LAST Saturday Evan Powell, the elder brother of RJR reporter Rohan Powell, was laid to rest in an emotional thanksgiving service at the Kingston Parish Church.

Powell was shot and killed close to his Mark Lane home in downtown, Kingston last month.

Life Tributes joins with his family and friends in hailing the life of Evan Powell.

Below is the text of the remembrance Rohan Powell delivered during the service.

Destiny, or fate, is a pre-determined course of events.

It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual nature. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order tothe cosmos.

That sums up the tragic afternoon of Thursday, November 14, 2013 where Evan Neil Powell, who most know as ‘Junior’ or ‘Bully’ was robbed of the opportunity to experience a full and healthy life.

Mark Lane, downtown Kingston-bred, born and raised… and that location, or a stone’s throw, is where he took his last breath. Another victim of the vicious ongoing crime and violence hurting our beloved country.

Evan was born on March 25, 1965 to parents Evan Powell and Joan Braithwaite, our mother who went home to rest on October 10, a day shy of her birthday.

Yes, our dearly beloved mother followed by a brother.

It was mere weeks ago when my brother you see lying in the colours of his alma mater shed tears for our mother.

I watched and agonised, not knowing the irony that would follow:

Evan, taking similar steps to what is his final resting place.

Our brother, father, uncle, friend lived for the better part of his childhood and early adult life at 43 Mark Lane under the wings of our grandmother Hilda, and her equally protective husband Hubert Jeremiah Marshall.

Alongside myself, elder brother Richard, later Gustav, and our lovely sisters Nadia and Karen, Mark Lane continued to be home.

Life was not an easy road. Buju Banton couldn’t have said it any better. There were many, many struggles over the years.

In spite of the humble beginnings, ‘Junior’, like all immediate siblings, had the privilege of entering the doors of a traditional high school, after spending the formative years at Mico Practicing School.

It was at Kingston College, starting some time In 1971, where he spent about four years and then onto STATHS where the passion for sports became evident.

Football became a passion; it was breakfast, lunch and dinner, uptown downtown, round town. Ball game all over. The corridors of Kingston Parish Church — an all-too-familiar ball ground.

It was straight out of high school, at what can be best described as the tender age of 16, that Evan made it his decision to start a family.

Like most mothers, Joan was livid, as his child’s mother was a similar age.

Grandmother Joan shared the burn.

Throughout the years, ‘Junior’ took on numerous jobs, and was never one to stay too long in the same profession — security guard, junior electrician. At one point he toyed with the idea of being a professional jockey.

Evan was not one to stay idle.

He would make it a point of duty to take on the hustle, ensuring that a salary would be earned.

I would be taking tales out of school if I told you that he broached the subject with us of wanting a large family. Well, after several years it became evident that he was well on his way. Evan began to do what scores of Jamaican men planned or unplanned — spreading his wings far and wide.

The sum total? Fourteen children.

For many, Evan’s death came as a shock.