BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - JUST as he lived, he was laid to rest; with the sounds of revving engines, screeching tyres and surrounded by motorcycles - his love, his passion, his drive.
A man who brought such joy to those with whom he encountered, he came and left with speed at the tender age of 30.
Lesford Ryan, known to everyone as 'Wifey', was laid to rest yesterday (Feb. 15) in a fashion like no other and one that perfectly reflected the man he was - a lover of motorcycles.
Lead by scores of young men of Biker Boyz on motorcycles and bicycles, the mortal remains of Ryan was laid at the Methodist Cemetery following a brief funeral service at the Methodist Church in Sandy Point.
Many persons lined the streets of Crab Hill, Sandy Point to witness the unique honouring of Ryan whom many described as full of life and one who could pump joy into any dull moment.
The service began with family, friends and persons in the community paying tribute to him in the form of songs and poems.
In his eulogy, Ryan was described as ambitious with a determination to accomplish anything. He was also described as a handyman as he could always be called upon for assistance.
"Because of the friendly and humorous person he was, he was able to touch many lives. He always had something funny to either say or do, which would cause people to laugh even if they were going through stressful and depressing moments," it read.
The service was lead by Reverend Joyce Rohan who, in her sermon, reminded the mourners that death could happen to anyone, no matter how young, and that the belief that it only happens to one when old should be abandoned.
"Death, we believe, is only to be found in the days when we are old. But we are reminded here today that death is real. As each minute passes you know from now on your lives have been changed. We live forgetting how unpredictable, we live forgetting how brief live is," she said.
While descending into his final resting place, parts of what he loved most, his motorcycle, were placed with him along with his helmet which sat atop his coffin at his head.
Ryan, a Montserratian by birth, migrated to St. Kitts along with his mother following the 1995 volcanic eruption in their homeland.
He leaves to mourn his parents, girlfriend, one daughter, one brother, grandmother, and a host of other family members and friends.
May his soul rest in eternal peace!