Soaring tributes, fond memories and songs of endearment mixed with copious tears as hundreds braved sweltering heat to pay last respects to the late Jill Stewart, wife of Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, at the recent thanksgiving service for her life, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay, St James.

They came from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and from across Jamaica to honour a woman who was remembered especially for the courageous and selfless manner in which she publicly shared her difficult journey through illness, hoping to provide strength and comfort to those travelling a similar path.

Among the mourners were: Larry McDonald and wife, Judith; Dominic McDonald and wife, Lauren; pilots Francis Millwood and Adam Gomes; Chris Elliott; Jimmy Briscoe; Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown; Richard Vernon; Adonia Chin; Dr Chris Tufton; Jeff Clark, Maggie Rivera of Unique Vacations; Winston Anderson; Matthew Samuda; Natalie Chin; Dr Horace Chang and wife; Daryl and Ann-Marie Vaz; Karl Samuda; Merrick Fray; Steven Smith; Dmitri Singh; Keith Collister; Keith Duncan; Robert Levy; Marlene Malahoo Forte; Olivia ”Babsy” Grange; Mikael Phillips; Mark Hart; Sheila Hart; Lindsay Isaacs; Don Smith; Jeremy Jones; Julian Robinson; Senator Damion Crawford; and Senator Aubyn Hill.

Jamaica Observer Photo Editor Joseph Wellington was on hand to capture some of the memorable moments: