Acid attack victim buried

MANDEVILLE:

THE SOMBRE faces, the pink and white flowers that adorned the white casket reflected the mood of those who gathered for the service of rememberance and thanksgiving for the life of 26-year-old Lisa Roach-Louis at the Mandeville Parish Church last Friday. Lisa died on Tuesday, August 7 at the University Hospital after what was termed a gallant fight to survive a June 6 acid and fire attack in her home perpetrated by her husband, Dominican born 33-year-old Burt Louis.

Her smiling face on the programme drew the focus of just about everyone with friends, schoolmates, associates and employees of Lamasa Services Limited, the firm she managed.

Tributes in song and speeches from workers, former teachers and students of the University of the West Indies, remembered Lisa as a young, bright and caring person reaching for the stars. Reaching, they said, not only for personal fulfilment but also to help those around her. "She always made you laugh when in her company," they said of Lisa, descrined by her parents as "their world".

Lisa, who held a first degree in science from the University of the West Indies, was slated to enter that institution's medical school during the upcoming academic year to fulfil her childhood dream of being a doctor. Like a well-rehearsed choir the overflowing congregation's voices echoed the sorrow of the loss of one of the parish's future leaders.

A former student of Belair Preparatory and Manchester High schools, she was once the parish's spelling bee champion and represented Jamaica in the Caribbean Science Fair. Ms. Melody Williams sang what was said to be Lisa's favourite song "The Extraordinary God" which she (Lisa) often sang during her hospitalisation.

Hailed as being very focused, artistic, and close to her parents, others remembered her as a person who took responsibility for her actions casting no blame or speaking ill of anyone. It was said also that she had a soft and pure heart and her mother Marcia attributed Lisa's ever present smile to the purity of her soul.

Parents Marcia and Lascelles Roach listened intently and other family members in the front row fought back tears. Lisa's brother and sister Jerome and Kerry-Ann read second lesson and Rev'd Dr. Kenneth Thaxter delivered the sermon. "In life, we cannot escape evil for when we look at the outward appearance of a person we cannot know what secret the heart holds," Rev'd Thaxter said. He however said we must leave judgment to the Lord adding that although Lisa's life was short it was one with good example for others.

Also in attendance were Minister of Health, John Junor; Junior Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dean Peart; former and current Mayors Leo Porter and Harris Williams; Custos of Manchester, Dr. Gilbert Allen.

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