Elder Jermaine Luther Walker
Jamaica Kingston Mission
2011
Jamaica Kingston Mission
2011
Elder Jermaine Luther Walker (Sav-la-Mar, Jamaica) was serving with Elder Timothy Luke in the Kingston Branch. On Monday January 17, 2011, the Kingston Zone and Spanish Town Zone met at the Spanish Town Church to play football (soccer). The Elders of the Kingston Zone drove to the activity in the mission van so all eight of them could ride together. After the activity, the elders stopped for lunch and then were traveling toward Portmore when they were stopped in traffic and saw a police car and policemen by the side of the road– which isn’t unusual. The police frequently set up traffic stops and car checks along the roads between cities. The unusual thing was that a police officer ran past their van with his rifle drawn and shots were heard shortly thereafter. Elder Emery (one of the zone leaders) told them to duck and just then the back window of the van shattered.
This is a 15 passenger van which has 4 bench seats behind the front seats. Elder Ostberg was seated on the far back bench by the rear window; he was covered with glass and some of the glass went into his right eye; the bullet passed by him on his right side. He commented that he heard the bullet pass by his head. Elders Knowlton and Nelson were sitting on the next seat forward and the bullet passed between them. Elder Walker (the only Jamaican Elder in the van) was seated on the third seat forward (the middle of the five rows in the van) and was struck in the left temple by the bullet. Upon discovering that Elder Walker had been hit, the Elders checked for but could not find a pulse. Elder Emery pulled out of traffic and sped to the Spanish Town Hospital where Elder Walker was declared dead on arrival.
Elder Walker’s death was caused by a stray bullet from a person who had stolen a car. The police did not immediately apprehend the person responsible but have since determined his identity.
On Tuesday, the day after the passing of Elder Walker, President Hendricks asked Elder Sorensen and I if we would represent the mission and visit the family of Elder Walker. We picked up the branch president of Sav La Mar, President Blake (Jamaican), and drove to the Grandfathers home. It was about a 2 hour drive and located out in the sugar cane fields. The last half hour of the drive was up a bumpy one lane buggy path that led to a little village called "Welcome". There we met the Grandfather & his wife, an aunt (his mothers sister), and his only sibling a sister, Tremayne. Elder Walkers mother had just passed away also, from cancer, the first part of December and they had just buried her 10 days before Elder Walkers death. This was so hard for them to hear this after just losing his mother. The Grandfather was a very delightful man and very friendly to us. I feel so bad for Tremayne, his younger sister. She is only 14 years old and has lost her mother and only brother within the last month. Elder Walker, his mother, and sister were the only members, of the family, in the church. The rest of the family belong to a little church located right next door where they live. While visiting with the Grandfather, he expressed what a wonderful young man his grandson had always been through out his childhood. His Grandfather helped raise him seeing as he really never knew his father. President Blake also expressed what a great young man he was and an example to all.
Yesterday, January the 24th, we drove to Spanish Town to a memorial service for Elder Walker. All the missionaries throughout the whole island were there. All the Elders, Sisters, and Senior couples sang "Called To Serve". I could hardly keep from crying. It was sang with such conviction, and devotion. President and Sister Coleman spoke. President Coleman is a Seventy and Area President over the all Caribbean Missions. President and Sister Hendricks also spoke. Elder Luke, who was Elder Walker's companion for the past 4 months, shared some journal entries that he had written about Elder Walker's testimony and how strong it was and the example that he had been to him. Elder Walker would have finished his mission here in Jamaica on February the 8th. We are so thankful to have been able to known such a fine young man. Truly! Elder Walker will continue to serve.
Elder Walker’s death was caused by a stray bullet from a person who had stolen a car. The police did not immediately apprehend the person responsible but have since determined his identity.
On Tuesday, the day after the passing of Elder Walker, President Hendricks asked Elder Sorensen and I if we would represent the mission and visit the family of Elder Walker. We picked up the branch president of Sav La Mar, President Blake (Jamaican), and drove to the Grandfathers home. It was about a 2 hour drive and located out in the sugar cane fields. The last half hour of the drive was up a bumpy one lane buggy path that led to a little village called "Welcome". There we met the Grandfather & his wife, an aunt (his mothers sister), and his only sibling a sister, Tremayne. Elder Walkers mother had just passed away also, from cancer, the first part of December and they had just buried her 10 days before Elder Walkers death. This was so hard for them to hear this after just losing his mother. The Grandfather was a very delightful man and very friendly to us. I feel so bad for Tremayne, his younger sister. She is only 14 years old and has lost her mother and only brother within the last month. Elder Walker, his mother, and sister were the only members, of the family, in the church. The rest of the family belong to a little church located right next door where they live. While visiting with the Grandfather, he expressed what a wonderful young man his grandson had always been through out his childhood. His Grandfather helped raise him seeing as he really never knew his father. President Blake also expressed what a great young man he was and an example to all.
Yesterday, January the 24th, we drove to Spanish Town to a memorial service for Elder Walker. All the missionaries throughout the whole island were there. All the Elders, Sisters, and Senior couples sang "Called To Serve". I could hardly keep from crying. It was sang with such conviction, and devotion. President and Sister Coleman spoke. President Coleman is a Seventy and Area President over the all Caribbean Missions. President and Sister Hendricks also spoke. Elder Luke, who was Elder Walker's companion for the past 4 months, shared some journal entries that he had written about Elder Walker's testimony and how strong it was and the example that he had been to him. Elder Walker would have finished his mission here in Jamaica on February the 8th. We are so thankful to have been able to known such a fine young man. Truly! Elder Walker will continue to serve.
No comments:
Post a Comment