Our community is in mourning over the loss of six precious lives as a result of a fatal highway accident which occurred Saturday, September 18, 2010.

There victims are:

Bishop Simon White

Minister Zelda White (Bishop’s wife)

Pastor Titus McGhie

Deaconess Elaine Reid

Missionary Avril Murray

Sister Evelyn Ferguson

Several others are still in critical condition in a New York Hospital.  Two persons have left hospital.

This tragedy has shaken our community to the core as we mourn the loss of church leaders who shepherded hundreds of parishioners at the Joy Fellowship Christian Assembly in the Bronx.

A funeral service for the victims is on Friday, October 1st, 6:00p.m. at the Community Protestant Church, 1659 East Gunhill Road, in the Bronx.  Some of the deceased will be interred in New York while others will be laid to rest in Jamaica.

The Consulate urges the community to support the families in their time of need with your prayers and in whatever other ways it can.  We have been working closely with the families to assist in a variety of ways.  Both the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister have paid their respects to the families, publicly and privately.

Contributions are being accepted by the families and are to be directed to Joy Fellowship Christian Assembly and sent to Evangelist Katherine Lawrence, 4731 Richardson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10470, (917) 887-9541.

Rev. Steve Robinson, Diaspora Board, NE Faith-Based Sector Chair, is coordinating additional support for the families.  Rev. Robinson can be reached via email at [email protected].

The Consulate thanks you for your heartfelt concerns and is appreciative of all that you are doing to support the families.

Sincerely,

Geneive Brown Metzger (Mrs.)

Consul General chardson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10470, (917) 887-9541.

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