Even as she said a final goodbye to her father, Tyler Bates called for those in attendance at his funeral to pray for the lone security officer who survived the fatal Pennywise shooting.
Jerry Winston Stuart, one of the two security officers shot dead in the line of duty during the Pennywise heist in La Romain last Monday, was laid to rest at the Belgrove’s Funeral Chapel in Tacarigua yesterday.
Stuart was shot dead two weeks after celebrating his 49th birthday.
Delivering the eulogy yesterday, Bates said her father was “a loving, caring, respectful and protective father to his children.”
“When I first got the call, I thought it was a dream or joke until reality hit me that dad passed away from a dreadful incident. All I could think of was why, why him and that he was all alone with nobody to hold him,” Bates said.
Bates, who lives overseas, said Stuart called her or facetimed her every day.
Stuart’s son Jahmare Nesbit, who, according to the funeral programme, was also scheduled to deliver a eulogy, was unable to do so.
In his handwritten eulogy, a copy of which was given to Guardian Media, Nesbit said his dad died a hero and was always a hero to him.
“Growing up, he was the strongest man I ever knew; the hero in every story. He was strong and courageous even in the face of adversity,” Nesbit wrote.
“He was hard-working and dedicated to his job and he would boast that everything he did he did for his kids.”
Stuart’s colleagues at Allied Security wore printed t-shirts paying homage to both him and the other officer shot dead during the heist, Jeffrey Peters.
Peters’ final rites are scheduled to be held on Monday.
“Jerry was a friend, a brother, a loving father a son and he was taking from us way too soon,” Michael Nicholas, the managing director of Allied Security, stated.
He described Stuart as a “beautiful soul.”
Stuart worked at Allied Security for 13 years.
Baptist Archbishop Patrick Brown delivered the sermon for the funeral.
