Thousands join virtual service to remember slain teacher, Nattalie Dawkins

Thousands of viewers joined the virtual memorial service on today for slain Clarendon teacher, Nattalie Dawkins. 

The ceremony was hosted on YouTube, due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The video has had more than 6,000 views.

Dawkins was lauded in tributes as a humanitarian who was family-oriented, and was always ready to offer assistance. 

"Nattalie was very kind and good to both of us (her parents.) She frequently took us to our appointments and would always take us to lunch after. A favourite of hers was buying little gifts for us," said her mother, Linda Dawkins.

Dawkins, the eldest of nine children, also made an impressionable mark on the lives of her siblings.

"She taught me to be compassionate. She never liked to see people suffer, and so [she] would go out of her way to help others, even at great personal sacrifice," her sister Kenisha shared.

Another sister, Sherril said: "She was always the first on the scene to render assistance. Even if the kindness was not repaid, and the same person returned for assistance, she would still extend generosity."

Dawkins, a member of the York Town congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses was eulogised as a fervent lover of Jehovah who found joy in imparting the knowledge and teachings of the Bible. 

"Her greatest joy was found in her worship of her God, Jehovah. She was rarely missing from her weekly congregation meetings at the Kingdom Hall, and loved sharing the precious truths found in the Bible with her neighbours, workmates and family, " the family said in a tribute.

One member of the York Town congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, who was identified as 'Brother Nash', said Dawkins was very active in the church's ministry.

He added: "She was a very jovial and respectful  person who was easy to get along with. Nattalie displayed love, not only to her family, but to members of her congregation." 

He said Dawkins was known for taking a personal interest in the wellbeing of others.

Passion for children

The virtual audience was told that the grade three teacher at the Four Paths Primary and Junior High School "had a special place in her heart for children" - a love that ignited her passion to pursue a career in education.  She taught at the at the schools for more than 22 years, and shared a loving relationship with her students who called 'her 'Auntie Princess.'

"One of her students requested that Nattalie even stand in as the mother of the groom at his wedding," the family said.

Jehovah's Witnesses member, Luther Georges, who chaired the service, described the educator's killing as "heinous."

"What makes this loss of Nattalie so difficult is the heinous crime committed against her. The tales of her abduction, assault and death by callous criminals is monstrous, terrible and totally unspeakable," he said.

However,  the family was grateful to residents across the parish who joined efforts over a nine-day period to locate the missing  teacher.

He also made mention of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) and president, Jasford Gabriel for, what he said, was tremendous and outstanding support. 

"Among us also are the men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) [who] worked tirelessly, searching for Nattalie when she went missing, and to apprehend those involved. The Dawkins family is very grateful to all you men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force for what you have done," Georges added.

An intelligence-based operation led detectives to a dump site in Sandy Bay in the parish on Thursday, April 8, where Dawkins' decomposed remains were found. She went missing from her home on Tuesday, March 30.

The two men charged with her murder were remanded when they appeared in the Clarendon Parish Court last Thursday. They are to return to court on June 14.

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