Former colleagues, friends and family filled the St John’s Methodist Church in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to pay tribute to Elizabeth Trent, a woman described as a fierce intellect and master politician.
Former DA councillor Trent, 73, died at home on January 4. She had cancer.
The church was decorated with apricot, off-white and orange roses to celebrate the life of a woman who was lauded for her work ethic, advocacy and community spirit.
Before the service concluded and a band of bagpipers played Amazing Grace as her coffin was carried out of the church by her family, the Rev George Irvine, who led the service, added his tribute to his longstanding friend.
“A lot has been said about how well Elizabeth lived,” he said, addressing Trent’s husband, retired politician Eddie Trent.
“But Eddie, I want to add that she also died well. There were no more doors to storm.
“She quietly moved into the nearer presence of God.”
In a joint tribute, one of her sons, Stuart, her daughter Victoria Nel and two of her grandsons, Christopher and Thomas Marais, highlighted how she had prioritised family, and her passion for her home, her garden and competitive bridge.
“She was always immaculately dressed and poised. She sat up straight and walked up straight,” Stuart said. “She always made time to listen.”
The legendary dinner parties hosted by Elizabeth also got a mention, as did her and Eddie’s many efforts to bake pancakes at country fairs.
Pastor Kerryn Barton shared a tribute written by Edward Trent, the couple’s eldest son.
“She only wanted the best for us,” he said.
Recounting her energy and her love for life, he wrote: “We almost believed that she was immortal.
“Even in the end when she was thin and in pain, she remained true to herself – always calm, poised and controlled. She didn’t complain. She said grace. She still sipped her tea from a beautiful cup. There was none as grand as our mother.”
The service was attended by several DA councillors, including national chair Athol Trollip, provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga and provincial chair Andrew Whitfield.
National leader Mmusi Maimane also sent condolences to the family.
Trent was elected as a councillor in 1995 and served until 2011. She led the DA caucus in Nelson Mandela Bay for a number of years.
“During her work as a councillor, she was fearless in her approach in taking on issues and was well-respected by all of her opponents,” deputy leader in the province, Bobby Stevenson, said in his tribute.
“She was somebody who worked hard in all communities in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“Elizabeth was an extremely passionate councillor who was a model public representative in many respects.
“She attended every single council meeting in her time, read every agenda, and was thoroughly conversant on all the issues in the metro.
“She was meticulous about taking up residents’ complaints across the city.
“Elizabeth was very active in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth and frequently attended funerals in that part of our city on a Saturday.
“I can remember one hilarious occasion where she attended a funeral and walked down the front of the church with a big basket of coffee, sugar, milk, biscuits and other things that she so generously brought, put it in the kitchen and sat down in one of the pews. After a while she realised that she was in the wrong church, and with no shame walked back down the aisle, into the kitchen to take her groceries and went off to the right funeral.
“Eddie and Elizabeth would have been married for 54 years in April. That is a remarkable achievement in this day and age and they shared a great love and affection for one another.” Stevenson said he was also sad to announce that Eddie would be moving to Pretoria to be with his children.
“Eddie, this will be the last time many people in this room will see you, so let me say this – thank you for everything that you have done for the city of Port Elizabeth in your time as a member of the provincial council and member of parliament. Thank you for fighting for this city.”