FORMER banker Everald Lloyd Chito was yesterday remembered by family and friends as the consummate businessman, loyal to his family and clients, and committed to the church.

Tribute after tribute read to scores of people who packed the Full Truth Church of God on Shortwood Road in Kingston, depicted him as one of Jamaica’s foremost banker who had mentored many in the profession.

“He was always looking after his customers, not just from a business perspective, but from a personal standpoint,” said close friend, Audley Vaughn who marveled at his “capacity to walk with kings and not lose the common touch”.

Major Winston Dwyer, whose relationship with Chito spanned more than three decades, painted him as an excellent performer who sported his much talked about afro with pride back in the ’80s.

“Lloyd was not only an excellent banker, but he always found time to be in other activities. He was an advisor, mentor and a friend to many,” he said, adding that he had helped many to move forward in his capacity as a banker.

Chito first started his banking career as a teller at the City Bank and was gradually promoted to various managerial positions at the Workers’ Bank, Eagle Merchant Bank, FirstCaribbean International Bank and finally, First Global Merchant Bank where he was branch manager at the time of his death.

Many are still coming to terms with the tragic death of the 58-year-old father of three, who allegedly killed himself two weeks ago after shooting his wife Karla at their upscale home in Waterworks, St Andrew.

Born to Inez and Uriah Chito in St Mary, the banker spent most of his childhood days in Old Harbour with his eight siblings and spent most of his free time at church in Waterhouse, Kingston.

His cousin Lincoln Price remembered those times as fun days, filled with the usual bout of sibling rivalry. In giving the eulogy, he cautioned those who packed the large church “to reflect on Lloyd’s life more so than his death”.

“We are positive that no one here would have expected that the life of such a successful, positive, thoughtful, religious father, entrepreneur, professional and family man would end so tragically, but Lloyd’s untimely death would only be a tragedy for those who failed to heed his lesson,” he said.

Chito married Karla shortly after the death of his first wife Juliet in 2004, who lost the battle to a fatal illness. The two were married for 29 years.

Also in attendance at yesterday’s funeral service were Government ministers Olivia Babsy Grange, Mike Henry, Edmund Bartlett and Member of Parliament Fitz Jackson.