The threat of rain, on the hot and humid June 16 Saturday afternoon, remained just that, a threat. Perhaps with enough tears already flowing from the grief of the loss, there was really no need for the heavens to open up.

A fair-sized St Helen’s Catholic Church in Linstead was packed to capacity, the pews full and overflowing onto the grounds and tents in the churchyard.

Family members and friends of Ridley Nesbeth better known as Peter, turned out in their numbers to say a last farewell to a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. They came from near and far, from home and abroad for, after all, the Nesbeth family is a big name in Linstead, and Peter was a man with a big heart.

Those paying tribute, whether in verse or song, poem or prose, delivered them in English, Jamaican dialect or Hindi – yes, granddaughter Tyler-Rae delivered a poem in Hindi – all were united in their praise of singular quality – Peter as a man whose generosity and kindness knew no bounds.

One of his daughters Stacey who was unable to make it to the funeral, remembered her father as “a man who shared his food and his heart. That was my father, always giving to everyone”.

Along with these qualities kindness and generosity were his love of family and his political party.

Speaking of love of party, chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party, Bobby Montague, who was among those paying tribute said Peter was a solid Labourite who would spend time at Area Council meetings instead of being at home with his family on a Sunday and he gave of himself to building the base of the party in the community.

Making his transition, mere days away from his 83rd birthday (Peter was born 14th June and died 1st June), Peter was the fourth son of Samuel and Emeline Nesbeth.

He received his early education at Dinthill Technical, going on to serve as a tutor there in agricultural science before himself embarking upon a fairly successful farming career, and later ventured into various businesses. He was also an outstanding member of the Cadet Corp, a bugler and distinguishing himself in the pre-independence regiment serving as a member of the guard of honour during the 1955 visit to Jamaica of HRH Princess Margaret.

Errol Alliman — who delivered the eulogy and close family friend for decades, said Peter was a ‘sauve and debonair’, kind and generous man — a man who kept his promises, who honoured his commitments … was ready to lend a listening ear but never pretended to know all the answers. “Once you meet him you recognised that he was a man who commanded respect,” Alliman said.

But it was his generosity of spirit that kept coming back, time and again. Peter was a generous man … always giving and putting a little something in the hand of strangers and family members, even if it meant not telling his immediate family. His son Damian summed it well: “Papa extended himself to ensure the family needs were always met and exceeded.”

Sincere and heartfelt condolences were extended to his wife Millie and the children, even as Peter was eulogised as a man who exuded kindness and who had a zest for life and living.

For, as Alliman in the eulogy concluded, “Today you no longer walk among us having completed your earthly journey … your chapter in the book of life has now closed, but it will be revisited countless times as each of us will continue to remember the man who occupied a significant place in our hearts. These cherished memories will remain in our hearts.”