A young girl takes a photo at service of thanksgiving for the life of Ananda Dean at Swallowfield Chapel yesterday.

The old and the young of Whitehall Avenue, St Andrew, turned out to provide support to the family of Ananda Dean as a thanksgiving service for her life was held at Swallowfield Chapel yesterday.

The mourners - mostly dressed in colourful, skimpy cleavage-showing outfits and strappy stilettos - celebrated the life of the 11-year-old whose mutilated body was found in bushes in September.

Wept continuously, screaming 'Passion'

Nordia Campbell, Ananda's mother, could not be consoled. She wept continuously, screaming "Passion", the nickname of her lost child.

"Why," she said, while rubbing an enlarged screen that posted a picture of Ananda inside the chapel.

Richard Dean, Ananda's father, kept his composure during a tribute and said he wanted to surprise his daughter on her birthday, which would have been tomorrow, with a trip to Dolphin Cove, a family attraction in St Ann.

"I had great plans for all my children. I work night and day to see them happy," he said.

Tears flowed as the purple and white coffin, with a smiling face of Ananda and 'Forever Loved' etched at the sides, reminded the mourners of the young one.

Tributes were many

The tributes were many. Children from her school and community sang, Beyond the Gates of Glory and King Jesus is a Listening When You Pray. Family and friends also sang, It's so Hard to Say GoodBye and I'm Missing You.

Campbell dropped to the ground again wailing, "Jesus, me baby!" She was taken outside.

An aunt fell at the foot of the coffin, rubbing it and crying, "Oh God!"

Ananda was interred at Dovecot Memorial Park, St Catherine.

Left: Nordia Campbell, the mother of 11-year-old Ananda Dean, is being assisted by Betty Ann Blaine (right), Convenor of Hear the Children's Cry, and other persons after she fell to the floor during Dean's funeral at the Swallowfield Chapel, St Andrew, yesterday. Right: Students listen attentively to tributes to Ananda during the funeral. - Norman Grindley Photos