WHEN Veda Cinderella Myrie died on Thursday, April 23, little did her family know that three days later, Friday, April 26, her son Donald would follow.

So on Tuesday, May 6 it was two caskets which lay at the altar of the St Paul’s United Church in downtown, Kingston as family and friends gathered to celebrate the lives of mother and son.

Donald’s long-time friend Ainsley Mitchell described him as a disciplinarian. In his tribute to Danny, as he was fondly called by his relatives and friends, he reflected on Danny’s sense of humour. Perhaps that’s why he was firm with those whom he supervised while working at GraceKennedy and why they never took offence.

Mitchell also recounted how Danny visited his home and picked all the ripe, turn and fit Bombay mangoes off his tree.

“My rule is that only ripe mangoes must be picked, so I was so mad with Danny that I grabbed the bag from him and took it to the canteen and sold it!”

His friend later had to acknowledge that Danny didn’t bear grudges as he soon forgot about his anger and was back at his home on the mango tree.

Heather Thomas, reading on behalf of Danny’s grief-stricken spouse, Margaret, described him as a man who did things “his way”. After 22 years together with an only daughter, she still remembers their whirlwind romance and how he was a stickler for perfect English.

“Throughout our ups and downs, we saw things differently but stood by each other through the good times and the bad,” read Thomas.

Veda Myrie, a past student of Calabar Elementary, pursued a culinary path and sewing before moving to Alligator Pond in St Elizabeth where she operated a cook shop. She later married Seymour Myrie, the love of her life, and the union produced six children (two predeceased her).

After the death of her husband, Veda relocated to Harbour View in Kingston with her daughter Jean and grandson Marlon Forrester.

Although she could be very strict, she lavished love on both daughter and especially her grandson. Veda was also described as a first-class dressmaker.

Hughlett Dyght, in speaking about his aunt, said as a child he relished going to her home to enjoy her many culinary delights.

About his cousin Danny, Dyght described him as someone who enjoyed reading and the outdoors. He was a man who enjoyed upward mobility also as he was always pursuing a course to better himself.

“He was always trying to create a better life for his family. It’s not that they didn’t have problems — but they worked through them,” Dyght said.

Danny often said “A man must be able to love and support his family.”

When he developed a brain tumour denying him the opportunity to do his part it was his family who consoled him that he had done his best.

Veda was laid to rest at the Meadowrest Memorial Gardens while Danny will be cremated at a later date.