CROSS KEYS, Manchester — Samantha Biggs surprised the capacity congregation at Cross Keys Church of God of Prophecy in south Manchester on Friday when she delivered the eulogy at her nine-year-old daughter’s funeral.

Amid the depths of her unimaginable grief, the heartbroken mother told the congregation that the strength they were witnessing did not come from her own broken spirit but from “the power of God”.

Her declaration of faith rippled through the church, eliciting shouts of “Amen!”

“I know it is a surprise for many of you to see me here standing. However, I could not let the day go without saying something… I feel that there is power and there is going to be justice for my child… I have to proceed to get justice for Amoya Moore,” she said to applause.

On December 9 last year, shortly after walking by a garbage truck, metres away from her house, and telling the crew, “Good morning,” the grade four Villa Road Primary School student was struck by the truck.

The tragedy unfolded about 7:00 am on Bonitto Heights off Bonitto Crescent in Mandeville.

“God has been keeping me with grace [and] strength… Honestly speaking, I know what a eulogy is. I am not going to stand here with pretty speaking, or anything of the sort, because that is going to make me worse… The reality is, my baby is gone and part of me left with her. However, she may be gone in flesh, but she is not gone in spirit. [Amoya] will live with me in memories and she will live in my heart forever,” the mother said.

“It has been tragic [and] traumatising. Losing a child is not an easy road… [As] the night nears, there is a consistent [memory]. It is hard waking up and realising that my baby is no longer here. I cannot hear her cheering spirit in the morning. Moving on without her feels unfair, and it is not easy,” added Biggs.

Efforts to get an update from the police on the investigation into the death of the child were unsuccessful up to Friday afternoon.

However, an alleged eyewitness who spoke to the Jamaica Observer on condition of anonymity was upset at the pace of the probe as he claimed the police didn’t take his statement.

“… They haven’t called me. I am not going to go over there [Mandeville Police Station] and sit down like the last time for two and a half hours,” said the alleged eyewitness.

Principal of Villa Road Primary School, Brent James in his tribute reiterated that Amoya was an “impactful student” who was always happy to greet him, and referred to him as “daddy” over her years at the school.

He related an instance when he saw the child, “walking with her father, hand in hand”, and was “shocked, because she let go of daddy’s hand and she ran to me, hugged me, and said ‘Daddy’. That is the lasting memory that I have of Amoya”, said James.

“She called other members of staff ‘mother, grandma’, and I am glad I wasn’t elevated to [being called grandpa] yet,” he added, evoking laughter.

“I am struggling to even use past tense. Amoya was vibrant… She was respectful, diligent and loved by all — whether at school, in the community, or even traversing the roadways to school,” said James.

He also announced the launch of a scholarship, in memory of Amoya, for a grade four student who exudes her characteristics.

“There are stakeholders who are willing to partner so that we keep her memory alive,” he said.

A student from Villa Road Primary School, where Amoya Moore was a grade four student, is moved to tears while singing with her peers at the child’s funeral on Friday in Cross Keys, Manchester. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

The pink casket bearing the remains of Villa Road Primary student Amoya Moore is decorated with images of her along with the words, “Rest peacefully, our angel.” (Photo: Kasey Williams)

An undated photo of nine-year-old Amoya Moore.