‘Slickianna’ brought joy to all who she met

It was a mixture of sharing good memories and an outpouring of grief at the thanksgiving service for late social media influencer Aneka 'Slickiana' Townsend on Thursday.

Townsend's body was recovered from the sea in Reading, St James, on October 21. An autopsy revealed that she was strangled. Rushawn Patterson, alias 'Chizzie', of a Harvey River, Hanover address, has been charged with her murder. Security guard Rohan Rose, otherwise called 'Early B', has been charged with misprision of a felony.

Townsend was described by her aunt Arlene Gregory as a ball of energy, who was extremely jovial and laughed easily. Video footage and pictorial tributes echoed similar sentiments.

"It did not take much to make her happy. She always said 'once mi life and mi belly full mi good'. She was a very cheerful person and could strike up a conversation with a stranger and that person would feel like they had known her from years before. She looked for the best in people and could see the gem in others even when others couldn't see it. Her generosity knew no bounds. She was street smart and had a quick head for business; whatever she touch turned to success," she said. Throughout the service, which was held at the Webster Memorial United Church, Townsend's mother, Joy Smith, was inconsolable.

Townsend, who would have celebrated her 36th birthday on Tuesday, December 6, was also affectionately called 'Dumpling' and 'Kayan'. Gregory said she wore many hats.

"She was a daughter, a mother, sister, niece, a social media influencer with thousands of followers, a fashionista who many depended on for styling ideas. She was also a celebrator of life. In her short life, she travelled to many countries bringing joy and happiness to all those she met," she said. Gregory also said that the Waterhouse, St Andrew, native was also a forgiving person, who did not hold grudges.

Gregory then gave an insight of the events leading up to her untimely death.

"On Tuesday, October 18, she celebrated her mother's birthday with family and friends and visited one of her aunts she had not seen for years," she said. The following day she spoke to her mother for the last time after which she travelled to Montego Bay on Thursday, October 20.

"On Friday, October 21 words started to spread that her body was found in the sea in Reading, Montego Bay. On Saturday, October 22, her body was positively identified . Our dear Dumpling is no longer with us but she will never be forgotten. They say that the good die young and this is truly the case of our beloved Slickianna . We will all take care of her son and we will always be here to share the memories of her. We will take care of each other just the way she would have wanted it," Gregory said between sobs.

In delivering the sermon, Reverend Astor Carlyle said sin is consuming the nation and the world. He encouraged the weary and heavy laden to open their hearts to God's invitation to experience the true and rich life that only he can provide.

"We sin marching across Jamaica so wherever there are sins, there are tears and robbery. Wherever there are sins, there is war and abduction and fighting and murder. Look at the young woman in this casket. She lies there because the sin has overtaken the hearts of men to make men believe that they are the authors of life. Because of sin, there is discord and corruption. Everything that mars our existence is as a result of sin ," he preached.

Interment was done at the Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine.