Family, friends and colleagues remembered former police commissioner and legislator Vernon Malone during an official funeral on Saturday morning at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex.
Mr. Malone, who died on May 4 at the age of 76, was buried at the Rymer Family Burial Ground in Brewers Bay following the service.
After starting out as a pupil teacher, Mr. Malone served the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for 35 years — and spent 10 of those years as the first Virgin Islander police commissioner.
“Vernon worked in practically every department of the RVIPF and held a number of positions, including head of the East End Police Station and Virgin Gorda Division, head of the Tactical Unit, head of the Criminal Investigations Department and police prosecutor,” attorney Dancia Penn said in Mr. Malone’s eulogy.
Also during his time at the RVIPF, he helped establish a training programme for police officers.
“This programme was initially financed from Vernon’s personal resources, and it became the foundation for several police officers, who, after completing the two-year course, went on to pursue and complete degrees and to become lawyers,” Ms. Penn said.
Political life
As a member of the Virgin Islands Party, Mr. Malone served in the House of Assembly as an at-large member and backbencher from 2007 to 2011 under the administration of then-premier Ralph O’Neal.
On Saturday, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley, the current VIP leader, delivered a tribute, offering praises that were echoed by HOA members from both sides of the aisle in Mr. Malone’s funeral booklet.
In addition to his public service work, Mr. Malone was also a lawyer and real estate agent. He was the managing director of his law firm, Vernon E. Malone and Company, and the co-owner of Icis Real Estate & Construction Company, which he owned with his wife Icis Malone.
In a written tribute, his son Malcolm Malone recalled his father’s passing.
“That morning without any indication, you slipped out and left us,” Mr. Malone wrote. “But knowing you, your last words would be something like ‘We as a family have to make this country a better place. We have fought a lot of battles together against the world, and by far there have been more good times than bad.’”
Survivors
Mr. Malone, who lay in state at the HOA last Thursday, is survived by his wife; his son; sisters Edith Malone Penn, Leneth Malone Flemming, Myrthlyn Malone, Ritsia Malone Henley, Patsy MaloneGrant, Marva Malone-Lewis and Lorna Malone; and brothers Meston Malone and Jerry Malone Sr.