‘Day of reckoning’

Declaring that no act of violence will go unanswered, Pastor Adolphus Smith yesterday warned that there will be “a day of reckoning” as he addressed mourners at the funeral of slain Denham Town shopkeeper Kerrio ‘Boyu’ Pinnock.

“All those who believe they are going to get away with their ungodly deeds and their dirty deeds, they better think again,” he said. “For the Bible says that every knee shall bow and everyone will have to answer to God for what they have done.”

“How can you kill a child? But there is a day of reckoning,” the pastor charged as he urged mourners to leave all vengeance to God.

The warning came as grief and sadness blanketed the atmosphere, hanging heavy inside the tightly packed Regent Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denham Town, Kingston, where relatives and friends gathered to bid farewell to the 31-year-old, weeks after he and his three-year-old son, Jayce Pinnock, were fatally shot in a gun attack at their home.

Pinnock, a shopkeeper and father, was laid to rest two days after his son was buried.

Pinnock and his young son were shot when gunmen entered their Denham Town home in the early hours of February 21 and opened fire while the family slept. An eight-year-old child was also injured but survived.

Two men have since been charged with multiple offences, including murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and wounding with intent.

Raw emotion

Scenes of raw emotion unfolded at the close of the funeral, as family members and friends openly wept while the body was being prepared for transport to the graveside. Several mourners clung to the funeral carriage, wailing, with one man repeatedly shouting Pinnock’s name in anguish as he struck the carriage and hurled expletives. One of the mothers of his children had to be restrained as she clutched the vehicle, screaming his name.

In a heartfelt remembrance, cousin Karrena Pinnock described Boyu as a “free spirit, vibrant, loving, and kind”, recalling his curiosity and determination from childhood, including a daring attempt at 10 years old to drive his father’s vehicle without prior knowledge.

Luckily for them that day, although he had driven the car down the hill and onto the road, he somehow managed to manoeuvre it into their grandparents’ “nice banana walk”.

“He was a very hands-on person … a real ‘Mr Fix It’,” she said, noting his skills as a mechanic, electrician, and plumber, and his deep commitment to his family and community.

“Whatever is good that you can attribute to a person, my cousin is one of those. He was a family man,” she said, noting that he not only cared for his children, but also several stepchildren.

He was also remembered for his support of the community, from helping neighbours in need to bringing smiles to local children at his children’s treats and other outings, including assistance to people affected by Hurricane Melissa.

“He could not stand a person in need going without; even if at first he said ‘No’, he would always come around to assist,” she said.

Pinnock also recalled her cousin as an entrepreneurial-minded man who had a big vision of completing his dream home and expanding his business – a “real man” whose greatest pride was his children.

Eulogising her brother, Kala Johnson-Dixon said Pinnock “burned bright”, and described him as driven and always striving to improve his circumstances for the benefit of his family.

“He saw potential where others saw nothing,” she said, adding that his life, though short, was defined by ambition and resilience.

“He had a natural head for business and a genuine passion for the hustle.”

‘A piece of her heart’

She shared that her brother was deeply loved by his family and that, to his mother, Vanetta Watts, “he wasn’t just a son, he was a piece of her heart walking outside of her body”.

She, too, spoke of her brother’s undying love for his children, his prized possessions.

“In their smiles, you will see his spark. In their laughter, you will hear his spirit. While he may not be here to walk them through the milestones of life, the love he poured into them will act as a compass guiding them as they grow,” Johnson-Dixon added.

Pastor Smith, in comforting the family, urged them to be of good courage and strong even in “this sad moment”.

He urged mourners, particularly young people, to reflect on the fragility of life, describing human existence as fleeting “like a shadow”, and to turn to faith.

“It is a warning to all of us once we’re alive upon this earth. It doesn’t matter the age, one can go any time – by a stray bullet, by accident, or by somebody who deliberately targets you. So give your life to Jesus,” he urged.

Contrary to the lyrics made popular by reggae singer Ernie Smith, he said that life isn’t just for living.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com