 Promoted Immigration Officer Grade 1, 
1982 Promoted Senior Immigration Officer, 
1991 Promoted Chief Immigration Officer.

The Radiance of this "Opal of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of his:
Wife: Dorothy;
Five Sons: Parnell, Jeffrey, Pedro, Pancho and Pascual (pops);
Four Daughters: Keenya, Deborah, Suzanne and Phillippa;
One Step Daughter: Erica Rolle;
Four Brothers: Glenn, Keith, Dennis and Sean;
Four Sisters: Valencia Saunders, Sheila Tillman, Florinda Gomez-Bowe and Elaine Gomez;
Four Uncles: Lloyd Johnson, Harcourt, Stafford and Fred Gomez;
Six Aunts: Bloneva Rahming, Marie Pople, Mary Hall, Cynthia Scribner, Merle Collins and Inez Wyman;
Fifteen: Nephews;
Ten: Nieces;
Mother-in-law: Susan Hall;
Seven: Brothers-in-law;
Six: Sisters-in-law;
Other loving family and friends.