Errol ‘Jerky’ McDonald - Westmoreland jerk chicken vendor remembered as devoted son, loving father, caring partner

Errol McDonald, a well-known vendor of jerk chicken in Westmoreland, had ambitious plans to marry his beloved Tracy, but his dreams were tragically shattered. His life was prematurely ended by heartless criminals last November.

The cowards robbed him of his nightly sales along the Llandilo main road and shot him dead.

Last Saturday, family, friends, and well-wishers gathered at the memorial service in Westmoreland to bid farewell to the beloved McDonald. Among those paying tribute was Kerrian Murray, a teacher at McDonald's alma mater, Godfrey Stewart High School. She described him as a quiet, humble, and jovial person who cherished his family. Murray, overcome with emotion, revealed that McDonald had been in the process of planning an engagement with Tracy.

"Tracy, you had something coming that you didn't even know about. I was in the process with Errol, planning your engagement the same month that he was taken," Murray disclosed.

Reportedly, McDonald had sent Tracy and their elder daughter overseas and was preparing to join them in the United States, having secured his visa months before his untimely death.

Born on June 12, 1982, McDonald, the second child of Patsy Montague Samuels and Dennis McDonald, initially worked as an apprentice carpenter before venturing into the jerk chicken business 15 years ago.

Known for his delectable jerk chicken, chicken neck, chicken back, and chicken foot, he was a devoted son and a loving father to his two children and partner.

His mother described him as her backbone.

"He was my everything. Errol would take me to work and take me back home. ... Errol was so loved. Errol is a good boy. Errol didn't deserve to die like this," she said.

Bishop Joyce Bernard of Central Tabernacle Church expressed sympathy for the grieving family, describing McDonald as a "lovely young man" whose culinary skills she had enjoyed.

Melverton Miles remembered McDonald as a friend to everyone -- decent, law-abiding, and hardworking. Miles recounted the nights he would hear McDonald heading home in the wee hours, pushing his food cart, emphasising his commitment to an honest living.

In the eulogy, McDonald was hailed as a good man -- an honest, hardworking, and dedicated individual who belonged to a special category of humanity. Described as never self-promoting, non-judgmental, and always gracious, honest, kind, and decent, he was celebrated as a credit to his race and the entire human race.