Mother and daughter crash victims laid to rest

WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — It was a mixture of tears and smiles at the funeral of 39-year-old Petrina Wallace and her daughter 15year-old Lavecia Forrester on Saturday at an overflowing Church of God of Prophecy in Whitehouse.

The mother and daughter, from Gordon District in Westmoreland, died in a motor vehicle crash on the Bluefields main road November 23 last year.

Three other people who were in the vehicle — 54-year-old

Janet Thompson of Mcalpine District, Oneil Allen, and his mother, 65-year-old Angela Samuel, both of Mount Edgecombe — also died in the crash which involved a truck and a Toyota Noah which was operating as a taxi.

The driver of the taxi, 47year-old Delroy Rodney, is now facing the court on five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

At Saturday’s painful funeral, tributes were delivered to the mother and daughter by students of the Petersfield High and New Hope Primary schools, family and friends.

The standout moment came during a tribute in song by the BT Thompson Funeral Service, which had members of the congregation on their feet and in an exuberant worshipful mood.

Wallace died leaving her three sons, Lazene Myrie and Usain Green — who are still in school — and her eldest, 22year-old Owayne Brown.

“Mi nuh know innuh,” said Brown in response to the question of how he will cope without his mother and sister. According to Brown, his mother was his strength as he had no support from his father.

Wallace was known as a mother who tried her hand at everything in a bid to assist her children and two died while returning from a trip where the mother had gone to seek assistance for Lavecia who was known to have a close relationship with her.

During the funeral for the mother and daughter, Michael Jackson, senior justice of the peace for Whitehouse, urged friends to offer support to the family in the days to come.

“To the family, we are here for you, we will be here for you,” said Jackson.

“I ask for continued support for the family, let it not just be a nine-day wonder. Offer them support and hope whenever you see them,” added Jackson.

The caskets with the bodies of Petrina Wallace and her 15-year-old daughter Lavecia Forrester in the Church of God of Prophechy in Whitehouse, during their funeral on Saturday.

Eudith Wilson (left) is comforted by her co-worker Delvin Buchanan during the funeral for her daughter Petrina Wallace and her granddaughter Lavecia Forrester on Saturday at the Church of God of Prophechy in Whitehouse.