Members of the Jamaican theatre community turned out in their numbers to bid farewell to Aston Erie Cooke Jr in a ceremony filled with laughter and tears, at Wolmer’s Boys’ Auditorium in Kingston on Saturday.

Cooke was found dead in his St Andrew home on February 22. He was 61 years old.

The thanksgiving ceremony had its challenges as the electricity went during the tributes. After a while, no one seemed aware of this, being caught up in the outpouring of love, jokes and memorable performances.

Cooke was a playwright, director, producer, actor and humanitarian. He received his final round of applause when his nephew, Winston Xavier Graham asked the supporters to stand and applaud Cooke’s life and work. He then delivered the eulogy during which he remembered Cooke as (affectionately called Cookie) as the uncle who was always there.

“He was always there for me. I remember even as a big 21-year-old boy calling my uncle to chat on the phone for hours. He never missed a birthday, one time he told me I will soon have to stop calling him uncle because I was getting old and people might start to question his age,” Graham said.

His sentiments were echoed in a passionate performance from the Jamaica Youth Theatre (JYT). Cooke started the company in 2004 and was its artistic director until his passing. During the performance, members recalled him as a father figure and after giving their all, the performers unable to hold back tears, chanted: “JYT, wi heart a beat fi yuh.”

Other reflections came from actors Ann Marie Fuller, Marcia Brown, Deon Silvera and Michael Nicholson, who represented the theatre community; Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Wolmer’s Old Boys, Anglican Youth Fellowship, Jamaica AIDS Support, Tourism and Design, represented by Weston Haugton and Quindell Ferguson; Dr Sanneta Myrie — Miss Jamaica World 2015; and Minister of Culture and Entertainment Olivia “Babsy” Grange.

The Ashe dance group also paid respect to Cooke through a sorrowful performance of It Is Well With My Soul.

Cooke was inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame for his contribution to Jamaican theatre. In 1985, he wrote the first episodes of Oliver At Large, which became one of Jamaica’s most successful television series. He was recipient of nine Actor Boy Awards and won the Best Play Award in 2009 for his entry in the National Literary Competition. His plays include Front Room, Concubine and Country Duppy.

Cooke served on several boards including Television Jamaica Limited, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and Jamaica Aids Support For Life. He was scheduled for a board meeting with the latter on the day he died.

“If nuffness was electricity, Cookie was a powerhouse” are the words used to describe Cooke in his Wolmer’s Boys’ yearbook. His friends, family and supporters believe that accurately summarises Aston Cooke’s personality. His contribution to Jamaica’s development live on.