Eswart Fitzgerald Lake, affectionately known as “Uncle Eswart” or Brother Lake, born in Georgetown, British Guiana on November 25, 1927, was escorted into heaven on April 10, 2015 after a long illness. He died peacefully at his home in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
He is preceded in death by his siblings, Egbert Lake, Egersis Eshun, and Iris Grant. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis leaving behind fifty –seven (57) years of joyful marriage. Also mourning his loss, across three continents are his children Collin, Roger, Glenis Archer (Mark), Melanie Wilson(Harold), Jason Lake ( Frances), his grandchildren, Stephen, Craig, Kaysha,Cassandra,Louis, Patrick, Taina, Chardonnay, Cher and Charmaine and great grandchildren, Elijah, Amaya, Keishawna, Gabrielle, Mackenzie, Samantha, Chase and Olivia, his nieces and nephews, Franklin, Ann, Gabrielle, Andrew, Jeff, Kwame, Margaret, Douglas and great nieces and nephews, Adrian, Selwyn, Nigel, Allison, Michelle, Odwin Fitzroy and Warren and numerous others, including his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Eswart was educated at Queenstown Roman Catholic School in Georgetown. He left school at 14 and began woodworking. In 1956, he travelled to London, England, meeting his beloved Phyllis on the way. They were married on June 29, 1957. He attended Willesden College where he acquired a certification in building construction, while working throughout to support his wife and growing family. Heeding the call to serve in his country’s development, he took his family back to the newly independent Guyana in 1971. He served in various leadership positions in Guyana’s Ministry of Works and Housing until his retirement as a Senior Superintendent of Buildings. He emigrated to the United States in 1982. He worked as a realtor in New York City. Thereafter, he spent ten (10) years as a Housing Inspector with the City of New York. Following his retirement in 1995, he continued his active role as a member of his church, Evangel Temple, in Queens, New York where he was ordained as a deacon in April 2000. He sang in the choir and served on the Trustee Board. In service of his community, he fed the homeless in the Bowery in Manhattan, New York, every other Saturday with the church’s Love in Action ministry, regardless of the weather.
In November 2002, he relocated to Stone Mountain, Georgia to be closer to his daughters, Glenis and Melanie. He joined Peace Baptist Church in January 2003. He served faithfully as an usher, treasurer for the Young At Heart Ministry, and then Chairperson of the Young At Heart Ministry until illness prevented him from doing so. He enjoyed travel, good food, and good conversation and was seemingly a serious fan of all sports that were available on television. He read avidly, and had an abiding interest in current events. He read his magazines including, Newsweek, Time and African Digest from cover to cover, and cared and held strong opinions about all of the important issues of his time. He loved his wife and family, and he was loved by them in return.
His family rests in the knowledge that he has gone to be with our Lord and Savior and Jesus Christ.
