Classmates weep for Kamilah

“Although my daughter strove for perfection, I know she was not perfect.” These were the words of Trevor Townsend as he composed himself and faced a packed congregation that attended his daughter’s funeral. The body of Townsend’s daughter, 16-year-old Kamilah Townsend, of Bishop Anstey High School, was fished out of a river in the Heights of Guanapo last Saturday. At her funeral service yesterday, her father thanked all relatives and friends for their support during his family’s time of grief, and also made a strong plea to the nation’s children. “To all children, to the nation’s youth, please, please, if you have any secrets, share them a little bit with those who love you. While you may have friends, be mindful that not every one is a friend,”said the father of the deceased.

Kamilah’s classmates wept openly during the funeral service, and could not contain themselves as her cousin, Nailah Adams, read the eulogy.
Adams spoke of the “childlike Kamilah” who would always playfully lock her classmates in the bathroom or classrooms. “Kamilah also couldn’t wait for Carnival. She was so anxious, she spent time in the gym, shaping up for the big day. She would really be missed by all.” The Homily from Cannon Claude Berkley brought loud applause from the congregation, as he called on parents to be more aware of their children’s lifestyle. “Children today have been fashioned to do as they please, and to go where no one has gone before. But parents, tell your children, there is evil out there and it is fashioning the youth of today into a people of distraction and disorder,” said Cannon Berkley.

Cannon Berkley also called on the younger members of the congregation to use Kamilah’s experience as a lesson and asked that parents do their part to ensure that these lessons are taught. “We need active obedience and cooperation from you parents. Children, obey your parents because Kamilah has left a lesson for all of you. Obey your parents or you will be held accountable for your mistakes,” Cannon Berkley urged. “If someone has stolen the soul of the nation,” the Cannon preached, “we must get it back.” Kamilah’s body was later buried at the Diego Martin Cemetery. Investigations into the death of the 16-year-old who was found shot and stabbed to death last Saturday are continuing.