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Corporal Steven Duncombe, for many of his friends, was the kind of person you could call when you needed help.

When his colleague John Rolle reached out recently to ask Duncombe to escort his family to his nephew’s funeral on Saturday, September 5, 2026, he did not hesitate.

“I gat you bro,” Duncombe told him.

Rolle said in a social media post that he knew he could count on Duncombe. What he could never have imagined was that, less than two weeks later, he would be preparing to mourn the man who had promised to stand by his side.

“I can’t believe it,” Rolle said, remembering Duncombe as a brother and someone who was always willing to lend a helping hand.

Steven Duncombe, a 37-year-old serving member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, died following a traffic accident in the area of Prince Charles Drive and Garden Road.

Duncombe’s police motorcycle collided with and a white Suzuki motor vehicle. Duncombe was found suffering from injuries, while the Suzuki’s female passenger also reported sustaining head injuries.

Despite medical efforts, Duncombe succumbed to his injuries shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday.

But beyond the circumstances of his death, those who knew him are remembering the life he lived and the impression he left.

To many, Duncombe was a serious and dedicated officer who took pride in his work as a police cyclist. To others, he was “Stevie,” “Luca” or simply a friend who could turn an ordinary moment into a memory.

Vana described him as “the people’s favourite rider” and “our favourite Facebook police officer.”

The Royal Bahamas Police Staff Association remembered his unwavering dedication to service, professionalism and commitment as a police cyclist, qualities it said reflected the very best of the Force.

Others spoke of his time serving in Harbour Island, describing him as one of the finest officers to work there.

Michael Clarke remembered a man who could make people laugh until they cried, even while dealing with his own challenges.

Clarke said their friendship was filled with teasing, arguments and jokes. They were, as he put it, “like Tom and Jerry”—but always with love underneath.

“Most times, I was funny but Stevie was funnier!” Clarke recalled.

He also remembered Duncombe as someone who supported his efforts without question and regularly offered encouragement.

“Bey Mike, don’t worry about that. Keep doing you,” Duncombe would tell him. That encouragement, Clarke said, was typical of the man he knew.

Clarke said their last conversation took place just days before the accident.

“The parties, outings, real-life conversations, check-ins… will be cherished forever,” Clarke said, describing Duncombe as “a true gentle giant and a kind soul.”

For Duncombe’s cousin, the loss remains almost impossible to process. After hearing the news, the cousin said they posted a message on his Facebook wall, only to delete it moments later because no one else had posted yet.

There was still a small hope that the information was wrong—that a call would come saying Duncombe had received a second chance.

“You broke a lot of hearts,” the cousin wrote, struggling to understand how Duncombe’s name could now appear alongside the words “rest in peace.”

Raven Hepburn shared a similar disbelief, remembering how loved ones had hoped Duncombe’s brief responses before his death were signs that he was fighting his way back.

“He fought,” she wrote, describing him as a fighter whose time had ended far too soon.

Kjay Worrell recalled the “Atlantis runner days” and said Duncombe had always been solid.

Member of Parliament for Seabreeze Leslia Brice described Duncombe as a stellar gentleman, a first-class officer and a man who performed his duties with excellence, always with a smile.

Duncombe was 2007 graduate of Nassau Christian Academy.

Sofia Sosa spent her days caring for newborns.

As a neonatal physician assistant in Coral Gables, she worked with their families during moments that could feel uncertain and hopeless.

Colleagues say she brought compassion, intelligence and kindness to that work.

Now, her colleagues are trying to come to terms with her life that ended so soon.

Sofia, 28, was among four members of a Miami family who died Monday when their private plane crashed into the ocean while returning from a Labor Day weekend in the Bahamas.

Her grandparents, pilot Mario Lamar, 80, and his wife, Lili Lamar, 79, were aboard the aircraft with Sofia and her younger brother, Christian Sosa, 22.

The family was returning to Miami after spending the weekend at Great Harbour Cay.

They never made it home.

Family members later mounted their own search effort, rallying civilian boaters and fishermen after the crash. On Tuesday, relatives eventually found the four family members in waters near North Andros Island, the last-known location of the aircraft.

But for those who knew Sofia, the tragedy is defined by the person they lost.

KIDZ Medical Services Incorporated said Sofia had joined the organisation nearly two years earlier and quickly became a cherished member of its medical family.

“She was a rising clinician whose compassion, professionalism, and commitment to patient care were evident in every family she served,” the organisation said.

Her colleagues remembered her in much the same way.

Kelly Giordano described her as “the sweetest,” recalling how kind she was with NICU families.

Marsha Truett remembered Sofia as “amazing, smart, funny, sweet and so very kind,” saying her loss would be felt at the NICU for a long time.

Others remembered her as a true professional—intelligent, hardworking and deeply passionate about her profession.

Maria de la Vega described Sofia as a compassionate professional who loved her family, children and nature.

Sedy Viera remembered working alongside her, saying she admired Sofia’s intelligence, beauty and dedication to her work.

The tributes paint a picture of a young woman who had built a life around caring for others while remaining deeply connected to her family.

Sofia was a graduate of Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Coconut Grove, where she completed high school in 2016.

Her former school joined those mourning her, asking its community to respect the family’s privacy while keeping those affected by the tragedy in their prayers.

Her younger brother Christian was also aboard the aircraft.

At just 22, he had begun building a career as a freelance photographer after graduating from Loyola Marymount University’s M-School.

He had recently fulfilled a childhood dream of photographing the Los Angeles Rams, describing the opportunity as surreal.

Their grandparents, meanwhile, were returning home with them.

Mario was a lifelong and highly experienced pilot, according to his niece, Silvi Larreau. He was also a licensed Florida attorney, admitted to the bar in 1973.

To his teachers, Anton Bowe was a young man who made them proud.

R.M. Bailey Senior High School Principal Shari Russell remembered Anton as a top-stream student who performed exceptionally well academically, particularly in the school’s Technical Studies programme.

“He made us proud in the classroom,” Russell said during a memorial service honouring the 11th grade student.

But Anton’s impact was that he was a giver and a friend. Someone willing to treat his friends to lunch simply because he could.

“He was a giver, a friend who was always willing to treat friends to lunch,” Russell said.

Before becoming an R.M. Bailey Pacer, Anton attended C.H. Reeves Junior High School, where he served as a prefect and graduated with the Class of 2025.

Those who knew him remember a young man whose personality could light up a room.

Videos shared by R.M. Bailey show Anton dancing, smiling and enjoying moments with classmates on the school grounds and inside his classroom.

They offer a glimpse of the teenager laughing, connecting with friends and being himself.

Then, on Monday morning, everything changed.

Shortly after 9 a.m., as severe weather moved across New Providence, Anton entered the school grounds and was struck by lightning.

Emergency Medical Services took him to hospital after he was found unresponsive with apparent burn injuries. Police later said he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 a.m.

He was a student with years of possibility ahead of him.

His death left his school community struggling to understand how a normal Monday morning could end with a memorial service for one of its own.

His uncle, Gregory Darville, expressed the rawness of that loss in a social media post.

“My nephew gone. Lord have mercy please. This hurt uncle uncle deep.”

Educator Lakia Brown remembered a recent encounter with Anton.

“Anton, it was just Thursday that I pulled my car alongside you in the school’s parking lot, and we greeted each other,” Brown recalled in a social media post. “I will miss your contagious smile and generosity.”

Brown said the conversations they shared about Jesus and Anton’s “big career dreams” would be cherished.

“I know that God will, in spite of all that’s going on, win souls for His Kingdom through your life,” Brown said.

At R.M. Bailey, the grief has been just as personal.

The school remembered Anton as an academically stellar student and a community-minded member of its Building Trades programme.

But in its tributes, it was his smile that kept returning.

“Your smiles will never be forgotten.”

“Forever in our hearts.”

“Your smiles will echo in our halls forever.”

“A student, a friend and brother. We miss you.”

“Forever young, forever loved, forever a Pacer.”

And perhaps the words that best capture the way Anton will now be remembered: “A light that burn bright will never fade.”

For years, wherever artists in the Bahamas gathered to celebrate itself, there was a good chance Stefan Davis was nearby with an airbrush or paint brush in hand and his imagination at work at Independence celebrations, community events, Junkanoo, and cultural gatherings.

Stefan was a familiar face. But to those who knew him and his work, he was a gifted artist who turned his passion for airbrush art into a career, a business and a lasting contribution to Bahamian culture.

Davis died Wednesday night following a multi-vehicle crash in Miami, authorities said.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened around 7:40 p.m. near Northwest 51st Terrace and Northwest 33rd Avenue.

Authorities said deputies had conducted a traffic stop shortly before the crash and determined that one of the drivers, 21-year-old Luis Manuel Perez, had an outstanding U.S. military warrant. Perez fled the stop, authorities said.

Davis, who was driving another vehicle, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition and later died.

But in the Bahamas, his death has prompted an outpouring of memories about an artist whose work became part of the country’s cultural landscape.

Tammy Alluring remembered Davis as a familiar presence at celebrations throughout the Bahamas.

“Stefan was truly gifted and his artwork always stood out,” she said, recalling a photograph taken with him during this year’s Independence celebration while he worked on a mural.

Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard described Davis as someone who “built something out of nothing,” transforming a young fascination with airbrush art into Airbrush Junkies, a name that became a fixture at the Mall at Marathon and well known across the Bahamas.

“He was able to turn a T-shirt and a can of paint into a canvas for the imagination,” Pintard said.

Yet Davis’ legacy extended beyond what he created. He also invested in people.

Pintard said Davis remained committed to teaching young Bahamians the craft he had spent decades perfecting, even as his own work gained recognition.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage described Davis as an “artistic light” whose talent, passion and creativity left an undeniable mark on the country’s cultural landscape.

Through his work, the ministry said, he celebrated Bahamian people, culture and identity.

Minister of Culture Leslia Brice, who said she had known Davis her entire life and worked alongside him across numerous creative spaces, called him “a LEGEND” and “one of the greatest to ever do it.”

One Family Junkanoo & Community Organization called him a “fallen warrior of excellence,” while fashion artist Kedar Clarke remembered him simply as an “ICON.”

Former classmate Leslie Rolle described Davis in a social media post as an “exceptional person and human being.”

Friends and family of Dahphaney Maxine believed there was still so much life ahead of her.

At 20, the Abaco native was building a future in physical education, having transitioned from the nursing programme at the University of The Bahamas, surrounded by friends, teammates and a community that had watched her grow.

Now, those who loved her are left with memories and the painful reality that her future will remain unfinished.

Her mother, Crystal Bostwick, described a bond that went far beyond the traditional relationship between mother and daughter.

Dahphaney was her “chocolate baby”—the child who had been beside her through life’s highs and lows.

“The first beat outside of my body,” Bostwick wrote.

She described them as being like “peas in a pod,” sharing almost everything and knowing when their relationship needed to be one of mother and daughter and when it could simply be one of friendship.

The loss came just one day before the anniversary of Bostwick’s own mother’s death, adding another layer of pain to an already unbearable moment.

“I know that God would not put more on me than I can bear,” she wrote.

Maxine was found unresponsive in her university dormitory shortly after midnight on Monday and rushed to hospital after CPR was administered. She was later pronounced dead.

News of her death sent shockwaves through her family, the University of The Bahamas community and her hometown of Abaco.

But amid the heartbreak, those who knew Dahphaney are remembering her life.

Pastor Keven Pierre, who remembered meeting her when she first walked into his practice at Murphy Park eager to learn flag football, said he watched her grow into a young woman with a bright future ahead of her.

He remembered her willingness to learn, her development as an athlete and the pride that came with seeing her team win its first championship.

“Your future was so bright,” he wrote in a tribute. “Forever Tigers. Forever our champion.”

For Pierre, Dahphaney was a young person he had watched grow. And now, he said, it was difficult to accept that her life had been cut short.

Across Abaco, condolences have poured in.

North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish remembered Dahphaney as a promising young woman whose loss was being felt by her family, friends, teammates, former schoolmates and the wider UB community.

Her journey had taken her from Patrick J. Bethel High School in North Abaco to the University of The Bahamas, where she was pursuing nursing and building a future of her own.

The family of 16-year-old Kaden Smith said he had a way of making people laugh, making friends feel valued and filling a room with his unmistakable smile and big hugs.

Kaden, a Bahamian-American teenager and junior at Portage Northern High School in Michigan, died on August 12 following an accidental drowning at Gun Lake, leaving his family, friends and school communities struggling to understand a loss that came far too soon.

“He was delightfully goofy, loved to laugh, and possessed a deep, authentic compassion for others,” his family wrote in his obituary.

Kaden was a talented musician who played clarinet in his school’s symphonic and jazz bands, bringing what his family described as “soul and comedy” to his performances.

Outside the band room, he could often be found shooting hoops with friends, gaming or enjoying the water he loved so much.

His father, Grand Bahama resident Audley Dean, remembered the simple moments they shared.

“We laugh, we cried, we ate, swim and talk,” he said in a social media post. “This kid was humble and I thank God I got to reconnect with him at the right time.”

Those memories now carry a weight that is difficult to describe.

Kaden’s family says his presence extended far beyond his immediate family. He had close friendships at both Portage Northern and Portage Central High Schools, creating connections that his loved ones hope will continue to live on.

And that is why his family is trying to turn an unimaginable loss into something that can help others.

A GoFundMe campaign is seeking $24,000 to assist with Kaden’s funeral expenses. Any remaining funds will be used to establish memorial scholarships for graduating seniors at both schools.

The family is also asking that memorial contributions be made to the Portage Northern Band Program, a reflection of the music that meant so much to Kaden.

His family says Kaden left behind an immeasurable void, but also a legacy of laughter, kindness, friendship and compassion.

“He will forever be in our hearts,” they wrote.

New Horizon Worship Ministries was filled with songs of praise, memories and silent grief on Saturday as family and friends gathered to lay Nica Juilen to rest.

For Nica’s mother, the moment seemed almost too heavy to absorb.

As the praise team sang, “Goodness of God,” she sat nearly motionless, her head resting on the shoulder of another as she sought comfort in the middle of an unbearable goodbye.

But around her were mourners carrying their own memories of Nica, who they said had a remarkable ability to make others feel loved.

Nica, 26, died after leaving a function and crashing into a utility pole. She later succumbed to her injuries in hospital, leaving behind family, friends and a young son trying to understand a loss no one expected.

For Chloe Miller, Nica became like a sister in just one year.

Their friendship deepened through moments of joy and pain, including when Miller lost her father.

Nica was there to wipe her tears.

“You always encouraged me to do what’s best for me and celebrate my achievements,” Miller remembered. “You have no idea how much you healed me.

“So many priceless memories in so little time.”

Shasheena Clarke remembered Nica as a loving person whose presence could fill a room.

“Her smile lit up a room a mile away,” she said.

Nica may have been small in stature, Clarke said, but she carried herself with a confidence that made her seem much larger.

“She might have been short in stature, but in her mind she was at least seven feet tall.”

Her heart, Clarke said, belonged to three things above all: God, her mother and her son.

She had met Nica through her aunt, but said their connection quickly felt much longer than it actually was.

Pastor Karol Roach urged the grieving family to trust God even when the answers remain beyond their understanding.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” he reminded them.

He spoke about the fragility of life and the limited number of days given to each person.

“Life is short. Life is fragile,” Roach said, reminding the congregation that life is not a rehearsal.

“We measure life in years, but God measures in days.”

Nica’s final day, he said, was June 28, 2026.

The pastor urged those gathered to consider their own numbered days and to make each one count.

“Teach us to number our days,” he said.

As her casket was slowly rolled out of the church, the congregation continued to sing, “It’s Alright Now.”

The song carried her away from the sanctuary, but the memories remained.

Video credit: JS Event Management

For Tameka Barrat, losing her twin sister was losing the person she describes as her “other half.”

Now, as she tries to come to terms with a loss that came suddenly and tragically, Barrat is asking the Bahamian community for help giving her sister, Toniquea Gilot, a final farewell.

“Help us lay our beloved twin sister, Toniquea Gilot, to rest,” Barrat wrote in a GoFundMe campaign launched on Monday.

Toniquea was among 10 people killed in a plane crash on July 10, Bahamas Independence Day, while travelling from Nassau to San Andros.

She was also a singer with the Pond Band, bringing music and her own presence to the lives of those who knew her.

For her twin, however, Toniquea was family and her other half.

And now Tameka is facing the painful reality of having to bury her.

“Losing my twin sister is a pain that is difficult to put into words,” Barrat wrote. “She was not only my sister, but my other half, and her sudden passing has left an enormous hole in our family.”

The family is now trying to raise $7,000 to help cover the costs associated with Toniquea’s burial, including a burial plot, casket, funeral arrangements and other necessary expenses.

For a family already dealing with the shock of losing a loved one in such a sudden way, the financial burden can make an already painful period even harder.

Barrat is therefore turning to relatives, friends, strangers and anyone willing to help.

“We are reaching out to family, friends, and anyone who feels moved to help us during this incredibly difficult time,” she said.

“Anything will help,” she later wrote on Facebook.

It is a small request carrying a heavy weight. The family wants to give Toniquea the peaceful and dignified farewell they believe she deserves.

“Forever loved and forever missed, forever my twin,” Tameka wrote.

Click here to help: GoFundMe

“See you later, baby. Mommy loves you.”

With those words, Keno Gordon’s mother watched as her son’s casket was closed for the final time.

The goodbye came in Exuma, where family, friends and mourners gathered to lay to rest a young man whose life ended too soon.

Keno was one of five young people killed in the June 28 crash on Shirley Street.

But on Friday and Saturday, those who loved Keno remembered the competitor, the jokester, the hardworking employee, the basketball lover and, according to one former teacher, the boy who could hardly resist a cookie.

At the Ramsey Cemetery in Exuma, mourners hugged, sang and said goodbye as Keno was laid to rest.

A basketball was placed with him, a small symbol of the sport he loved.

For Roland Evans-Knowles, a former teacher, Keno would always be her “cookie monster.”

“One thing about Keno, he loved to eat, especially cookies,” she remembered during a service at Life Changers on Friday.

In fact, she recalled, the only time Keno was ever punished in her classroom was for eating during lessons.

His love of cookies eventually became a classroom joke, one that brought smiles and laughter.

But there was more to Keno than his mischievous appetite. Evans-Knowles remembered his sense of humour and his competitive spirit, particularly during Sports Day, when the two became friendly rivals, passionately cheering for their favourite teams.

“Watching him compete reminded everyone of his friendly nature and competitive spirit,” she said.

Even after Keno graduated, the relationship continued.

She checked on him from time to time, a bond formed in a classroom that extended well beyond his school years.

What she remembers most now are his laughter, kindness and determination.

His uncle, Pastor Kendal Butler, remembered another side of him.

Keno wanted to lead. Whether he was fishing, playing basketball or participating in Junkanoo, he wanted to be among the best.

During fishing trips, Butler recalled, Keno competed to catch the biggest lobster.

“He always wanted to be the leader,” he said.

But the competitiveness never erased his love for the people around him.

“I’m going to miss him. I love him,” Butler said.

Horace Albury, Keno’s mentor and manager, remembered a young man who worked hard without making a spectacle of it.

Despite his size, Albury said, Keno was remarkably humble.

“He became like a son,” he said.

What impressed him most was Keno’s work ethic.

“He never shied away from hard work. He never complained and just got the job done.”

Those memories now become part of the legacy Keno leaves behind.

At the cemetery, mourners sang, “When I get to that city of gold,” as they gathered around Keno’s final resting place.

And for a family forced to bury a son, nephew and loved one far too soon, faith offered another place to hold onto.

Keno’s favourite scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6—a passage about trusting God and allowing Him to direct the path ahead.

His earthly path has ended.

Picture credit: Through the Eyes of Ezra

Anthony Thompson fought back tears as he stood in Highway Church of God Temple on Saturday, saying goodbye to the little girl who had given his life a new purpose.

To the congregation, she was Bertrica “Trica” Brown, one of the five young lives lost in last month’s devastating Shirley Street crash.

To Anthony, she was the little sister he became a father to.

Long before Trica dreamed of college and athletics, Anthony made a decision that would change both of their lives. At just 27 years old, he stepped into a role he had never expected to carry.

He would raise her and would become the parent she needed after the loss of their biological parents.

“I didn’t know how to raise a teenage girl,” he admitted. “There were times I thought I would give up. But Trica made it easier than he ever imagined.

“I thank God she wasn’t someone who gave me attitude or really stressed me out. She wasn’t rebellious.”

Still, love required sacrifice. Anthony remembers days when there simply wasn’t enough money for both of them.

“There were times when I did not eat,” he said. “I’d think, ‘Man, I’m only 27. I’m trying to feed a whole child, and I need to eat too.’ I felt like I grew up so quickly.”

He quietly carried the burden, trusting God to provide.

His own dreams took a back seat so hers could grow.

Knowing how much she loved sports, Anthony threw himself into helping her succeed. Already involved in basketball, volleyball and flag football, he even started a track club because Trica wanted to become a thrower.

Her dreams became his mission.

As she grew older, Anthony found himself balancing two identities that often collided.

“There were times being her brother and being her father was clashing,” he said.

“Trica was very clingy. I wasn’t that kind of person. Because of her, I had to sacrifice the way I am. I had to break down.”

On his 30th birthday, Anthony prayed a prayer he says changed his heart.

“Lord, I give her back to You. You gave me her as a responsibility, and I trust You. Show me everything You have for her.”

Even when Anthony could not afford private school tuition for months at a time, doors kept opening.

“There were times I put her in private school and couldn’t pay the fees,” he recalled. “But I thank God for the favor He placed on her life.”

Eventually, Trica earned a partial scholarship to attend college.

Anthony had spent years worrying about how he would provide for her future. It seemed God was doing what he no longer could.

He was ready to make one more sacrifice. “I was willing to sacrifice a few more years all over again,” he said.

He never got the chance. Instead, he found himself standing before her casket.

As he reflected on raising Trica, Anthony acknowledged that one of their greatest challenges had been helping her understand why God had chosen him and his wife to become her parents.

“It was difficult for her to understand that God placed a mother and father in her life after her biological parents died,” he said. “But God gave me the patience. At first, I didn’t have it.”

The dreams they had planned together remain unfinished. But Anthony says he has found peace in one truth.

“Trica was safe. I watched her grow up. And I thank God that I can rest knowing she knew the Lord.”

Yet even faith has not silenced the ache.

“I am okay with what God is doing,” he said softly. “But my emotions… my feelings… they just won’t leave me alone.”