Fritty finally laid to rest - Deeside man gets two funerals

The casket bearing the body of Lascelle Fritz Ferguson, affectionately called 'Fritty', lay open for an extended period in the New Testament Church of God in Deeside, Trelawny, on Saturday.

Relatives and well-wishers paid their respects and walked by, convinced that the body in the casket was really Fritty's.

It was the second time they had gone to the church for Fritty's service. When they did so the first time, the wrong body was in the church. That body was of Melvin Innis, 88, also of Deeside. It was buried but had to be dug up after it was realised that the funeral home made an error and sent the wrong body to the funeral.

Marrissa Ferguson Gayle, Fritty's daughter, eulogised him as a kind man.

"My daddy was a kind individual who was a food and beverage manager in his own right. He was always cooking for weddings and funeral repasts," she said.

"He went on to learn plumbing at that Falmouth Training Centre, after which he went on to work at the parish council before closing his working life at the National Water Commission."

Fritty, 64, was the third child born to the family. He was the father to four children and a grandfather of four. He married Faye in 1989.

At the graveside, Rebecca James, a relative of Innis, told the WESTERN STAR that Fritty "was a decent individual who did not deserve the mix-up".

"I am comforted that on judgement day, God will not make any mistakes and Fritty will get his just reward," James said.

The Reverend Owen Watson said: "From all the trauma and disappointments, I have learned a lesson. I will not sign another death certificate until a family member stands beside me and identifies that the body being buried is the right person."

Patricia Green, a cousin of Fritty, said: "Despite all that went on, I am happy that closure has been brought to a very unfortunate situation."

Fritty was buried in the Blackwin Cemetery in Deeside.