Premier Jennifer Smith paid tribute to Bermudian Minister Bishop Donald George Kenneth Ming at his funeral in New York on Wednesday.

Bishop Ming, who came from Jubilee Road, Devonshire, was typical of the AME church members who had made something of themselves despite of their home circumstances, the Premier said.

She told the congregation at Greater Allen Cathedral in Jamaica, New York: "What distinguished Donald Ming from many is that he wore his origins with pride for all the world to see."

Ms Smith said Bishop Ming's towering figure and personality were exceeded only by his generosity and commitment to the work of Christ.

"The physical hallmarks of Bishop Ming's illustrious career is an unparalleled legacy of church buildings and lasting centres of worship and learning," said Ms Smith.

"But more than this, he led by example both in his living and his ministry. To say that Bermuda was proud of this son of the soil is an understatement for we are proud of both our Bermudian Bishops - products of the Bermuda Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church who rose to the pinnacle of their calling.

"I also want to give thanks for Bishop Ming's example. He was the epitome of a true Bermudian gentleman throughout his career in the Ministry.

"Certainly there were rough times in his walk with God, and times when the sensitivities of service in the church were better served by the skills honed running barefoot around the rocky shores of Devonshire.

"Make no mistake however, that barefoot boy grew into a man of impeccable carriage and demeanour. In both speech and gait, Donald Ming was unique.

"I think you would all agree that he was one of those few people who could strut sitting down!"

Premier Smith finished by saying: "Let us rejoice in the blessed hope that we shall see him again when Christ's promise is made perfect, when all the time shall cease and we meet on that beautiful shore."

The 97th Bishop of the church, he was the first Bermudian to become Bishop over the Bermuda Annual Conference.

Bishop Ming died in his early 70s after a life as a Church leader and missionary, helping to build churches around the world, including in South Africa, various parts of North America, the Caribbean and England. Bishop Ming also built a health complex and clinic for the people of Haiti.

Bishop Ming steadily ascended in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, from a small charge in the New Jersey Conference to the Delaware Conference, where he built Mount Zion AME Church in Dover and motivated the building fund and purchased the site of land where New Murph Church now stands.

He also built and paid for, in half of the required time, Allen AME Church in Jamaica, New York.