I was so sorry not to be able to be at the service on Friday and to share in the love and respect that everyone felt for Victor. I remember Victor and his family coming to live as our neighbours in Lower Wortley and I remember them leaving for church every Sunday just as myself and my family were doing the same.

However my best memories of Victor were as my driving instructor. He was amazing, patient and very thorough with his teaching. My first lesson was on New Years day 1976 because he said it would be much quieter and with his help I passed my test on 26th of February that year. I will never forget the dark winters night when he took me out for my lesson in thick fog and he still remained calm and collected as I peered through the windscreen to try and see where we were going !!! In the hour before my driving test he took me for my last lesson and all the manoeuvres we did I did in exactly the same place when I took my test  thank you Victor !!

My deepest condolences go to Thelma, Phillip, Richard and Sandra and I have watched your eulogy from Friday it made me remember, laugh and cry at the same time. How blessed you were to have Victor, indeed how blessed  we all are to have known Victor and I know that the Lord will have welcomed him home knowing what an amazing servant he was to him throughout his whole life. God bless you Victor home in the arms of the Lord. 

Condolences To The Stanley Family  at the Sad passing of  Victor. He was known to many particularly to those in  Nevis  before immigrating to the UK . 

He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him!

Rest In Eternal Peace.

From Brenda Walwyn-Bertram, Doretha Liburd, Cynthia Stapelton and Keneth Liburd.

Sending my dearest and deepest condolences to Mother Stanley and family at this time. Minister Stanley will always have a special place in my heart for being such a warm, kind and humble man. Always encouraging us as children and young people as we were growing up at Bethel. Rest well Minister Stanley  

 🤍🙏🏾🤍

Heartbroken 💔 elder Stanley minister Stanley was solid they don’t make em like that again….

now we must carry on that solid  legacy sending all my love to Sandra & Richard & sister Stanley and all the family 

Dearest Aunty Thelma,

I’m so sad to not be with you today and my thoughts and prayers are with you, Phillip, Richard and Sandra. 

Remembering Uncle Victor, his dedication to helping others navigate both the roads and life's journeys. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the confidence he instilled in everyone he taught and knew.

 With a warm smile and calm demeanor, he transformed nervous beginners into confident drivers.

Uncle Victor will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Rest in peace, dear Uncle. Your love will forever guide us. Love from Jenny & Mal xx

A precious memory with Minister Stanley (as I knew him)  was when I was baptised as a child. I sat in the back room scared and overwhelmed  and he could sense that. He gave me a knowing look & gripped on tight as he helped me into the water. In that moment I felt safe. This moment sums him up for me, with just the smallest squeeze I felt at peace. 

Good night Minister Stanley thank you for always being so caring. 

Wishing the Stanley Family Peace, Comfort and Understanding at this time.

Your Dad was such a faithful, Humble man. As a young lad growing up at Gibson Rd, I always thought he was Mother Parris's eldest son and he was certainly of that standing in the Leeds Church Family. 

Bless you Pastor Victor Stanley 

Ian Burke 

Minister Stanley (as we knew him back then) was a pillar in Hyde Park church, always ready and willing to serve.  He was a true worker in the house of God, committed not just in word but in action.  It really felt like he was involved in every department, even the women’s ministry, where he faithfully served as the designated driver!  Whether it was cooking, cleaning the church on a Friday night, setting up for service, or simply being a helping hand, no job was too big, and no role was too small.

The only responsibility I ever saw him try to avoid was that of Pastor.  But, true to who he was, he accepted the call and embraced it wholeheartedly.

I remember when I was learning to drive, I was so nervous, especially about the oncoming traffic.  One day, Minister Stanley pulled the car over and said to me, “If you keep looking at the traffic coming toward you, you’ll go straight into it.”  I never forgot that advice, not just in my driving, but also in my spiritual walk.  It taught me to focus on where I’m going, not what’s coming at me.  That simple lesson stayed with me and continues to guide me in life.

Oh, and yes, thanks to Minister Stanley, I too passed my driving test the first time.  In fact, most of my children and even my husband passed under his patient instruction. Although one of them (I won't say which one, lol) went to another instructor after failing their first test but quickly returned to the fold after realising that the grass was definitely not greener and that there were driving instructors and then there was Minister Stanley.

You are in our prayers Thelma, Philip, Richard, Sandra and all the family.  He is safe in the arms of Jesus, at peace and at rest.  He served well and left a legacy that will not be forgotten.

Sister Herbert & Family

Pastor Stanley- a faithful/compassionate and humble man of God.

Pastor was in awe of the fact that he was a recipient of God's grace, and often testified about this, and in turn he surrender his all to God.   Pastor endeavoured to live by the precepts of God - never compromising the will of God.

Pastor Stanley - a worshipper who never missed the privilege and opportunity to Praise and Worship  his father, our God.

Having been equipped with a vast knowledge and understanding of the  word of God Pastor fulfilled his ministry of teaching with diligence.

Pastor Stanley was a great and valid asset to Bethel Church Leeds. He worked tirelessly in the vineyard - leading the Saints of God, transporting the Saints to and from church, playing the organ and maintaining the church building.

I can go on but will conclude by saying that Victor Stanley (my Pastor) has fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith.  As a result of his legacy,  I am rest assured he will be awarded with a 'crown of righteousness '.

Rest in eternal Peace Pastor- with love from Sister Sheila and Brother Franklin x

I will never forget the consistency and selfless sacrifice Elder Stanley personal showed to me.

He was always present at significant moments of my life, diligently setting aside the time to encourage me,  when I first came to Victoria Road Leeds, he would always ensure that he would personally pick me up from my home in Armley to go to Sunday school or I distinctly remember how he with skill and passion worshipped on the organ, and yes like so many I had the privilege of Elder Stanley being my driving instructor too.

May his faithful legacy and great example of hope, love, humility and tireless service live on through many generations.

Sending abundant blessings today and always to his exceptional family and wider Church family too.

With love

Paul Henry & Family 

On behalf of my wife and I may we offer our heartfelt and sincere condolences to an exceptional family who has sadly lost an exceptional Man of God who touched my life and many more.

Abundant blessings always.

Paul Henry 

To Missionary (Sis) Stanley, Philip, Richard and Sandra (and the wider family), please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your husband & father (granddad, brother, uncle). 

What can I say - Pastor or Bro/Elder Stanley as I knew him growing up, was the one who taught me to drive. 18 years old driving around I felt so cool as he always had the latest cars.  I remember my first lesson, after he taught me the rudiments of the car and we started off  driving up Easterly Road, the conversation went like this:Elder Stanley - "Don't you think you are going to fast?"

Me - "No"

(silence)Elder Stanley - "You really don't think you are going too fast?"

Me - "No"

Elder Stanley - "You're going too fast"

Me - "Oh "

Elder Stanley - "Well at least it shows you have confidence.."

And because of him - I passed my driving test the first time & am able to drive in London...Lol.

He was the choir conductor extraordinaire, with his conductors baton (I'd never seen that in church before but, he was well ahead of his time) - I can hear us /the choir singing "I'm on the stairway to Heaven" and his baritone ringing out. 

I can see him looking at me quizzingly with his half smile as I told him my thoughts, (he was probably right most of the time).

I know he will be missed but it is reassuring that he is now at peace in the arms of Jesus.

I'm so, so, so sorry that I can't be with you all tomorrow, to reminisce and celebrate his life with you but please know that my heart and prayers will be with you.  I pray the Holy Spirit, the Comforter will be with you all at this time and know that you will meet him again....

"...He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.....".

Elder Stanley was a very respectful, humble and kind person.  Our sincere condolences to Missionary  Thelma Stanley and family.   Gone but not forgotten.

Vera  Walters &  I Walters

I would like to offer profound and hearfelt condolences to Elder Victor Stanley's immediate family and to the Paris family in general.  

Pastor Stanley was a much loved person with rare qualities - empathy, understanding and compassion.  He was always very quiet; smiling and unassuming.   He was well known in the community and by my family.  I have never had the opportunity to thank him for the love and support given to the Wilkinson family - and by extension, the Clarke family over many years.  He has always been there for us and for this, I thank him.

The Akan people of Ghana have a saying that death, for all its power, cannot carry water from the river with a sieve ... death takes the body away, but not the soul.

May your soul rest in eternal peace.

Dr V St Clair Wilkinson

==No Ordinary Human==

Dear God,

How can someone be so giving?

Asking for nothing in return but your own happiness.

I guess you gave us, no ordinary human.

How can someone make you feel so comfortable?

Where a moment in his space has a profound effect on yours.

I guess you gave us, no ordinary human.

When in his presence, you forgot the worldly pressures

And we laughed out loud like children.

I guess you gave, us no ordinary human.

When I can see his quality in the eyes of his children,

full of kindness & joy.

I guess you gave, us no ordinary human.

So God, I ask one favour, take good care of this soul.

As I can definitely confirm.

You lent us for a while, an extraordinary human.

By Anthony Herbert