SONIA Clarke stood on the tarmac of the Norman Manley International Airport trying to maintain a composed demeanour, as she locked arms with a teary-eyed Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and another woman who stood to the right of her.

Also standing to Sonia’s left was a sombre-looking former Prime Minister PJ Patterson. The four headed a receiving line, complete with a few Cabinet ministers who queued at the back of the waiting hearse. Other Cabinet members and persons employed in the Government stood facing them, forming a veritable guard of honour.

Then suddenly all necks craned to Sonia’s right — eight police officers could be seen, stepping in sync, slow and deliberate.

Sonia drew a deep breath and her chest heaved. She then looked away and locked palms with the woman on her right. She bit her lips before looking up to the bright afternoon sky with its puffy white clouds.

The flag-draped casket carrying the body of her husband, Roger Clarke, was too much for her to bear.

The body had landed — close to an hour earlier at minutes to midday — on-board an American Airlines flight from Florida, where Clarke, the country’s colourful and beloved agriculture minister, died in August while recovering from a successful back surgery. He was at a Florida airport awaiting a flight home when he started complaining of chest pains. He was pronounced dead after he was rushed to hospital.

The casket moved closer. Simpson Miller, her arm still locked with Sonia’s, adjusted her black peak cap bearing the national colours. The prime minister was seen crying shortly after arriving at the VIP lounge of the airport with her Cabinet members in tow. She greeted those in the room and then made her way into an adjoining room.

She emerged several minutes later with tears in her eyes and greeted others who had arrived after her with hugs.

As the casket approached the aisle, Simpson Miller released Sonia’s arm and turned to her. Patterson, wearing a pained expression, moved towards Sonia and embraced her. Simpson Miller held her hand in a reassuring way and the three stood in a huddle as news photographers clicked away.

Shortly after, attention returned to the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force bearing the casket on their shoulders. As they hit the top of the receiving line, a man broke out in mournful singing: “I must have the Saviour with me, for I dare not walk alone….” His voice broke the silence. “I must feel his presence with me…,” the rest of the party joined in singing and continued until the casket was placed in the hearse.

The prime minister wept. Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna as well, so too did Natalie Neita-Headley, the minister with responsibility for sports. But Sonia held her composure.

Then Ronald Thwaites, the education minister, stepped out into the aisle and raised his voice above the singing, quoting a scripture. The singing continued in the background, a low hum, forcing through sobs. Everyone held hands and Thwaites, a Roman Catholic deacon, rendered a prayer of thanksgiving for Clarke’s life and said that the Lord gave them Clarke and the Lord took him. He gave thanks for Clarke’s sense of humour, for his service, and for his loving heart.

After the coffin was placed inside the hearse, the ministers took turns viewing and laying hands on it after his wife Sonia, Simpson Miller and Patterson. Still holding back the tears, Sonia walked up to the hearse, stretched out a hand, rested it gently on the coffin and just stood there looking.

Patterson then came up and put a hand in her upper back. She leaned against him and wrapped her left hand around his waist.

As the viewing continued, the man who raised the song walked aimlessly in the vicinity like a rudderless ship, weaving among the mourners and wept, asking “Why, why, why, he had to go?”

Labour Minister Derrick Kellier, with tears in his eyes, walked up to him, and held him by the arm and spoke comforting words to him, but this did little to soothe him, and the man walked off.

After the viewing of the casket, the ministers got into their vehicles, and fell in line behind the hearse, as they left the airport.

The body was taken to a funeral home. It will be taken to the People’s National Party headquarters on Old Hope Road today where there will be a public viewing before a funeral service at the St George’s Anglican Church, in Savanna-la-Mar, West-moreland on Saturday.