CLARENDON, Jamaica — A scholarship is to be established in honour of Tavaris and Tavaughn Bulgin, the two brothers who drowned at the Jaws Bridge on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts on August 14.

Pastor Rhoan Parkins, liaison for the Bulgin family, provided details at a media briefing organised by the family on Thursday. It was held at the New Testament Church of God Palmers Cross in Clarendon, where the young men’s parents, Reverend Keith and Jacqueline Bulgin, have been serving for the past 26 years.

“Now that they are not with us, the family — and certainly along with the church — will establish a fund in their honour to continue the legacy that they would have wanted to leave, and that which they have started,” said Parkins.

While the name of the fund has not yet been decided, its mandate has been clearly defined.

“The fund(s), when gathered, will go towards scholarships [and] benevolence, to help members of the community in which [the brothers] grew up, and certainly members that they really loved,” said Parkins.

An account has been established at the May Pen branch of Scotiabank in the name of Keith Bulgin. The account number is 805868.

The two brothers, 26-year-old Tavaris and 21-year-old Tavaughn are being remembered for their academic excellence, positive attitude and the bright future they had ahead of them. Tavaughn would have graduated in November with a bachelor’s degree from The University of the West Indies, while Tavaris was a graduate of the University of Technology. Both of them pursued business.

“Tavaris was a trailblazer in many areas. He is an entrepreneur and much has not been said about it but, for a while, he was a facilitator at the Meadowland Centre of Excellence in May Pen… He did pretty well in that area. He was also a budding businessman. He was operating his own little farm,” said Parkins.

“So, there’s much to these young men; so when we talk about them, it’s not just two young men. [They were] young men with [a] promise, young men with ‘mannaz’… who were looking to leave a legacy behind,” he emphasised.

Although the parents are grappling with the loss of their two sons, Reverend Bulgin is trying to be strong for his family, including his two daughters, Tavanney Bulgin-McCalla and Tavania. While conceding that “bad things happen to Christians as well”, he is optimistic that something good will come out of his sons’ unfortunate demise. He believes it may spur individuals, both locally and internationally, to find their way to God.

During the media briefing Reverend Bulgin used the opportunity to express gratitude to those who have provided support to his family in their time of grief.

“I want to say thanks to corporate Jamaica and the… world for their expression of sympathy and love that they really poured out during our time of difficulty,” he said.

The clergyman also stressed that he does not believe there was any foul play involved in his sons’ death.

A night of tribute will be arranged at the church to give community members and well-wishers a chance to share their memories of the brothers. The funeral service will be held on October 1 at the New Testament Church of God Convention Centre, Rhoden’s Pen, Old Harbour, about mid-morning. The interment will be in Trelawny.

– Oneil Madden