Purple and white balloons were released into the sky at the Mamoral Public Cemetery symbolising the returning of an angel—Saleesha Faith Joseph, five, to the Heavens. Just before her casket was put down in her grave, her mother, Kernisha Joseph, placed her favourite teddies— a Rag Doll and Peppa Pig along with two pairs of her favourite shoes.
Joseph also placed two red roses in the casket of her husband, Solomon Joseph, who was killed along with Saleesha last week Friday at their one room wooden home at Leekham Road, Mamoral No.1.
Solomon, 35, was shot twice in the abdomen and little Saleesha was shot once in the neck.
Joseph for most of the time was inconsolable and had to be either lifted by relatives who held up as a support to walk.
At her father-in-law’s house at Mamoral No.2, where the funeral service took place, Joseph often screamed out: “Alyuh bring she for meh na…Go for she! Alyuh go for she…where meh Mama mama gone.”
Her wailing screams echoed throughout the remote village. At one point she was removed from the yard and carried onto the street in a bid for her to compose herself.
The service, which was officiated by Pastor of the Word Alive Dominion Fellowship Church, Wayne Thomas, started promptly at 2 pm. Joseph was brought back and placed in a chair two rows down from where both coffins of her husband and her only child were fixed.
Throughout the service Joseph had her head down and was eventually called out by a relative who took her down to the cemetery to allow her to prepare for her final goodbyes.
In the eulogy delivered by Linda Lemo-Sookraj, Saleesha was described as an angel who grew up to be a “sweet, loving child.”
“She loved her school but not test and would have begged to stay home every Friday. Solomon loved his daughter and whenever she did something wrong he would scold her but then immediately he would tell her that he loves her that’s why he scolded her,” Lemo-Sookraj said.
He fondest memory of Saleesha was how she would dress for school “spic and spank” and how she would have always been on her father’s shoulder all the way to her school.
Solomon was described as a very supportive husband and father, “he was very supportive to Kernisha when she lost her mother about one month ago. He was family-oriented and loved his daughter to the moon and back.”
“As all marriages when he and his wife had an argument, at the end of the day, he would always hug her and tell her how much he loved her,” Lemo-Sookraj said.
“With the outpouring of love tot he family is testimony of Solomon’s life. He touched the lives of many,” she added.
During his sermon, Pastor Thomas urged the scores of mourners to live their lives pleasing to God and to do not live in fear.
“Why are we as citizens allowing ourselves to live in fear because of what is happening in society? We don’t have to live in fear, depression and oppression. God wants us to trust Him. Yes, there are hurts in life, but, God being our help, we can overcome,” Thomas said.
Up to yesterday investigating officers were yet to make a breakthrough in the case, however, an officer said that they have recorded a number of statements and believe that they will make a breakthrough very soon.
So far, police have interviewed two women and four men.
