Schoolteacher gives Xmas charity in spite of personal tragedy

ON December 14, in the early hours of the morning, a violent tragedy struck schoolteacher Zinzee Lewis and her family. Lewis’ 92-year-old grandfather, George, was brutally killed by gunmen after his house at Harding Place, Cocorite, was firebombed at 4.45 am. Her grandmother, Eldena, who barely escaped with her life, was burned in the nightmarish incident as she tried to drag her dying husband from the flames.

As the horrible news reached her, Lewis, herself, was severely traumatised. So much so that she considered cancelling a Christmas charity event that she had planned to help less fortunate members of her community.

Lewis, who owns the Judea Little Jems Pre-school in Macoya, last year held a free Christmas event to treat children who attended her school and others who lived in the area.

This year, however, was different. The advent of the covid19 pandemic had changed things.

Lewis, in conversation with Newsday last Saturday, explained: “Last year we had free games, free toys, free snacks, free eats, free drinks, free tents, free bouncy castles. But, with covid19, at first I was despondent because I’m saying, ‘My God! What is going to happen?’”

In September, however, she said her mindset changed.

“I decided: you know what? Persons situations are real bad. We have parents calling in who would have lost their jobs and I’m thinking, ‘How are they going to make out?’

“Some children’s Christmas would not be the same this year, so I decided to take it upon myself to do this (charity event) for the less fortunate to bring joy.”

However, in the midst of organising the event, Lewis received the shocking news of her grandfather’s death.

“So on Monday December 14, I will never forget this day, after 4 am in the morning, my grandparents’ home was firebombed. My grandfather was burnt to death, my grandmother came out with burns but she pulled him out of the home and he told her to ‘leave me and go ahead.’

“She climbed the fence to get help and someone came and said: ‘Throw yourself over, I will catch you.’ And that is how she lived to tell the story today.”

Coping with the tragic events put a damper on Lewis’ Christmas spirit.

“To be very honest, when it happened I said, ‘This is the end. I cannot do any more teaching. I don’t want to do anything, I’m finished, I can’t go on.’

“To know that he died this gruesome death at 92 and he was a quiet person. They no longer have a home. Granny’s home is where everybody goes for Christmas. I said, ‘I’m done I can’t.’”

But a visit to her surviving grandparent would inspire Lewis to push forward.

“I saw her in the hospital and she is praying and still saying Jesus is the rock on which she stands. If Granny can do that, I have to continue to do this for her, because my grandfather will always tell me how proud he was of me,” Lewis said.

“I really really didn’t want to do it but with the motivation and encouragement from Granny, I thought: ‘If she could do it, I could do it too.’ And I know this is what she would want me to do.”

Last Saturday Lewis followed through. She was able to distribute hampers, gift bags and toys out of her home and the school’s compound on Gerbera Avenue, Macoya.

The hampers, gift bags and toys were provided through a collaborative effort between Lewis, parents of toddlers that attend her school, well wishers and corporate sponsors Nestle and Linda’s Bakery.