MONTEGO BAY, St James — Burchell Baptist Church in the second city was plunged into mourning following Monday afternoon’s fatal stabbing of an elderly female member of the flock at her home in the swanky Mango Walk, St James community.

The deceased has been identified as 79-year-old Phyllis Williams.

“It is just shock and disbelief!” Reverend Davewin Thomas, head of the church, told the Jamaica Observer.

On Monday, Williams reportedly stopped at the church on her return from court, where she had a matter. She left for home shortly afterwards to pick up pastries she had prepared for the church’s harvest sale, which was in progress.

But she did not make it back to church as she was set upon by unknown attackers, who stabbed her in the chest.

Sometime after 1:00 pm, the elderly Williams, who was said to be a devout Christian, reportedly made a frantic call to the church office for help, informing the secretary that she had been stabbed.

“I am stabbed. Come quick,” she reportedly informed the church.

According to Reverend Thomas, the members called the police then sped from the church, situated on Market Street near to the town centre, to Mango Walk to rescue their sister.

But they were too late. When they arrived on the scene, about the same time as the police, Williams’ blood-soaked body was seen slumped in a chair on her verandah with a stab wound to the chest.

Reverend Thomas describes the fallen church sister, who served on the church council, as very kind and hard-working.

“She was the epitome of kindness, very kind spirited, just lovely to be with, extremely hard working, loving person to be around, very caring,” the clergy man said.

“She does not miss church unless she is ill or out of the parish. She was an ardent church person,” he added.

The police are yet to establish a motive for the killing.

— Horace Hines