GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Mourners at the thanksgiving service take a last glimpse at the body of Darren Khan, inside the Bethlehem Moravian Church in St. Elizabeth, on Saturday. - george henry

malvern, st. elizabeth

When the Madden's Funeral Home hearse turned up at the Bethlehem Moravian Church, just after 1 p.m. with the body of Darren Khan, the late STAR writer who died tragically at his Kingston apartment on December 6, there was a sad look on the many faces inside and outside of the church.

The passing of the late, talented and promising journalist, has not only left a void in the hearts of numerous family members, friends and associates, but also a consistent pain which will be in their hearts for years to come.

Crying, sighing, and even groaning was the order of the afternoon for a man, who, from all indications, meant a lot to everyone who knew him. His aunts from overseas and those who live in Jamaica, a number of other relatives and his close friends, painted a picture with their tears, making it clear that the former Munro College and the University of the West Indies past student was well loved and could have easily been described as one of a kind.

Dozens of mourners, including veteran journalist John Maxwell, Dwayne Gordon, THE STAR editor, and freelance writer at The Gleaner Melville Cooke, past students of Munro College and the University of the West Indies, were reminded of the kind of person Darren Dean Khan was by the many glowing tributes.

The former employee at the National Commercial Bank, Invercauld Guest House in Black River, Nestle Jamaica Limited, The Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer was described by Analisa Chapman as an avid reader who knew a lot.

She said Darren was gifted, and that at four he taught his sister, who was a year older than he, how to spell the word 'girl'. She said Darren's sister, Barbie, recalled him telling her at that young age that in order for her to be able to spell words correctly, she had to break them up into syllables.

Chapman said since then his sister has had no difficulty spelling words.

Good at writing

To Melville Cooke, Gleaner columnist, Khan was somebody who was good at writing and one who wanted to write. He said his schoolmate Darren was always himself and that their association went back to the late 1980s into the early '90s while attending Munro College.

Cooke, who also read two poems in honour of his schoolmate, further said the late journalist was a man who put words in good order and style, as legibly and readable as possible so that others could enjoy.

Cooke said Darren Khan was born in England on February 23, 1973. He was always proud of his country, as he would use any opportunity he got to tell others what he knew.

More than academics

While delivering the eulogy, Tanya Batson-Savage, a friend of the late journalist, said at university he strove to do more than academics and was involved in Dramatic Arts Society, at the Philip Sherlock Centre.

"During this time Darren revealed and developed his skills as an actor, writer and director and displayed a penchant for experimental theatre and a willingness to go beyond the boundaries. He received various awards for his skills in lighting and direction, as well as the university's award for cultural involvement," said Batson-Savage.

She said the late journalist's passion for knowledge fuelled his reading, a skill he mastered before walking, and that he was willing to script his own path and chart his own adventures.

In addition to his mother Delores, sister Barbie and brothers Cassel and Ross 'Tony' Powell, the late journalist left behind numerous other family members and a host of close friends to mourn his loss. His body was interred in the Bethlehem Moravian Church Cemetery following the thanksgiving service.