Biography
He was the youngest of five children born to the parentage of Rev. Enoch Backford I and Mrs. Maude Backford nee Johnson. He grew up in the city of Nassau and bore his father’s first name. His early schooling saw him attend several learning institutions namely; Eastern Primary School (Sand’s School): 1943, Jordan Memorial Baptist School: 1946, Southern Junior School: 1949 and graduating from St. John’s College in 1956. He went on to Florida Memorial College where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree and Teaching Certificate. He married Jacqueline McKinney-Backford and the Union was blessed with five children, four girls and one boy. Similar to his father, he too lost his wife in death early in the marriage and found himself a widower having to serve the role of both father and mother for his children.
His spiritual life was determined very early, being the son of the Superintendent of the Bahamas Baptist Union and Pastor of Salem Union Baptist Church. It therefore is no wonder that at a tender age he found himself being busy in the vineyard of the Lord. Organist, Associate Minister and lay preacher are just some of the roles he filled as he provided quality service to Salem Union Baptist Church. He was ordained as a Minister in 1985. He also served the Bahamas Baptist Union in the capacity of President of the New Providence District and second Assistant Superintendent. His service and talents were also provided to the Bahamas National Baptist Convention having served as Principal at the Charles W. Saunders School. His crowning achievement however came in September 2001 as he was called to Pastor the Mt. Carey Baptist Union Church. This is the oldest church in the Bahamas Baptist Union and it played a pivotal role in the startup and launch of the Union as it exists today. He served this congregation for twelve plus years and was made Pastor Emeritus following his retirement in 2013.
Rev. Backford II work life was spent in the Bahamas Civil Service and thus a civil servant. Starting in 1962 as a teacher at the Claridge Road, then Southern Senior School, Blue Hill High (A.F. Adderley), Pyfrom High (C.I. Gibson), then back to Blue Hill High (A.F. Adderley) where he closed that chapter of his teaching career as the Principal of the then high school in 1975. In 1976 he was made Deputy Director of Bahamas Immigration. He moved on to become Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Utilities 1986. Following this he served as Chief Clerk, to the House of Parliament in 1989 following which he became Parliamentary Commissioner in 1994. Following a long and exemplary career in service to our nation he retired from Bahamas Government Service in 1995.
His post retirement season saw him take on the following endeavors; High School Principal – C.W. Saunders Baptist School, Chairman- Her Majesty’s Prison Visiting Committee, Member of the Scholarship Committee, Acting Chairman & Member of the Public Service Commission, Lay Magistrate.
Rev. Backford II however was considered a “renaissance man” and filled many other roles wherever duty and his abilities called. Some of these included; Member of First National Insurance Board, President- Bahamas Union of Teachers, Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Beta Pi Chapter of Florida Memorial – 1959, Charter Member of Delta Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. – Nassau, Bahamas.
He was an avid athlete and sports enthusiast having achieved the following; Gold Medal -100 Yards dash-Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Sports (Western Fort): 1954, Bronze Medal – 4X100 Yards Relay -West Indies Federation Games, Kingston, Jamaica: (1st Bahamas Track Medal): 1957, President, Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association: 1967-1972, Vice President, Bahamas Olympic Association: 1972-2008.
Athletic Travels: Team Manager-Pan American Games-Winnipeg, Canada: 1967, Team Manager-Pan American Games-Cali, Columbia: 1971, Deputy Chef De Mission-Olympic Games-Munich, Germany: 1972, Baden-Baden Germany: 1984 (Olympic Committee Meeting), Chef De Mission-Olympic Games- Atlanta, Georgia: 1996.
Like Apostle Paul, Rev. Backford II mantra was “….I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1st Corinthians chpt. 9 v22).
Some of his other accomplishments included; Diploma in Dangerous Drugs and Narcotics from the United States Department of Justice: 1970
Certificate in Security and Intelligence in London, England: 1976 (Immigration)
Certificates in Education Administration and Management: University of Miami-1980, 1983.
Rev. Enoch Backford II departed us on 7th September 2015.
“Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.”