One funeral for murdered man and mom who died from dengue

MURDER victim Gerald "Andy" Felix and his mother – who died from dengue fever hours after her son was shot – were given one funeral on October 7 at the Alpha Ministries Temple Beautiful church in Penal.

Felix and his cousin Mario De Leon were shot outside Felix's home on Dookie Street shortly after 7 pm on October 2.

De Leon died at the scene while Felix died a few minutes later at the Siparia District Health Facility. On October 2, Felix's niece Shernice said Gerald had just returned home after spending the day at the San Fernando General Hospital with his mother, Cecelia Felix, 90, who had fallen ill days before.

Cecelia died at about 3.30 am on October 3 from what doctors believe to be complications from dengue fever. She closed her eyes without knowing her son had been shot to death hours earlier.

Delivering a tribute, Felix's former work colleague, Dale Ceballo appealed to people to keep their loved ones in check.

"The person who committed this act is somebody's son, somebody's boyfriend, somebody's brother. If they could have tried to get this person on the right track, prevent them from going the way of evil, this may have been avoided."

At the front of the church's hall, both mother and son's caskets stood next to each other. At first glance, it was difficult to tell the family was actually mourning such tragic losses, given the outburst of joyous songs of praise while some mourners (including relatives) also danced.

Joy gave way to sorrow as the eulogies and tributes followed the songs of worship.

Every speaker spoke of Felix and his mother's unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ, so it was nothing short of fitting that their send of was amidst a congregation making such a joyful noise to The Almighty.

A relative described Cecelia as a "prayer warrior, a woman of God, a high priestess of our household and a woman after God's own heart.

"My grandmother wore many hats but the most important was that of preacher. Wherever the Lord sent her, she would go shamelessly and fearlessly. Preaching along the side walks of Penal, or in the market and even along High Street in San Fernando. It did not matter where the Spirit took her."

The relative recalled listening in on her grandmother's prayers which she offered three times daily and would hear her begging God to protect all her children and grandchildren. She said that even on Cecelia's death bed in the hospital, she was still strong in her faith. There was an audible sigh, possibly in admiration, as the relative revealed that Cecelia's final words on this earth were to her doctors, asking them: "Do you know God?"

"I leave you with that message. If you don't know God, get to know God as no man knows the time not the hour."

Ceballo said the apple didn't fall far from the tree when it came to Gerald.

"Everytime we spoke and he was telling me about his daily routine, the first thing he would say to me (was) 'Boy, when I get up this morning, I kneel down and said my prayers.' And his day started from there."

Ceballo joked that he would often stay quiet when Felix said this, "because I didn't say my prayers and I know if I told him...he would have let me have it.

He said Felix's example gave him the encouragement to try to be a spiritual leader in his home.

Checks with the police on October 7, revealed that the gunman who shot both Felix and De Leon was still at large. There was no word on De Leon's finals rites.