BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NESTA HAZEL, a son, a father, a brother and friend was laid to rest on Monday (Oct. 22) at the Springfield Cemetery following a service at the Church of Christ Church on Cunningham Street.
Hazel’s lifeless body was discovered on Thursday night (Oct. 11) lying on the main road in Soho Village.
The 24-year-old is originally of Shadwell Housing and following an autopsy it was revealed that death was caused by bilateral bronchopneumonia.
A large turnout of his friends and family attended the funeral ceremony to pay their last respects.
There were opening remarks done by his grandfather Evangelist Wilmoth Buchanan while Shaniqua Hazel did the first reading from Psalm 90: 1-12.
Before his death, Hazel was an employee at the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority and some of his former co-workers did a tribute in his honour.
Some of the hymns sang at the church gave a sense of comfort to those in mourning such as ‘Till the Storm’ and ‘And can it be’.
There were also solo renditions by Larry Vaughn and Jennifer Francis. Francis is the mother of Hazel’s son, Jahleel.
In the tributes section, Hazel’s mother, Barbara described him as a child who was quiet, contented and never demanding; traits that he took with him as he matured.
Hazel being the youngest of her three children, Barbara said, “I will miss you my baby, my loving son. You were taken so suddenly from us. My heart aches for you but Joy will come in the morning.”
Hazel’s father, Michael Hazel, referred to him as his son and friend and said that he would always love and carry him in his heart.
Along with his parents, Hazel leaves to mourn his sisters Pettra and Makeida, his children Jahleel and Shanequa, several aunts, uncles and cousins as well as his grandparents Wilmoth and Lorna Buchanan.
His pall bearers were Michael Hazel, Ellington Adams, Othneil Buchanan, Gervais Buchanan, Jason Isaac and Steadbert Buchanan.
