Shannon lives on

This was the prevailing view from several persons who spoke yesterday at the funeral service for the 20-year-old Republic Bank Ltd employee eight days after she was murdered and her body stuffed in a shelf and hidden with cardboard boxes in a room on the third floor of the IAM & Co Ltd store on Charlotte Street in Port-of-Spain. An autopsy on Sunday revealed that Banfield was smothered.

There was standing room only inside the San Juan Seventh-day Adventist church during the service.

Banfield was later laid to rest at the Orange Grove Memorial Garden in Trincity.

Banfield was described by speakers as a giant among believers, whose lifestyle was in every aspect an example of a believer of Jesus Christ. Every one of the six speakers who presented during her funeral service proclaimed that because of her service to her fellow man, in death she has been granted peace and is with the Almighty.

“For we know that if this earthly house we live in is dissolved, we have a building from God,” said Pastor Carlyle Scobie, as he quoted scripture: “an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands.” From as early as 8 am, mourners gathered at the church to pay final respects to a woman who was largely anonymous in life but became a national figure by the way of her death. Among those paying their respects were Imam Yasin Abu Bakr. Heavily armed police officers were on hand.

During the eulogy, Banfield was described as a model child and staunch believer in God. “If Shannon were here today with us what would she say,” asked Angello Toussaint, during her eulogy.

“I think she would have said the key is to have love for one another.

I have not died in vain and you must continue to minister the word of God. To my family, I love you unconditionally but I was sent here with a purpose. Wipe the tears off your face, and celebrate me as I have achieved what I came here to do. I know I will see you again, may the lord keep you faithful. Farewell.” Among celebrations of her life, speakers and members of the congregation also remembered the manner in which she died and spoke out against violence and crime. “It is not just the Banfields and the Toussaints (who are in mourning),” said a representative of Republic Bank.

“Look at how much innocent blood has been spilt. In Jesus’ name this nation must declare war on crime. This nation shall declare war on these heinous and unimaginable acts. We will take this nation back from today. We have to pray and cry and pray some more. We have to tell the lord that we are fed up of the violence.” On December 5 Banfield was reported missing by her mother, who was told earlier that day that Banfield was planning to go to Pennywise, and IAM & Co to do some shopping before she went to her Santa Cruz home. On Thursday last, Banfield’s body was found in the warehouse of IAM & Co under a pile of boxes.

A suspect who was released earlier this week, was yesterday detained once again by police for further questioning.