PASTOR LOSES FIGHT FOR LIFE Sister still grateful for donations
After battling a heart condition in the hospital for nine weeks, Pastor Damion Lewis lost the fight on Saturday morning.
Struggling to hold back the tears, his sister, Tanisha Lewis, told THE STAR that her brother had a good fight, and gone to a place of sweet rest.
“He died early yesterday morning around 7,” she said, crying.
Damion was born with a severe heart condition that got worse earlier this year when he suffered a minor heart attack.
In August, Damion, 42, who was a junior pastor at the Constant Spring and Whitehall Seventh-day Adventist churches, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a chronic disease of the heart muscle.
According to his sister, this is a very difficult time for the family because he was a dear brother and friend to them. She said that even though he is no longer with them, he will always remain in their hearts.
As the tears rolled, Tanisha struggled to find words. However, she said that she will forever be grateful to all the people who gave a helping hand.
“I just want to thank all the people who have prayed for him and all those who donated,” she said.
The goal of US$25,000 (approximately J$3,375,000) was not met, but Tanisha said that the family will be using the donations to pay for her brother’s funeral.
“I can’t even find words at this moment, and I really don’t know what to say. This is really heartbreaking. The money that we have got so far will be used for his funeral, and the rest will be given to the East Jamaica Conference,” she said.
Tanisha described her brother as an unwavering man of God who worked as a carpenter in his early 20s and went back to school in his 30s so he could have a diploma to pursue his degree in theology.
“He was a very determined person. He was serious about God’s work, and he went to preach at a lot of churches, so a lot of people knew him,” she said.