By Noel Thompson,
Freelance Writer
Alfred Chen's widow, Keisha, is comforted by her mother Beverly Hoilett, during the service.-Garfield Robinson
IT WAS a spectacle of colour, a celebration for a man much loved, and the platform for the naked grief of a young widow, all rolled into one.
Yesterday tens of thousands of people at the church in Christiana, Manchester, the burial ground in Dover, St. Ann and many points in between came out to say farewell to South Trelawny Councillor Alfred Chen.
Dressed in bright colours, waving tree branches and ringing bells, they lined the main roads leading from Christiana, through Clarendon and into Dover.
At the service held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the throng of about 4,000 included a large contingent from the Chinese community as well as the political and racing fraternities.
For two hours they celebrated and mourned while his widow, Keisha wept. The young Mrs. Chen, in her mid-20s, was consoled by her mother, Beverly Hoilett, who hugged her throughout the entire service.
Even the normally cool and collected Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Edward Seaga temporarily lost his composure.
Reading the second lesson from First Corinthians 13, vs 1-13, he stopped briefly, sniffing for a moment before continuing.
In his tribute JLP Deputy Leader Audley Shaw said the voices of the people of South Trelawny were the ultimate testimonial to Mr. Chen's foray into the difficult field of effective political representation. He also spoke of Mr. Chen's ambition to erect a multi-purpose building in Albert Town that would include facilities for skills training, food processing, a clinic and recreation, among other uses.
Mr. Shaw announced, on behalf of the family, that the building would be completed and named in Mr. Chen's memory -- the Alfred Chen Memorial Building for Skills Training and Community Development.
The funeral climaxed with a show by several Montego Bay bikers at the Dover Race Track.
Mr. Chen died the night of October 11 after the helicopter he was piloting crashed minutes after take-off in the hills of Trelawny.
