Members of Watsonville and surrounding communities including Moneague, St Ann turned out on Thursday last, October 26, for the thanksgiving service for the life of Gaston Malcolm Simpson who died October 12, age 72.
Many of those at the funeral were relatives from overseas and others were friends from his early life in many areas of St Ann. Mr Simpson, who served the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) for 21 years, was well known in Watsonville, even though he lived abroad for many years since resigning from the JDF.
He was known as one who tried to comfort as many people as he could and, even while living in the US, he came to Jamaica several times a year, often holding cook outs and other types of celebration. It was on one of his recent visits that he became ill and was hospitalized for nearly a month before he died.
Said Charmaine Sewell, his niece, “he was seen as a community person not just by his family but he helped people he didn’t even know.”
The service was held at the Watsonville Methodist Church, at Riverhead St Ann. Officiating ministers were Michael Llewellyn and Jean Rong Seraphin. The remembrance was done by Vernon Williams and the eulogy by Michael Simpson. There were several tributes, including a moving one by retired major Desmond Clarke that recounted memories of the late Mr Simpson’s army days.
He left to mourn seven children, four grandchildren, three sisters and a brother.
Caption
Family members of Gaston Simpson at his thanksgiving service
