United in grief at loss of inspiring Stevenses

It was a tearful and mournful farewell. But most of all, it was a celebration of inspiration – a tribute to two Jamaicans who had no qualms putting their country’s development and their family above all else.

Their legacies promise to endure for generations, and with the hundreds of mourners – many of whom were children under O’Neil Stevens and Camesha Lindsay-Stevens’ stewardship – showed just how true that promise is at their send-off.

And the individuals and establishments who offered tributes to the couple, tragically taken earlier this year in a car accident while on their way to an airport in the United States, were proof of their far-reaching impact.

On Saturday, outside the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on North Street in downtown Kingston, the police were kept busy to assist the many vehicles bringing mourners to the service with parking and to keep traffic flowing.

Inside, equally busy ushers scrambled throughout the ceremony to accommodate the attendees, particularly children. In their hearts, there will forever be a place of pain and pride following the losses; and yesterday, their love was evident.

Tribute after tribute reflected the committed and dedicated characters of the couple, whose two daughters – both of whom survived the accident – will have to continue without them. That dreaded reality was etched on the faces of the parents of students attending Jessie Ripoll Primary School, where O’Neil served as principal.

“He understood the work environment at the school, and the QEC in record time. Mr Stevens believed wholeheartedly in our motto, ‘Encouraging Each Other’s Greatness’,” offered Dr Ewan Williams, senior education officer at the Quality Education Circle, where Stevens took over as chairman in 2022.

“Under his leadership, collaboration was taken to another level. His accommodating and servant leadership style endeared his colleagues to him. It was his wish for all schools within the QEC to be rated good or higher. Consequently, he would make himself available to deliver presentations at many schools,” continued Williams, speaking of the late principal’s ground-breaking and thought-provoking meeting contributions.

A CARING RESERVOIR OF POSSIBILITIES

Williams, with the aid of other QEC members who joined him at the podium, described O’Neil as a caring reservoir of possibilities, an energetic emcee, and a football lover, who, in his drive to do good, “sometimes bit off more than he could chew”.

Others who offered tributes included Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris-Dixon; O’Neil’s father Paul and brother Andre; Camesha’s cousin Cecille Palmer; their family friend Carlington Hall; and Peter Mohan, branch manager at Scotiabank Constant Spring, where Camesha worked as a personal banker. Students and staff from Jessie Ripoll, where their children attended, also paid their respects.

“As she grew, her emerging character made everyone proud. Camesha’s mom remembers a time when Camesha was invited to spend the weekend at her friend’s house. The answer would typically be a big ‘no’, but after all of Camesha’s persuasive efforts, her mother finally said ‘yes’,” relayed Joyann Bramwell, Camesha’s cousin.

When the weekend ended, she said, the host family would meet Camesha’s parents in person to speak of her politeness, her blessing the meals, and her tidying her room the minute she woke up.

‘QUIET, FOCUSED, AMBITIOUS’

“Camesha was always the quiet, focused, ambitious, hard-working one. When other children her age were outside ‘wilding out’, Camesha could often be found in some quiet corner of the house with her nose in a book,” she continued.

Bramwell triggered a rare bout of laughter when she spoke of how Camesha would often walk and read, causing relatives to often warn her not to do so for fear she would collide with a light post.

“Camesha remained an avid reader until her passing, and she neva buck up inna one light post!” Bramwell said.

As an adult, she loved hosting intimate parties. As a wife she remained a beautiful person inside out – a “fashionista; a real class act, who was almost immaculate from head to toe; an expert in making the high heels work for her,” continued Bramwell, noting that Camesha left relatives with many fond memories which have amplified her family’s love for her even after death.

Cecille Palmer, retired principal of Holy Family Primary, where O’Neil was a student, said her birthday will forever be one of mourning as the couple died on that day.

She described her former grade four student as “the personality of the man spoke loudly; his stature, his attire, and he was always smiling with a pleasing personality. He was more than approachable. He was ‘more than’. Full stop!”

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com