Oscar Merritt was a Bahá’í pioneer in Barbados and member of its National Spiritual Assembly. He innovatively employed puppetry for young people's education, and researched and applied Bahá’í principles to agriculture and economic development.

Oscar passed away August 7, 2017, at age 86. He resided in Thomasville, North Carolina, after many years in High Point and Mount Airy.

In a letter of condolence to his wife, Winnona K. Merritt, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote, “We recall with admiration his long-standing and steadfast dedication to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh over his lifetime — including, of course, your service together as pioneers to Barbados for a period of more than a decade.”

Born in 1931 in Mount Airy, Oscar von Kochtitzky Merritt Jr. followed a spiritual path from his Methodist upbringing that led him to serve in lay ministry in rural Virginia churches.

He studied mechanical engineering, served in the Coast Guard specializing in electrical systems, then earned a degree in agriculture at Cornell University. With this varied background, his life’s work ranged from operating a fruit orchard, to research and development in textile manufacturing, to land surveying and mapping, to commercial manager in the Barbados sugar industry.

With his wife, Winnie, he was bringing up six children near Mount Airy when they became Bahá’ís together in 1973. Oscar immediately helped organize children’s classes, taught and proclaimed the Faith, and helped establish the Spiritual Assembly of Surry County. He was elected nine times as a delegate to the Bahá’í National Convention and served on the committee for the Carolina Bahá’í School. His work for interracial amity, including arranging local conferences, is well remembered in Surry County.

Starting in 1985 the Merritts made their home in St. James and later St. George, Barbados, joined in due course by two of their children. Oscar served for several years as treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Barbados, and also was an assistant to an Auxiliary Board member. He traveled widely through the southeastern Caribbean region, from Trinidad to Dominica, to help Bahá’ís strengthen community life and administration. His work with the Caribbean Sparks of Peace Project facilitated training and service by young people from many countries.

“He was a great encourager of local believers who were attracted to his upbeat disposition and ready smile,” his wife shares. “His little yellow van welcomed the elderly to come on outings to the National Center and to Holy Days, as well as made regular stops for the many rural children who attended classes in his home.”

A knack for puppetry gave Oscar opportunities to serve in a variety of ways. He presented puppet shows and workshops on Bahá’í teaching trips. In wider society, he staged shows for television and live audiences. A drug-abuse prevention video created for a UNESCO project was circulated to schools in 21 countries.

For a 1994 UN conference in Barbados, he helped construct 20-foot puppets that stood at the entrance to the Village of Hope. “Schoolchildren were able to manipulate the puppet hands and heads and listen to an amusing dialogue between Horror and Hope about the spiritual qualities needed for island peoples to promote sustainability,” his wife notes.

After settling back in North Carolina in 1996, the Merritts returned for several extended visits to Barbados, capped by another term of pioneering 2004–2006. They also were invited to visit communities on American Indian reservations.

Oscar’s experience and insights into social and economic development led him to facilitate workshops on such agricultural topics as tire gardening and composting during his Caribbean travels and at Bahá’í development conferences. He contributed to the founding of local youth and development initiatives in North Carolina as well.

He continued serving as a Local Spiritual Assembly member and supported devotionals and institute training for all ages locally.

In later years, despite dementia, “his positive personality continued to shine and attracted his caregivers to learn more about the Bahá’í Faith,” Winnie reports. “The bimonthly devotionals are continuing in the facility where he passed on.”

Oscar Merritt is survived by his wife, Winnona; children Andrew, Sarah, Ellen, Roger, Johanna and Matthew; and grandchildren. The National Spiritual Assembly of Barbados held a memorial gathering in his honor.