Family prepares to lay Lacelles Smith to rest

Lacelles Smith was born in Reserve, Trelawny on February 17, 1934. He spent 70 years of his life in Reserve before migrating to Florida where he live with his son, Romeo, one of his 12 children. 

Smith died in Florida on August 17.

"Before his death, he requested that his body be returned to Jamaica for funeral at the Waldensia Baptist Church," Everton, one of his sons, told the WESTERN STAR.

Smith, or Missa Lacelles as he was called, gave 27 years of service to the Island Special Constabulary Force retiring as a corporal in 1997.

Delroy Hudson described him as a peacemaker.

"If he arrested you, it was something you deserved.  Everyone remembers him as a Christian man who you would see riding his Honda 50 to church with his wife, Daisy, on the back."

Edgar Harrison, a deacon at the Waldensia Baptist Church, told the WESTERN STAR that Smith believed in tithing 110 per cent.

"Brother Smith brought laughter to the congregation every Sunday during praise and worship.  He would sing and dance through the isles in his own inimitable style.

"Harvest was special for him. He would bring all kinds of food from his backyard garden. Then he would give money to buy chicken."

Smith's funeral will be held at the Waldensia Baptist Church on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. His body will be buried in the Reserve Cemetery.