Mourners, friends and family packed the Heritage Worship Centre to pay their final respects at the funeral of Bishop Goodwin Smith, their leader.

At yesterday's riveting service, Dr. Smith, 79, was described as an obedient servant of God, before passing away on November 20 after nearly a yearlong battle with an illness.

He often took controversial positions on matters of morality, most notably his unbreakable opposition to amending the Human Rights Act to make homosexuals a protected class.

He leaves behind wife Ruby, to whom he shared 49 years of marriage with, daughter Gayna Smith and four grandchildren.

Administrative Bishop for New Testament Church of God churches in Bermuda, Dr. Smith pastored at the Heritage Worship Centre in Hamilton for 27 years.

With scores of politicians and community leaders in attendance, including Premier Ewart Brown and Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley, Dr. Smith's coffin laid honourably, draped in the Union Jack.

Dr. Brown said: "It is my responsibility to say that you need not think it odd to see so many politicians in the house today.

"For if Bishop was among us it would be no different. Such was the measure of the man that we all know, that a visit to the Heritage Worship Centre is required in this season and at most times of the political year.

"Sometimes in politics we who pursue the calling of elected office are accused of 'flip-flopping' on issues. One candidate for President in the 2004 US election spent months explaining why he voted against something he voted for before he voted against it.

"Goodie Smith was no politician — at least not one in that mode — you got it live and direct from him."

Mr. Dunkley paid tribute while "in the spirit": "The spirit of our good Lord and the spirit of our good friend. There is laid upon him the crown of righteousness with the lord.

"The righteous judge shall give him that day. I believe these words are fitting and appropriate to define the Christian journey of our beloved Bishop Goodwin Smith.

"He was a man who was passionate about upholding the word of the Lord at all times. He did not bend to political pressures or what may have been considered fashionable or popular. He stood on the principles and integrity of his faith and he never wavered. Bishop Smith was a man after God's heart.

"Of all of our Bermudian religious leaders, Bishop Goodwin Smith as Bishop of the church, had a dignity and a character like none other."

In her farewell tribute, granddaughter Olivia Smith reminisced on the loving moments in which her grandfather instilled upon her. "I remember he would give me cookies, cake and ice cream, especially after my grandmother had told me no, when I was younger," she said with a broken voice, trying to hold back tears of nostalgia.

"I now have to bury someone who means the world to me — he was the greatest papa ever."

And she humorously told the smiling audience: "You're my grandpa… I mean it's nice that everyone calls you papa, but I want you to myself.

"He use to tell me 'I may have a lot of grandchildren, but I only have one Olivia,' and I'll never forget that as long as I live."

Among those religious leaders in attendance, from the governing Church of God Ministry, its General Overseer Dr. G. Dennis McGuire, of Cleveland, Tennessee, gave a powerful eulogy.

He stated: "I bring you special greetings from the executive committee. We were at a conference in Florida and I left with the understanding to come to be here today to say to you and this family, I deeply appreciate the work of Dr. Smith.

"Dr. Smith is lucky to have a wife who stayed so closely by his side in those critical moments. It's difficult to capture the essence of a man when you come to a place like this. Goodwin Smith was a man of God; wholly devoted to God. If you were to discover the essence of Goodwin Smith today you'd have to say it was the love he had for his wife and family.

"He left the legacy of a prophet, a pastor, a bishop, a husband, grandfather and a minister."

Following the three hour service, a procession headed to the St. Paul's cemetery in Paget, where Dr. Smith was laid to rest.

During his early years Dr. Smith, also called "Goddie," was an avid sportsman whom family say loved the game of cricket and was a member of both the Warwick Workman's Club and the Hamilton Parish Workman's Club.

He was on numerous Government boards, a past member of the Bermuda Referees Association and was honoured by the Queen as a member of the Most excellent order of the British Empire. Prior to his conversion in 1963 he was the manager of the Gosling Brothers Bonded Warehouse and received his first ministerial licence before leaving Bermuda in 1967 to complete an architecture course.

He successfully achieved his Doctor of Divinity certificate from the Universal Bible Institute in 1974, before earning a Master's Degree in Bible Knowledge.