Wenzel Nicolls Sr (November 5, 1926 – January 12, 2010)
My grandfather’s blood lives on in me. His body is gone, but his spirit will always be with us. I celebrate him so he may be lifted up to take his seat amongst the great ancestors. As a proud Bahamian and strong African man, he was a hard worker and visionary entrepreneur. Those traits he inherited from his father, who he spoke proudly of as an owner of a taxi company in Nassau. Those traits he passed on to me, and I am forever in debt.
It caused me great pain several months ago to hear him chastise me for waiting too long to document his story. He told me it was too late, I waited too long. Although I was hesitant to believe, it was indeed too late and now his story will never be told by his lips again. But I am comforted, because I know no one individual is greater than the whole. Despite the loss of our great patriarch, his legacy lives on. He built and nurtured a strong family with deep roots.
Many are not so blessed to have a strong and loving relationship with their grandfather. Daddy Wenzel was my greatest cheerleader all of my life. He took a keen interest in my comings and goings. We may honour his memory by never forgetting where we came from as individuals and as a family. He suffered greatly in his old age with the loss of his independence. Now he is resting in peace. Daddy Wenzel transitioned on the same day as my maternal grandfather, Daddy Gage. I know the two of them are watching over us, guiding us with their light from within the darkness. He may be gone, but never forgotten. Love and light and peace to you Daddy Wenzel.