Oxley remembered as devoted to sports and community

By Morissa Lindsay

Patrick ‘Pat De Dog’ Oxley, a man who was deemed as the greatest second division setter Barbados has ever seen, was remembered as a devoted father to his son Akeel and a lover of sports, music, entertainment and the community.

Therefore, it was no surprise that the late Oxley who lost his battle to cancer was given the type of lively send-off he would have wanted with praise and worship, as the entire local volleyball fraternity including his beloved Deacons Club and especially the Development in Motion Volleyball team which he founded, all were in attendance at Sanctuary Empowerment yesterday for the service of thanksgiving.

The son of Gloria Oxley and Elwyn Maynard and the brother of former senior Barbados volleyball captain Elwyn, Sherwin and Daryl and sister Sandra, Oxley received many glowing tributes. Among those were from longstanding Barbados Volleyball Association member Carol-Lyn Edghill, his close friend Jason King who was emotional in his tribute, Ordene Dottin who sang Thank You Jesus for the Blood along with Derick Alleyne with a lovely poem that spoke about A Sportsman Rounded and Gifted.

However, it was Elwyn, one of the greatest outside hitters Barbados has ever produced that gave a great insight during the eulogy into the life of his late brother who was known for his love of volleyball, road tennis, cricket, netball, football, music and dance.

“It is not uncommon to hear comments about out-of-control young people, the loss of community and the older ones amongst us lamenting gone are the good old days. People of yesterday’s generation reminisce about knowing your neighbour, watching out for each other and giving back to the community. These thoughts stirred the emotion as we look back at the life of Patrick ‘Pat De Dog’ Oxley gone much too soon.

“He epitomized what was good about living and serving the community. The essence of Patrick’s life can be encapsulated in three true features – family, Deacons and volleyball – in that order. In these three characteristics, family by blood and friendship; family of Deacons and his volleyball family they were all tied up by a commitment to loyalty, discipline and hard work.

“He loved his family especially his son Akeel whom he worshiped and treated his nephew Ashe (Oxley) as if he was his own. From the time they could walk these two boys were brought to the hardcourts to follow their fathers who themselves made the courts home. Patrick’s family was wider than we think, it included Andrew, Alvin, Troy, George, Dre, Peppers, Think Above, Brian Worrell, Dale Clarke, Bird, Jake and Bruce,” Oxley said.

He added: “Anybody who was given the opportunity to play with Patrick for Deacons second division truly enjoyed his exceptional setting. Other players and fans would move around the grounds and other teams, but Patrick stayed with the Deacons Club.

“He knew every crack on the court and it would be a useful exercise if the club could approach the Community Development Department or National Sports Council and have the wall of the community centre facing the court designated as a wall of memory and some form of recognition in place to show our respect for the kind of dedication Patrick gave to his club in particular and to volleyball and the community in general.

“We will miss Patrick but we are confident that he has gone to a better place. We can be reassured that though it appeared to be a short life he lived it well doing the things he loved most and sharing them with the ones he loved most in the community he loved and cherished.”

During the service at Sanctuary which was also attended by representatives of Queen’s College, Harrison College and Springer Memorial where he coached as well as former work colleagues at the Ministry of Public Works and the Psychiatric Hospital, it was also noticeable that several Deacons volleyball shirts with the number two behind them were on stage in full display. It was a fitting
tribute to Patrick who played in those shirts as a setter.

A former student of the St. Leonard’s Boys’ School, Oxley gave his life to Christ five years ago, said his former work colleague and friend Mario Bruce who spoke about Oxley’s spiritual journey. Reverend Dr Suzette Husbands gave the closing prayer and as Oxley’s coffin was led out of Sanctuary Church by his brother Elwyn and son Akeel, a guard of honour by members of the volleyball awaited his final exit. He was interred at Westbury Cemetery. (morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)