Amid the restlessness and party atmosphere that prevailed at the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston yesterday, murdered dancehall personality Gerald “Bogle” Levy was remembered as a “wonderful entertainer” and one of the best dancers ever.

“Jamaica has not seen for a long time such a great dancer,” said veteran musician Ibo Cooper, who represented the Entertainment Advisory Board at the glitzy funeral. “Bogle shall go down in history as one of the greatest dancers ever.”

As was expected, the crush of mourners, most dressed in flashy dancehall garb, overflowed from the church.

But the officiating minister had problems completing his sermon as the mourners erupted into wild cheers at the arrival of each local entertainer.

“Please, let us settle down,” one of the officiating ministers beseeched the congregation. But the minister giving the sermon, apparently unable to cope with the interruptions, eventually aborted his attempts at ministry.

Among the mourners were Ice, a dancer and Bogle’s close friend; Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba; and deejay Bounty Killer. However, Beenie Man, who had offered a million-dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of Bogle’s killers, did not attend the service.

Under the steady gaze of the police, mourners watched as Bogle’s casket, emblazoned with his pictures and Treble clefs, was taken from a two-wheel carriage into the church where tributes in word, song and dance were rendered.

“Daddy, we miss you and we love you,” said young Geraliya Levy, one of Bogle’s daughters.

Vocal group Voicemail performed the popular dancehall single It’s A Jiggy Time Again as dancers doing moves created by Bogle entertained. Finance Minister Omar Davies, who is the member of parliament for South St Andrew where Bogle lived, described the dancer as a “wonderful entertainer”.

“I know I speak on behalf of all Jamaicans when I say we are tired of all the killings,” he said before reading the first lesson.

Davies extended his condolences to Bogle’s family and his mother – who is one of his (Davies’) constituency workers – and advised the congregation against taking revenge for Bogle’s murder.

Bogle was shot dead by two men at about 2:35 am on January 20 when he stopped at a service station in Half-Way-Tree to purchase fuel. Four other persons who were in Bogle’s F-150 pick-up were shot in the attack. One of them has since died.

“How many more persons have to die before we accept that too many have died?” asked Davies yesterday. “The greatest gift to him (Bogle) in recognition of his contribution, is to accept that too many have died, and you know what I mean.” Cooper echoed Davies’ appeal. “Greatness will come through dance, it will not come through killing each other,” he said.

Marc Johnson, Bogle’s publicist, said he considered himself fortunate to have been a friend of the dancer. “What Bogle was to Jamaica is what Michael Jackson is to America,” he said. “I want to place on record my appreciation for his generosity…tolerance and love for life.”

Johnson also told the congregation that a $300,000 dance scholarship will be established in Bogle’s memory and asked them to support a proposal to rename Lincoln Crescent, the road where Bogle lived, Bogle Terrace.

His suggestions for a trophy to be given in Bogle’s honour at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission-run festival competition, as well as a day to celebrate the life of the dance icon next year also received support.

As the funeral procession of stretch limousines, Benzes, F-150s and expensive SUVs left the church for Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine, a recent recording done by Bogle titled All Dem Deh, blared from speakers.