Mother and son who died days apart laid to rest
When Esmime McIntyre heard of the sudden death of her son Easton 'Kette' Townsand, the news broke her heart, almost literally.
So grief-stricken was McIntyre that just days later, the 84-year-old, retired supermarket worker of Piggott Street in Mount Salem in Montego Bay, St James, followed her son to the grave.
'Miss Esmime' or 'Tatty', as she was affectionately called passed away on April 11, just days after being told McIntyre was found dead in house, which is also in Piggott Street.
The two were laid to rest on Sunday. Hundreds of well-wishers turned up to pay their last respect to both, who were buried alongside each other in their family plot in Morris district, Hanover.
Patrice Pearce told WESTERN STAR that her mother and brother were two of the best human beings you could find.
NEVER CRIED
"My brother was just 58 years of age. He was a hard-working mechanic and the father of four children. He was not a sick person and he was always up and working," she said. "When he was discovered dead inside his house on March 29, it came as a shock to everyone, especially my mother who loved him very much. She never cried a drop of tears but she bottled up everything inside, and few days later we had to take her to the doctor."
Pearce said that her mother suffered from high blood pressure.
"So we had to be keeping a close eye on her. But 12 days after Easton passed away, she too passed away," she said.
Persons on Piggott Street remembered McIntyre as a jovial, kind and friendly person, who was always there as a 'community mother', supporting everyone she could.
Townsand is remembered as the helpful everyday taxi man, who everybody went to whenever a problem developed with their vehicle.
"A lot a we taxi men get knock since 'Kette' dead," one taxi operator told the WESTERN STAR. "Mi boss, a him help all a wi as driver. Wid money or without money, him always a fix wi up so wi can go out pon the road go hustle a food fi feed wi family."
They say Townsand was one of the most popular mechanics in Montego Bay, and each day motor vehicle drivers, mainly taxi men, would be seen lined up at his garage behind the Mount Salem service station, waiting to have their vehicles attended to in one way or another.