Lions Club assists retired Portland cop

The Lions Club of Port Antonio, in keeping with its philanthropic mandate, recently donated a wheelchair to Rhoda Folkes, a retired district constable from Mill Bank in Portland.

Folkes was presented with the much-needed wheelchair on Tuesday during a brief ceremony held on the lawns of the Electoral Office of Jamaica at Allan Avenue in Port Antonio.

"It is always a wonderful feeling to provide assistance to the less fortunate. This is a lady who served the community of Mill Bank with distinction, but due to multiple challenges, compounded by illness, she is unable to move about freely," said Edison Taylor, a member of the Lions Club.

"Having learned of her discomfort, we decided to see how best we could provide assistance to her. Today, we are fulfilling a part of our mandate in assisting the needy," he added.

Folkes is the mother of the late Jessica King, who was murdered in August 2013 by her boyfriend, a policeman, who shot and killed her near the entrance to the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio. He was convicted of the killing and imprisoned.

Since her daughter's death, Folkes, who served for 25 years as a district constable in Mill Bank, has been faced with multiple challenges, including the loss of use of both legs.

"I am grateful to the Lions Club for this wheelchair. It will ease the burden greatly as I will be able to move around the house with the utmost ease. I pray God's blessing on you all, and I wish for you long life, good health, and prosperity," Folkes said.