The Passing of a Great Man
Sunday, 7 January was a bitter sweet day for the church here in Belize. We buried Rev. Tribio Coc, age 70. Rev. Coc was a dedicated church planter, preacher, mentor and great leader here in Belize. I believe he planted 18 churches. He was a highly esteemed and respected man of God.
Below are some pictures of his “going home” service.
Picture #1 is Rev. Diego Coc, Rev. Coc’s son. He is singing as he leads in the pallbearers and flag wavers. I did not recognize the song they were singing, but you could feel a beautiful spirit of praise and worship to God as they brought the casket up to the front of the church to begin the service.
Picture #2
The church was packed to capacity and many had to stand outside. We estimate that there were about 500 people in attendance. Many people stood in the center aisle and along the walls of the church for the entire 3 hour service.
Picture #3
This is Tim Steele speaking during the service. He was a great friend of Rev. Coc’s, and flew all the way from Texas to honor him and to support the Coc family during their time of grief.
Picture #4
Here is Missionary Dwayne Abernathy honoring Rev. Coc.
Picture #5, #6
This is a picture of the people following the pallbearers and flag carriers to the burial site. He was buried about a 1/4 mile from the church right inside his home village. Many people from the village stood at their doors and windows to watch the funeral procession as it passed.
Picture #7
This is the grave site just as they were lowering in the casket.
We noticed some men mixing concrete off the side of the road during the grave site service and
wondered what they were doing.
In Belize, the casket is lowered into a very shallow grave with a metal frame around it. After the casket it lowered in, it is quickly covered in concrete around the box shaped metal frame. The result is a 3 ft high concrete box which covers the casket.
Once again, we offer our deepest sympathies to the family of this great man of God.
Below are some pictures of his “going home” service.
Picture #1 is Rev. Diego Coc, Rev. Coc’s son. He is singing as he leads in the pallbearers and flag wavers. I did not recognize the song they were singing, but you could feel a beautiful spirit of praise and worship to God as they brought the casket up to the front of the church to begin the service.
Picture #2
The church was packed to capacity and many had to stand outside. We estimate that there were about 500 people in attendance. Many people stood in the center aisle and along the walls of the church for the entire 3 hour service.
Picture #3
This is Tim Steele speaking during the service. He was a great friend of Rev. Coc’s, and flew all the way from Texas to honor him and to support the Coc family during their time of grief.
Picture #4
Here is Missionary Dwayne Abernathy honoring Rev. Coc.
Picture #5, #6
This is a picture of the people following the pallbearers and flag carriers to the burial site. He was buried about a 1/4 mile from the church right inside his home village. Many people from the village stood at their doors and windows to watch the funeral procession as it passed.
Picture #7
This is the grave site just as they were lowering in the casket.
We noticed some men mixing concrete off the side of the road during the grave site service and
wondered what they were doing.
In Belize, the casket is lowered into a very shallow grave with a metal frame around it. After the casket it lowered in, it is quickly covered in concrete around the box shaped metal frame. The result is a 3 ft high concrete box which covers the casket.
Once again, we offer our deepest sympathies to the family of this great man of God.
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