Asafa grandmother laid to rest
Published:Tuesday | December 30, 2014 | 11:32 AMRasbert Turner
If good words could bring back 80-year-old Jennifer Reid, then she would have life abundantly.
She was described as a woman who put God first in her life and brought up her children in this belief. Reid, who is the grandmother of Olympian Asafa Powell, was laid to rest on Sunday December 21. The funeral service transformed the grounds of the Redemption National Church of God Waterloo Road Ewarton St Catherine into a sea of colours.
Scores of persons paid their last respects to the life of Reid, affectionately called 'Miss Janet'. It was an occasion that saw family, friends and loved ones giving words of praise for the late Reid.
Among those in attendance were Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Rising Star runner-up Lenya Wilkes.
The latter and her crew lifted the occasion to fever-pitch with renditions of I Look to You and Take Me to the Hill, among others. Reid was eulogised by grandson Nigel Powell as a God-fearing, kind, generous and one with an infectious smile.
LOVING SPIRIT
"She loved to smile and kiss her children and grandchildren. She was very kind, I can still remember the cow skin juice that she gave me," Powell said. Family friend Atlyn Pryce echoed similar sentiments in her remembrance of the late octogenerian.
"She really loved her family and was a child of God. She once saw her daughter Cislyn preaching and said how pretty she was," Pryce said.
Pryce said Reid led a good life, which set a positive tone for her loved ones to follow. Reid died on November 25 following a brief illness.
She is survived by five daughters, 35 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren. Interment took place at Dovecot Memorial Garden.