Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Police had to be called into the joint funeral service for a mother and son who were murdered at their Marabella apartment earlier this month after the woman’s estranged husband entered and began hurling expletives as her body lay in the casket.
Anguish and despair hung heavy over mourners who gathered at Belgroves Funeral Home in San Fernando to say farewell to Hollice Thomas, 40, and her eight-year-old son Noel.
Shortly before the service began, the anguish turned into fear after Hollice’s estranged husband Sheldon Thomas came into the chapel and unleashed a torrent of curses at her as her body lay in her casket.
With rage evident on his face, Sheldon closed down his son’s casket and threatened mourners not to reopen it. This prompted the arrival of the police who kept watch over Sheldon to ensure that the funeral service went on uninterrupted.
Before he left, Sheldon pointed at his dead wife and said, “Look what the (expletive) you do. You (expletive) me up. The man threatened you and look what he do.” Pointing at his son’s body, clad in a blue shirt and tie, Sheldon wailed loudly before walking off.
Several of Hollice’s friends as well as her teenage daughter Aisha McDonald had travelled to Trinidad from Guyana to attend the funeral. However, Marcus John, the man with whom Hollice had been living, was notably absent. When contacted he said he did not know the funeral was taking place adding that some of Hollice’s relatives did not want him to attend.
John had made an appeal for counselling from the Witness and Victim Support Unit but to date, no counselling sessions have yet been arranged.
During the funeral, Hollice’s best friend, Sharon Wickham, painted a poignant picture of a remarkable woman.
“Hollice and I crossed paths in a peculiar way. She became the small sister I never had.” Through trembling words, she remembered Hollice as a loving, resilient soul, a devoted wife, and mother.
“She is a very loving person, very outgoing and in your time of need you can count on her. She is family oriented a wife and a mother,” Wickham said.
Saying she will not dwell on Hollice’s life journey, Wickham described her friend as a fighter.
Meanwhile, a woman who identified herself only as Beverly, who had been counselling Hollice, urged mourners to show love to the people in their lives.
“None of us expected to be here this afternoon. Death leaves a heartache no one (can) heal. It was an untimely death. We have lost Hollice and her son, two lovely people,” Beverly lamented.
She recalled a message that Hollice left with her friends.
“She said women must fight, fight like a woman because you are powerful in every possible way. And we all know that Hollice was a fighter. Never go out to be liked by everyone because that will make you compromised. Be yourself and love yourself for who you are,” Beverly said.
The principal of Ste Madeliene Government Primary School Michael Dhiljar described Noel as a model student. He said Noel transferred in June from the St Stephens Anglican School.
“He was a normal, active boy doing well academically. His mother was very friendly, supportive and interested in the wellbeing of her son,” Dhiljar said.
Elder Kenwyn Applewhite prayed for peace for the family while her best friend in Guyana Stephon Craig broke down in tears as he expressed disbelief over her death.
Donna Huggins, a supervisor from PRD Security described Hollice as a hardworking officer who went above and beyond to help others.
Hollice and Noel were found on December 12 bleeding from knife wounds to their necks. Hollice was conscious but died after being rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital. Police say they are pursuing several leads but there is no one yet in custody for the murders of the mother and her young son.
