Pastor calls for love at funeral of murdered 15-year-old boy

NO WORDS can describe the loss of a child to a grieving mother, Reverend Richard Wickham told mourners at the funeral for murdered 15-year-old Antonio Francois, on Saturday.

Wickham said a widower is a man who lost their wife, a widow is a woman who lost her husband but for a mother who lost her child, "there are no words to describe that,” he told the gathering at the David Guide and Son Funeral Chapel, Oxford Street, Port of Spain.

Francois was one of five boys who ran away from a children’s safe house in Valsayn, managed by the Children's Authority, between March 19 and 20. He and another runaway Semion Daniel were gunned down on March 28. Their bodies were found on the roof of an abandoned house in Mc Shine Lands, Laventille, after neighbours reported hearing gunshots. Daniel was buried on April 3.

Two of the remaining children returned to the care of the Children's Authority, leaving one still on the run.

Wickham encouraged those present, including police assigned to the Hearts and Minds Unit and former minister of gender, youth and child development Verna St Rose Greaves, to forgive. He reminded them that death is guaranteed for everyone and they should live in love.

"Death leaves a scar. When you lose someone it leaves a big scar. Please live in love, love covers a multitude (of sins).

During the eulogy, one of Francois’ three sisters, Aaliyah Barnwell, said he was her “ride or die.”

“He always told me he loved me. He was very intelligent and had his own way of thinking. You always said don't cry if you die, you deserve justice. I don't think I can be happy again. The earth lost a fighting soldier but heaven is greater and welcomes you.”

She said her brother did not deserve the pain he endured. Another sister, Whitney Barnwell, said her brother left them in “a drastic way.” She recalled nights they spent laughing until they were told to stop making noise, prompting further laughter.

“We shared the weirdest ailments together, like asthma, and laughed at the silliest thing,” she said. She said Francois and his sisters spent time exploring their yard “making childhood fun out of the littlest thing.”

His aunt, Kerindell Ayers, said the last time they spoke via WhatsApp, he asked her if she knew of anywhere that was hiring. His mother, Nicole Brathwaite, had previously said Francois wanted to be a police officer.

“He was a loving child who laughed uncontrollably. Life throws you curve balls and you don't know how to deal with it. We have to put our trust and faith in God. We have a lesson to learn from his death even though it was tragic."