BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Thanksgiving Service for the life of Dennis Akeem Marryshaw, a.k.a. Not Nice, was held yesterday (Dec. 15) at the Word of Life New Testament Church on Central Street.
The officiating ministers for the service, which began at 3:00 p.m., were Bishop Bernard Boland Sr. and Pastor Michael Moss.
Marryshaw was shot and killed on Dec. 6 by a member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force while executing his duties, according to a police press release.
In the release, Police Press and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Inspector Vaughan Henderson said that at approximately 12:15 p.m. police from the Basseterre Police Station responded to a report of shooting at the Corner of West Independence Square and Cayon Streets.
“Police inquiries revealed so far that a member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force was responding to an altercation between members of two rival gangs where missiles were being thrown and other types of offensive weapons were being used.
“The police challenged a young adult male who was at the time armed with an offensive weapon and the young male advanced towards the police with the offensive weapon. As a result the police officer discharged a single round from his service pistol and wounded his attacker. The young male who attacked the police is 18-year-old Akeem Marrishaw of Upper Prickley Pear Alley,” Henderson said.
However, his girlfriend, Unique Brown, claimed that Marryshaw was unlawfully shot at close range by the police officer.
At the ceremony, the Scripture Reading was done by Marryshaw’s cousin, Leslina Harris, and the Eulogy was read by his younger brother, Makeel. Internment was at the Springfield Cemetery.
Makeel stated in the Eulogy that his brother was very caring toward his siblings and used to make his baby brother laugh while giving advice to his sister Sasha about the importance of school.
“He used to dance around the house with no music and make everyone laugh when he made up songs about his aunt Greta. He loved playing with the children at his aunt’s home, teaching them a dance that would normally make them laugh. He loved music and recorded an album,” Makeel said.
In a tribute to her son, Claudia Phillips wrote, “…You’ve always managed to put a smile on my face, mostly to make me laugh out loud. God bless the times we spent together. You were a very good son to me, and with all I feel inside I’m gonna miss you. Farewell to you Akeem till the day we meet again. The flames will forever burn in your honour,” she stated.
Present at the funeral were the Hon. Marcella Liburd, Parliamentary Representative for the area in which Marryshaw had resided, and Roy Fleming, former People’s Action Movement representative for the same area.
Along with his mother, Marryshaw leaves to mourn his father Dennis Boddie; stepfather Akins Phillips; grandmother Ryllis Peets; brothers Makeel and Rasheem Marryshaw, Devaughn Roland and Tayshawn Baptiste; and sister Sasha Marryshaw.
He also leaves to mourn his girlfriend, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends.
