Page 71 - Hall-Musgrove Family Reunion 2025

TRAGEDY BY AIR
One, and then five others..
Saturday, 01 August 1987. It’s Saturday, 01 August 1987. It’s
attempted to correct it which of attempted to correct it which of
and cousins, Clement Howells and cousins, Clement Howells
the funeral service for Thomas the funeral service for Thomas
course made it something of a course made it something of a
and Livingston Swann as his and Livingston Swann as his
Walkin, husband of Isabelle Walkin, husband of Isabelle
hybrid word. Sensitive to the hybrid word. Sensitive to the
passengers. A full flight. passengers. A full flight.
Musgrove Walkin. The funeral Musgrove Walkin. The funeral
time frame, I told the engineer time frame, I told the engineer
service is taking place here in service is taking place here in
that we’ll take a pass on that that we’ll take a pass on that
We go to evening service. It is We go to evening service. It is
Nassau where the family has Nassau where the family has
one and catch it some other one and catch it some other
still daylight. I am playing the still daylight. I am playing the
domiciled for now many years. domiciled for now many years.
time, maybe. He said no, we’ll time, maybe. He said no, we’ll
piano at the time and I “heard” piano at the time and I “heard”
There are still though, immediate There are still though, immediate
do it again. And we did. There do it again. And we did. There
what I thought was Martin’s what I thought was Martin’s
family members in the Turks & family members in the Turks &
were quite a few songs recorded were quite a few songs recorded
voice saying only “Sonny”. No voice saying only “Sonny”. No
Caicos Islands who had returned Caicos Islands who had returned
among which was “Where the among which was “Where the
big deal. Just one of those things. big deal. Just one of those things.
from Nassau and resettled from Nassau and resettled
roses never fade”. roses never fade”.
Arriving at home sometime Arriving at home sometime
there. Stanley has established there. Stanley has established
later, (no cell phones back then) later, (no cell phones back then)
a large family and is doing well a large family and is doing well
Martin would return to Turks & Martin would return to Turks &
we hear that “the plane has not we hear that “the plane has not
for himself. His second child, and for himself. His second child, and
Caicos with Ken, as he, Ken, and Caicos with Ken, as he, Ken, and
yet arrived”. I remember Kelly’s yet arrived”. I remember Kelly’s
son, Ken is a pilot, owning and son, Ken is a pilot, owning and
Stanley too had made their way Stanley too had made their way
scream. It’s a long night. scream. It’s a long night.
operating his own aircraft. They operating his own aircraft. They
to Nassau. Martin’s coming in to to Nassau. Martin’s coming in to
are settled in Provo. Meanwhile, are settled in Provo. Meanwhile,
Nassau was quite an adventure Nassau was quite an adventure
The next day is the August The next day is the August
Martin, a fairly younger brother Martin, a fairly younger brother
as indeed he did not arrive in as indeed he did not arrive in
Monday holiday. We gather Monday holiday. We gather
to Stanley, lives in Grand Turk. to Stanley, lives in Grand Turk.
time for the church service, only time for the church service, only
at Mom’s on Acklins Street at Mom’s on Acklins Street
in time for the repast. It rained in time for the repast. It rained
awaiting any news. A call comes awaiting any news. A call comes
Martin had traveled to Nassau Martin had traveled to Nassau
fairly heavily at the committal. fairly heavily at the committal.
to me. A young piano student to me. A young piano student
just three weeks prior to the just three weeks prior to the
We gathered at Emerald’s for We gathered at Emerald’s for
of mine at the Bahamas Baptist of mine at the Bahamas Baptist
passing of our father and was passing of our father and was
the repast. Martin spent the the repast. Martin spent the
Bible Institute, Beecham Brown, Bible Institute, Beecham Brown,
somewhat ambivalent about somewhat ambivalent about
night with my family. He was a night with my family. He was a
(who I had, just the Saturday (who I had, just the Saturday
underwriting another trip so underwriting another trip so
telephone technician with Cable telephone technician with Cable
before the last, to sit across the before the last, to sit across the
closely following. He was coaxed closely following. He was coaxed
& Wireless and that evening he & Wireless and that evening he
church hall on piano as I played church hall on piano as I played
to come. A couple of us siblings to come. A couple of us siblings
sorted out a minor problem on sorted out a minor problem on
the organ for a wedding at his the organ for a wedding at his
contributed to his one way contributed to his one way
our refrigerator. Kelly, Stanley’s our refrigerator. Kelly, Stanley’s
local church), lost his life in a local church), lost his life in a
passage down. (Anecdotally, passage down. (Anecdotally,
daughter, was with us in Nassau daughter, was with us in Nassau
freak beaching accident where freak beaching accident where
while on this trip, he and I while on this trip, he and I
at the time. at the time.
the church was having its annual the church was having its annual
had occasion to make a very had occasion to make a very
picnic. He was 16. picnic. He was 16.
unscheduled and unrehearsed unscheduled and unrehearsed
Sunday comes. The weather has Sunday comes. The weather has
recording of him singing and I recording of him singing and I
cleared significantly but it is not cleared significantly but it is not
Still no word of the plane. And Still no word of the plane. And
accompanying on piano at the accompanying on piano at the
a bright sunny day by any means. a bright sunny day by any means.
no word will ever come. No oil no word will ever come. No oil
Bahamas Baptist Bible Institute. Bahamas Baptist Bible Institute.
Martin leaves for the airport. Martin leaves for the airport.
slick, No bits of debris spotted. slick, No bits of debris spotted.
The engineer who graciously The engineer who graciously
Later, it is discovered that he Later, it is discovered that he
No nothing. Not a trace. Lost No nothing. Not a trace. Lost
provided for us to record had a provided for us to record had a
has left his rather large Bible in has left his rather large Bible in
forever until we meet again. We forever until we meet again. We
very narrow window to do so. very narrow window to do so.
the night stand. Late afternoon the night stand. Late afternoon
marked the grave of one. Five marked the grave of one. Five
We recorded and we listened We recorded and we listened
the party leaves for a return to the party leaves for a return to
others we know not where. others we know not where.
to the play back. On one song to the play back. On one song
Provo. Ken is piloting and has Provo. Ken is piloting and has
Martin went to say one word but Martin went to say one word but
his father, Stanley, uncle, Martin his father, Stanley, uncle, Martin
As recalled by Sonny
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