Community ‘peacemaker’, adviser laid to rest

Nelson, 48 along with life-long friends, Renald Elie, 46; Gerald “Tall Man” Gibson, 52 and Willard Cantaro Ravello, 31 were murdered by two masked men last Friday evening, as they played dominoes at a neighbourhood parlour on Kernaham Trace, Chin Chin Road, Cunupia.

Family and friends gathered at the Allen’s Funeral Home, Arima, yesterday to celebrate the life of the former “life of the party.”

Denzelee Samuel, Nelson’s niece, in delivering the eulogy said her uncle was a second father to her and an excellent father-figure to the youths of Kernaham Trace. Although he had no children of his own, Samuel said, Nelson had a way with youths and would always cease an opportunity to share “good advice” or school them on the facts of life.

“He had a way of making us laugh, even when we did not want to, I will miss him,” she said.

Villagers, she said, referred to him as “Judgement” because he would usually act as mediator in conflicts between residents. “My uncle was an example to us and nobody else could ever take his place,” she said. Edmund Griffith of Judgement School, Morvant reminded mourners that “God moves in mysterious ways that sometimes, we do not understand.”

He said during their time of mourning, the family should come closer together in the Lord. He encouraged those present at the funeral, to remember Nelson’s mother, Frances, in prayer and be a strength to her during her mourning period.

“It is a great loss we have experienced but God always knows best,” he said.

Shuttle drivers from Nelson’s former workplace, the University of the West Indies (UWI) as well as Wayne Richardson, Director of Security, UWI and Rawle Campbell, Assistant Director of Security, UWI were present at the funeral service.

Richardson told Newsday, Nelson was one of his most dedicated workers who went about his duties diligently. He said Nelson was noted for his ability to get along with the students at UWI and usually went beyond the call of duty when asked.

Bobby Ramrattan, UWI shuttle service driver said when he first heard the news of his co-worker’s death, he thought it was a joke. It was after listening to the radio, he realised his former friend was violently killed. “I will miss a good comrade and friend,” he said.