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The sanctuary filled slowly, then all at once with uniforms, family and friends of Johnathan Johnson.

Laughter and tears mingled as loved ones remembered the life of the police constable killed last month in a crash along East Bay Street.

He loved being an officer.

To Pastor Monique Davis of Judea Family Worship Center, he was “Johnny,” a young man who loved God and showed it quietly.

“I knew he loved his God,” she said. “He used to work the late shift, get off at 8 o’clock, and by 11 o’clock he was still in the house of the Lord.”

After every Sunday service, he had a ritual. Stuttering slightly, smiling widely, he would follow her and ask, “Mama, what you cook?” The church erupted in laughter at the memory.

He loved to give. Last Christmas, he bought her a pair of shoes, the heel too high, and insisted she walk in them so he could see how they fit.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Rodger Thompson described him as diligent, respectful and unwavering in his loyalty to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. After a transfer from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, he served in Prosecutions and the Western Division with dedication.

“He was called to serve,” Thompson said. “Humble, well-mannered and kind.”

But it was his best friend, Tyrik Ingraham, who captured the ache of the loss.

Friends since high school, they were inseparable, fishing for hours, arguing over who caught more, communicating without words. “We were the only two that could make jokes,” he said softly and tearfully, “but not to be joked on.”

“I lost a brother,” Ingraham said. “I lost someone I trusted with life-changing decisions. I lost someone who could pull me out of my darkest moments.”

Elder Justin Rahming remembered training alongside him as a prison officer, how he once slept through the training sessions and still passed the exam. Later, when Rahming met him at a police roadblock, Johnny’s simple request was, “Pastor, pray for me.”

Featured images and photos: Through the Eyes of Ezra

What began as an ordinary workday ended in heartbreak for the family and friends of Kirk Young.

Those who knew Kirk describe him as cool, down-to-earth, and dependable.

A skilled mechanic by trade, he was known for his work ethic and willingness to help.

The 49-year-old husband and father of three was killed on Thursday when a forklift collapsed on him at Ports International in the area of the Airport Industrial Park. His 21-year-old son was working alongside him.

Just days earlier, he had spent Super Bowl Sunday surrounded by family, laughing, enjoying the game.

“It’s a bit unbelievable,” his sister, Jody Young, told the Tribune. “I still can’t fathom this is happening because he was perfectly fine… For this to happen is horrible.”

Friend, Tito White called him “a cool brother.”

Minique Alexandrea knew him well. She said he was “such a down-to-earth person who was always willing to help,” adding that her heart aches for his wife, who family members say is understandably distraught.

“A very focused young man… decent and loved by his family,” Imran Raheim remembered about him.

Raynet Forbes described him simply as “a darling of a gem.”

“Great guy,” said Marc Serfontein. And for Shavonne, the loss cut deeply: “Kirk, you’re one of the happiest people I know, bro. This cut deep.”

Even those who only knew him in passing say he left a lasting impression.

Glen Rigo recalled that Kirk had just purchased hydraulic parts days earlier. “No way… No man knows the day nor the hour,” he said, echoing the disbelief felt.

On Sunday night, Dominic Brown did something he had done many times before. After trying unsuccessfully to find a ride, he decided to walk home.

“He did it all the time,” his cousin Alicetine Johnson said quietly. “We had just spent the day together with my daughter and the cousins. I had just spoken to him.”

But this walk would be his last.

The 48-year-old father was struck by a vehicle on Robinson Road. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away, leaving Dominic lying injured in the middle of the road. A passerby, moved by what they saw, stopped to help. He picked up Dominic’s phone and dialed the last number he had called to alert his family.

“I thanked the person that did that. God bless them,” Johnson said. “A vehicle hit him and chose to drive away. They didn’t stop to help him or call 911.”

Dominic died in the hospital Monday night from severe spinal injuries and brain hemorrhaging. Doctors had warned the family to expect the worst.

To those who knew him, Dominic was gentle and grounded.

“He was very humble. He had a great personality,” Johnson said. “He was kind, mannerly, and loved by everyone who knew him, especially his family.”

A handyman who worked in construction alongside his brother and formerly at The Punch, Dominic was known for his quiet humor and his devotion to family. He was especially close to his mother before her passing three years ago.

“He was a mother’s boy. They were very, very close.”

Now, his siblings are grappling with the weight of losing him so suddenly. One of his daughters, who is off-island, has yet to fully process the horrific news that her father was killed in a hit-and-run.

“This broke me,” Johnson said. “He didn’t deserve to die like that.”

Through anger and grief, she issued a plea to the driver who fled the scene, “Have a conscience and turn yourself in. Our family needs answers.”

After 33-year-old Jarad Miller’s life was cut short, his uncle reflected on the deep conversation they had, talking about life, responsibility, purpose, and the direction he was trying to take.

It was the kind of conversation Ricardo Miller holds onto after the unthinkable happened on Thursday night.

Jarad was killed in a tragic multi-vehicle collision on Wulff Road near Kemp Road. Police say he was riding his motorcycle when it was struck head-on by a vehicle overtaking another car. The impact left him with severe head and leg injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but died later that night.

For his uncle, the loss feels sudden and deeply personal.

“We always checked in on each other,” Miller said, reflecting on the bond they shared. “We talked about real issues.”

That conversation, for Miller, now carries a weight he could not have anticipated.

News of Jarad’s death rippled quickly on social media, leaving friends, family, and even strangers shaken.

Cindy White said she did not initially realize the victim was Jarad. When she found out, the grief hit hard.

“I felt like he was family,” she said. “He was minding his own business on the road, and someone who couldn’t wait decided to overtake. That decision took his life. It’s very sad.”

Within his family, the pain is raw.

“My heart aches,” Miller said. “My oldest sister lost her son. His life was taken far too soon.”

Friends remembered Jarad as “a good guy.” Deangello Knowles recalled the many days they spent together. His aunt, Synovia Harding, described the loss as “a blow to the family.”

Pastor Samuel Cornish, who knew Jarad closely, said he was like a son.

“He just sent me a flyer,” Cornish shared. “He was proud. He had started his own car wash.”

Others remembered him simply as they first knew him, growing up, finding his way, trying to build something meaningful.

“My nephew gone too soon,” said Leonardo Deleveaux.

Family and friends wept openly on Saturday as they gathered to say their final goodbyes to Chanell Adderley, a young woman remembered for the joy and warmth she carried.

Tears flowed freely as one close friend struggled to speak, describing Chanell as someone who made others feel seen and valued.

“Chanell had a special way of making me feel important,” he said through sobs. “She listened without judgment. She was someone I could count on — someone who brought peace and joy into my life.”

At the Bahamas Christian Fellowship, where her life was celebrated, Pastor Paul Butler reflected on Chanell’s devotion to her faith and her willingness to serve. He recalled her involvement in ministry through song and dance, noting that her joy was rooted in her relationship with God.

“The joy in my heart comes from knowing this young lady served the Lord,” Pastor Butler said. Referencing John 12:24, he told mourners that Chanell’s life was “sown” with purpose, adding that she experienced what he described as an abundant life.

Chanell, just 19 years old, died three weeks ago in a car accident along Prince Charles Drive, when the vehicle she was travelling in collided with a pole. Her sudden passing sent shockwaves through her family, church community, and peers.

Despite her young age, those who knew her spoke of a life rich with achievement and promise. Pastor Butler described her as intelligent, driven, and full of potential.

“She lived a life well lived,” he said. “She earned scholarships, began her studies in the United States, and later returned home to continue her education at the University of The Bahamas.”

Comforting her grieving parents, Pastor Butler urged them not to dwell on unanswered questions or moments of regret, but to hold tightly to memories filled with laughter and love.

“Destiny was at play,” he said.

Featured bottom photo: Shanell Percentie

Shock hangs heavy as family and friends struggle to come to terms with the sudden death of Jamaal Ferguson, a man many remember for his kindness and for his smile.

“Nice young man. Always had a smile for you,” Yvonne Rolle said, still trying to process the news.

Ferguson, 42, was found at his home on Wednesday with stab wounds to his upper body after friends, unable to reach him, requested a police wellness check. The discovery sent waves of disbelief through those who knew him.

“No, bro. I just talked to you,” Deangelo Francis wrote in shock. “I can’t believe this. No way, bro.”

Others replayed their most recent encounters with him. Daniel Demeritte said he had just seen Jamaal over the weekend at a washhouse. “Wow,” he wrote. “Sleep in peace, bro.”

His cousin, identified online as Ajay Mobb, shared her grief plainly: “Y’all take my cousin from me. Lord, my cousin is really gone.”

Tributes poured in across social media, painting the picture of someone who lived loudly and showed up.

“I have never met someone so eclectic, positive, kind, and generous like you,” one friend wrote. “The way you loved life and everyone around you was contagious.

“Those who had the privilege to befriend you can attest to how kind and loyal you were.”

Friends say Jamaal lived authentically, embracing joy wherever he found it. “He had the biggest smile anyone could ask for,” Danielle McKay remembered.

Ferguson was also known in the sports community as a dedicated volleyball player who proudly represented the Bahamas. “You represented your country with pride,” Tia Johnson wrote. “A great loss to the volleyball community.”

Many also knew him from TikTok, where he posted sleek photos and upbeat reminders to friends: “Look good, smell good. Let’s go out.”

Others remembered his words of encouragement and laughter. Former colleagues from Baha Mar’s casino described him as a “beautiful soul” and a beloved host.

One technician shared that Ferguson had an appointment scheduled for Thursday, but it wasn’t meant to be. “Who coming to our therapy session tomorrow?” she wrote.

The family of 60-year-old Felix Morley is struggling to come to terms with his sudden and violent death, following an incident on East Bay Street late Saturday night.

“We ga miss you…You were a good friend to us,” Devonyah Rolle wrote. “Like you always said, it’s about trust and friendship.”

News of Morley’s killing spread quickly, sending shockwaves on social media among those who knew him—on social media, friends and relatives flooded timelines with simple tributes, many writing “RIP,” while others shared brief memories.

Former Speaker of the House Halson Moultrie reflected on knowing Morley from earlier years, describing him as “highly spirited” and “a wonderful soul.”

According to police, Morley was beaten about the upper body and died at the scene. A suspect has since been arrested, but for those grieving, the arrest does little to ease the pain.

“We continue to be so cruel to each other,” Tony Smith wrote, expressing a sentiment shared by many who see Morley’s death as part of a wider pattern of violence affecting the country.

For some, the loss feels especially raw because their final moments with Morley were recent.

Eclipses Stubbs said he had seen him just days before his death and recalled a quiet, ordinary moment that now carries only memories.

“I was able to sit and have a cold soda with him,” Stubbs shared.

“Rest easy, Uncle Felix. We love and miss you,” the tributes continued.

Loved ones of a 19-year-old young woman killed in a tragic car accident are struggling to come to terms with a loss they say feels impossible to accept.

Chanell Adderley, affectionately known as “Bubba,” was remembered as a bright, loving presence whose impact far exceeded her years.

“Our earth angel is gone,” her aunt, Michelle Adderley, wrote in a heartfelt social media post. “For the short time you had on earth, you impacted so many lives. It seems impossible to do.”

Chanell was with friends when the vehicle she was traveling in collided with a pole along Prince Charles Drive late Monday night. The suddenness of her passing has left her family reeling.

“The family is quiet without you,” Michelle wrote. “How do you mend a broken heart?”

Her uncle, Lathario Adderley, who helped raise her, shared his own grief publicly. “You were my kid before I had kids,” he said. “This has to be a dream.” He described the pain of losing her as overwhelming.

Another aunt, Diahann Phillips, said the loss has been crushing. “This is crushing me inside,” she wrote. “You were a rare gem. A heart so pure. Always smiling and bubbly. God help me, please.”

Those who knew Chanell speak of her warmth, kindness, and joy. Michelle said her friends and church family are devastated by her untimely death.

Patrice Johnson, who knew Chanell through her daughter’s school, described her as “a sweet soul.”

Gloritha Newball said it is Chanell’s smile she will remember most. “Such a beautiful person,” she wrote. “I will miss your smiling face and bubbly spirit.”

St John’s Native Baptist Church was filled with tears and moments of laughter on Saturday as family and friends gathered to say goodbye to 19-year-old Jayden Pinder.

Mourners wept openly as the casket was closed, offering final words to the young boat captain who lost his life in a tragic drowning on Boxing Day. Jayden was his mother Janeile Pinder’s only child. She sat quietly through the service, tears in her eyes, supported by loved ones who sat near her side.

The grief and love for Jayden in the sanctuary were heavy.

To those who knew him best, Jayden brought joy and humor.

Joshua Gibson described Jayden as a brother. “My brother’s life was full of joy,” he said. “Even though it was short, it was fulfilled. He loved abundantly and showed love all the time. He was never shy to show love.”

Former Cabinet Minister Leslie Miller, Jayden’s uncle, remembered him as “a mannerly young man, always willing to help, always respectful.”

As the service continued, sorrow slowly gave way to stories of affection.

Jayden once attended Galilee Academy, and its founder, Reverend Yvette Johnson, recalled how he brought life to the campus. She drew laughter from the congregation when she shared how Jayden coached other students through getting their driver’s licenses. “I loved that young man,” she said.

His grandmother, Reverend Sabrina Pinder of St John’s Native Baptist Church, spoke candidly and lovingly about their relationship. “Jayden and I always disagreed,” she said. “He would always rebut. Sometimes I’d get so annoyed and say, ‘Boy, this is how it’s going to be.’”

She smiled as she shared one of his favorite jokes about his grandfather, Reverend Carrington.

“He would say, ‘Mama, you know I better looking than Papa.’ And I’d tell him, ‘Jayden, you can’t compete with my husband.’”

The church helped raise him and remembered him as a boy who grew into a young man. Jayden sang in the choir, ushered, and played the drums.

Sherma Bowe of the Bahamas National Baptist Women’s Convention said Jayden had a way of connecting across generations. “There was no gap with him,” she said. “Wherever and whenever, he would always greet you.”

The Junior Baseball League of Nassau, where Jayden once played, described him as passionate.

“Jayden was not perfect,” the league noted. “He was emotional when he made mistakes, but quick to recover and encourage others. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, played with heart, and rallied his teammates. Fierce, yet gentle.”

Image credit: St John’s Native Baptist Church 

Family and friends of Rockling “Rocky” Bootle are struggling to comprehend his sudden and violent death, remembering him instead as a man “full of life,” “rooted in faith,” and deeply devoted to family.

Bootle, a taxi driver from Abaco, was found dead in a motel room in Nassau on Friday. A maid, who went to clean the room, made the grim discovery. Police said he had suffered multiple stab wounds. The investigation continues.

“A name that still walks into the room with the biggest smile,” his niece Gayniah Bootle wrote in a heartfelt social media tribute. “You were a family man, through and through, rooted in God, unshaken in faith.”

She affectionately called him “Rocky,” though he proudly referred to himself as “Ambassador Bootle.”

Bootle came to Nassau after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco, rebuilding his life behind the wheel of a taxi. Many remembered seeing him at the boat harbour and Abaco Airport, always working and smiling.

“The way he gone out, my heart hurts,” said Lakeria Simms.

“Rocky always so full of life, man,” Sandy Porter added.

Just hours before his death, Bootle posted a video to social media, celebrating a good day’s work and giving thanks to God. Sitting in his taxi, he spoke excitedly.

“This is a record-breaking year,” he said. “You’ll be faithful, treat each of your brothers and sisters honest and fair and God will bless you… When you put your faith and trust in God, you don’t have to worry about nothing, nothing, nothing.”

He laughed as he shared that even after starting work late, he had still done well.

“Ain’t God good? Whoah!”

Watch: Here are his last words hours before he died.

His words echo painfully for those who watched the video after learning of his death.

“Enjoying yourself at the moment can be your last time,” Robin Ferguson wrote, stunned by the news.

His nieces struggled to put their grief into words.

“I’m still in disbelief,” Valencia Bootle said.

Gayniah said she will always remember his favourite greeting: “Hey, hey, hey, family.”

Another niece, Lasonia Simms, shared the rawness of the loss. “Some days the tears come easy. Other days you feel numb and confused, stuck trying to accept that you’ll never see certain people again.”

At the start of the year, Bootle posted another video, singing inside his taxi, he spoke about love, faith, and the promise of tomorrow. “I’m going into the new year loving my wife, myself and my family,” he said. “It’s a new year. God has spared me.”

He was a father of four children.