The Jamaica Beacon

10/01/2026

Last year was a tough one for Reggae artiste Iba MaHr, whose mother Roselin Embden-Harris passed away suddenly October 8, 2025.

She is survived by her husband and three children, including the well-known artiste who did a tribute during her thanksgiving service at Linstead New Testament Church of God on Saturday, December 6.

She was interred in her family plot at the back of Berry Hill Primary School, which is located in deep rural St Catherine - a few miles away from Riversdale.

🟠WATCH full story on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/9a0qL9xduKQ?si=h8QqJDDOe4q2RWxa

10/01/2026

RUN WALK 2026 - DO IT FOR A WORTHY CAUSE.

Powered By A Dream Foundation, which is based at Palm Seventh Day Adventist Church in Linstead, St Catherine is hosting its annual 5K Run Walk on January 25, 2026 to help fund scholarships and assist students affected by Hurricane Melissa on the western end of the island.

08/01/2026

Victoria Hanley, a final-year student at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, was widely regarded as a young woman destined for great achievements.

With aspirations in digital marketing, her future seemed bright and full of promise.

However, this hopeful trajectory came to a heartbreaking end under mysterious circumstances.

Victoria’s body was discovered face-down in her room at George Alleyne Hall, one of the university’s dormitories.

Early reports indicated that a scarf was tightly wrapped around her neck.

A post mortem confirmed that strangulation was the cause of death, deepening the mystery surrounding how such a tragedy could unfold within the university community.

At just 20 years old, Victoria’s untimely death left family, friends, and the wider community in mourning.

Her burial took place at Melrose Cemetery in Manchester, accompanied by the somber backdrop of rainfall, which seemed to echo the sorrow felt by many.

Prior to her burial, a thanksgiving service was held at Andrews Memorial United Church in Mandeville, a place of significance for Victoria, as she was the youngest person ever confirmed there - an enduring testament to her strong faith and connection to the community.

🟠WATCH the funeral report on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/Fa2znuPp0Jw?si=56l6sOphWKkJtXYg

04/01/2026

Sylvan Lawrence-Edwards (Miss Jean), age 72, from Woods Town district at Discovery Bay in Saint Ann, passed away 7 October 2025 in her husband's arms en route to Saint Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, St Ann.

She was born at Samuel Prospect in Trelawny 18 January 1953 to the late Wedia Robinson and Edward Lawrence.

She attended Brampton Primary School in Jamaica and Sunrise School of Nursing in Florida, USA.

At different points of her life, Jean lived at Woods Town in Jamaica, as well as Florida, Delaware and Connecticut in the United States.

Wherever her journey took her, her hands were rarely still. She worked as a housekeeper, laundry attendant, vendor, and a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Jean’s life was defined partly by her devotion to her family. She shared 43 beautiful years of marriage with Lenworth "Kingsley" Edwards.

Her four children are: Keron Brown, Everdean Edwards, Roshane Edwards, and Sherise Edwards-Downer. She also has nine grandchildren and 11 living siblings.

Jean was a faithful member of Waltham Abbey Baptist Church.

A celebration of her life will take place on Sunday, 11 January 2026, at Victory Faith Tabernacle Church Of God in Woods Town, Discovery Bay, commencing at noon. Interment: Family plot at Woods Town.

04/01/2026

A veteran teacher, Rose Salkey, proved during the passage of Jamaica's most powerful storm on record so far - Hurricane Melissa - that mental preparedness is vital during a natural disaster.

In a moment of panic for some, she made an emergency call to the Jamaica Fire Brigade, resulting in the rescue of seven occupants of her Mandeville household, which had been flooded severely.

Fire personnel responded and conducted the rescue operation - videos of which went viral and became the only known footage of a State agent actively conducting rescue operation during the hurricane.

🟠WATCH the full report on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/JX3Vd1LeqoI?si=hE8qNoF8IkgO3zJU

03/01/2026

Two cousins, who were among five people killed at Linstead in St Catherine on October 5, 2025, have been laid to rest in a public cemetery located about a mile away from the scene of terror.

They are: 19-year-old Jowayne 'Joshane' Walters and his 22-year-old security guard cousin Famous Amos.

The other three murder victims were 39-year-old Iyisha Washington-Miller, auto-mechanic Mario Sullivan, and four-year-old Shannon Gordon who is also a cousin of Walters and Amos.

Walters and Amos were laid to rest on Sunday, December 27 following a thanksgiving service at Bog Walk Seventh Day Adventist Church.

🟠WATCH the full report on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/DE1v1zmOAH8?si=Ui6GiM_OVwszvtKk

03/01/2026

Teachers of Rosemount Primary and Infant School in Linstead, St Catherine broke down in tears at the funeral for their slain student Shannon Gordon.

Had the four-year-old not become a victim of gun violence, she would have been appointed a class monitor, her principal Malaika Sinclair-Bailey announced during the thanksgiving service, which was held for the child at Hampstead Seventh Day Adventist Church in St Mary on Sunday, December 14.

Shannon was shot dead when gunmen invaded her residence at Commodore district in Linstead, St Catherine on Sunday October 5, 2025.

The four other persons killed are: 19-year-old Jowayne 'Joshane' Walters, 22-year-old security guard Famous Amos, 39-year-old Iyisha Washington-Miller, and auto-mechanic Mario Sullivan.

🟠WATCH the full report on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/PDENqcaP1rU?si=Q4YS9-LCXzSCVKlA

02/01/2026

Councillor for Bog Walk Electoral Division in St Catherine Denise Murphy-Bramwell has spoken highly of the two young men who were among five people whom gunmen posing as cops shot dead on October 5, 2025 at Commodore district in Linstead.

She was speaking at the thanksgiving service held for the duo - 19-year-old Jowayne 'Joshane' Walters and his 22-year-old security guard cousin Famous Amos.

The other three people who died in the attack are 39-year-old Iyisha Washington-Miller, auto-mechanic Mario Sullivan, and four-year-old Shannon Gordon who is also a cousin of Walters and Amos.

Walters and Amos were buried at Commodore Cemetery on Sunday, December 27 following their thanksgiving service at Bog Walk Seventh Day Adventist Church.

🟠WATCH the full funeral report on our YouTube channel at link below:

https://youtu.be/DE1v1zmOAH8?si=HSPYr7qMnJZGieLh

02/01/2026

Carol Kelly, age 85, of Ewarton in Saint Catherine, was born 16 June 1940 to Charles and Estella Kelly; he passed away 18 November 2025 at Linstead Public Hospital.

He was the devoted husband of Veronica Kelly, who predeceased him in 2022, and with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.

arol worked at Alcan (Ewarton Works) for almost 30 years, after which he retired.

He and his wife later migrated to the United States, where they lived for more than a decade before returning to Jamaica in December 2022.

He was the proud father of six children: Owen, Viviene, Shirlette, Garnet, Patrice, and Avia. He has 11 grandchildren: Jayden, Jaylen (deceased), Joel, Justin, Jenay, Jared, Jayla, Gabrielle, Joash, Izaiyah, and Leohandro.

A celebration of Carol’s life will take place on Saturday, 10 January 2026, at Ewarton Baptist Church, commencing 10AM. Interment: Faith’s Pen Cemetery, St Ann.

The song is ended, But the melody remains.

🟠WATCH it at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/0_XkxFU0AuA?si=84seNW9yZITUYqZO

01/01/2026

The pastor who gave Jamaica some of its most popular traditional Gospel songs has been buried amid shocking revelation about the struggles he faced in the twilight of his life.

Reverend Glen Graham, 70, is the writer and singer of songs such as: Six Men Bringing You Back, Oh If I Miss Heaven, Tell Jesus To Send For Me, Oh Lord Send Me A Surplus, and Prepare To Meet Me There.

But unlike many with far less impressive repertoires in other musical genres, Reverend Graham never received a national award. And the Government of the day, which usually issues press statements about the passing of icons - and even attends their funerals, did not extend similar courtesy to the Gospel music legend who died of an illness on the island November 27, 2025.

Reverend Graham's niece, Everdeen Nesbeth Thomas, in an interview with Jamaica Beacon Media, recounts her uncle being left homeless and even robbed on various occasions as he tried to eke out a living on the island.

The late icon, who did not have any children, has been buried in his native Round Hill district, St Elizabeth.

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01/01/2026

Eustace 'Roy' Richards Foundation, in association with Croft's Hill Enterprise, presents its ANNUAL DONKEY RACE on Saturday, January 3, 2026.