Salute to a fallen soldier - Family members say young JDF member was perfect in every way

In the eyes of his sister, Tashana Weir, Jevaughnie Lewis was perfect. The 20-years-old Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) private died in a motor vehicle accident in Westmoreland on Monday.

WhenTHE WEEKEND STAR visited the family home in Rural Retreat, near Claremont, St Ann, on Wednesday evening, Tashana was in tears.

“Jevaughnie was perfect – perfect in every single way,” she wailed.

Janet Henry, having lost her only son, said she was drawing strength from her faith and her belief in God.

“Mi nuh have no real expressive feelings at this time, losing my one and only son, a son who the whole community in and around Rural Retreat can tell you about. Quiet, humble, him nuh keep friends, him nuh smoke, him nuh drink, him nuh go road, him nuh…..him was just the quiet, reserved type of person,” Henry said.

His death hit her hard.

“I spent the whole day on the floor. I couldn’t be comfortable on any bed, the ground was just enough, because even if you put me on the fire that morning, I would sit on it,” Henry confessed.

“But I know I’ll be ok. my Bible tells me, ‘greater is he that is in me than he that is in this world,” she added.

Jevaughnie graduated from Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann’s Bay three years ago with eight CSEC passes and went on to fulfil his dream by enlisting in the JDF.

He spent a year as a member of the newly formed Jamaica National Service Corp before joining the JDF as a full-time soldier.

Jaleel Lewis, a friend of Jevaughnie, described him as a determined person who would always complete a task on time.

“He was jovial, humble, that’s him. I’m not feeling so well, because of his death, but I know he’s resting in the arms of the Lord and he’s a warrior for Christ; and, as he said, he’s going to war for his country and he has completed that task.”

Jevaughnie’s mother said he always wanted to be a soldier.

“When the army men came yesterday, they said he was the type of young man that the army is looking for – militant, neat, always ready to go.”

Lurline Davis, community member and church sister to Jevaughnie at the Claremont New Testament Church of God, said his death has left the community of Rural Retreat in a state of shock.

“Mi nuh think we can overcome it,” Davis said. “He was good, jovial. That’s my church brother. He was the drummer in our church and he gave out the announcements in the church. He was a very active young man, friendly, jovial, everything. He was everything.”

Davoney, the youngest of Jevaughnie’s three sisters, was at a loss for words.

“I don’t think words can explain how I feel. Torn…….” Her words trailed off.

Jevaughnie’s mother, in the meantime, has a warning for Jamaicans.

“I was telling persons that my son’s death is a warning to persons to repent, repent, repent of their sins, because my Lord tell me that my son is one of the apples of His eyes. And he already dream to somebody and tell them that his sister is worrying, and when the person telling me the dream, he said Jevaughnie used the exact words and said his soul is alright. So I know that my son is in the arms of the Lord.”