Memorial service for ‘dynamic’ car aficionado
DYNAMIC, friendly and never afraid to help out a friend.
This is how Jeffreys Bay Classic Car Club secretary Coen van Beek described former chairman Johan Marais, who died on Saturday.
Marais was shot dead after three men entered his Silver Tree Road home early in the morning.
A memorial service for Marais will take place at the NG Kerk Kompleks in Olienhout Street at 2pm today.
“He was a very dynamic man, always friendly and never lazy to lend a helping hand to those who needed it.
“He had a passion for classic cars and devoted a lot of his time to the club,” Van Beek said.
He said Marais had owned two classics, a silver 1969 Triumph Spitfire and his prized possession, a 1947 light blue Davdon special, which he had refurbished himself.
“He was very fond of the Davdon, he treated that vehicle like his baby. Marais bought and restored it to the condition it is in today.
“He was very knowledgeable when it came to classic cars – if any member needed a part for their cars, they could just ask him and he would know where to find it.”
A founding member of the club, Marais was named chairman in 2011.
He had been re-elected to the position every two years since 2011.
Van Beek said car clubs from Nelson Mandela Bay would also make the short trip to Jeffreys Bay to attend the service.
Marais’s daughter, Michelle den Hoed, said the support from the community had been overwhelming.
“We were not aware that he knew so many people – they came from all corners, paying their respects, bringing us food and just being there for us,” Den Hoed said.
“We cannot thank them enough.”