Pallbearers carry the coffin containing the body of former executive director of the Social Development Commission, Sonia Christie, following her funeral at Webb Memorial Baptist Church in Stewart Town, Trelawny on Saturday afternoon. - photo by Claudia Gardner

WESTERN BUREAU:

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, during the funeral for Sonia Christie on the weekend, hailed the former executive director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) as a true friend and a marvellous person who possessed great strength and character.

Christie's funeral was held at the Webb Memorial Baptist Church in Stewart Town, Trelawny, on Saturday afternoon.

Demitted office

Christie, who was appointed acting executive director of the SDC in May last year, demitted office in December due to ill health. She died two weeks ago.

"We are assembled here in a church filled to capacity. We are here because we mourn. We are here as a measure of the love that we have for this fine woman; to fulfil a duty to support members of the family because, as much as we mourn her passing, they feel it much more because she was a central part of their lives," Golding said.

"Sonia was very, very close. She was a personal friend of ours - an amazing woman. She was absolutely fearless. She was selfless in how she lived her life. She taught us many lessons by the life she lived, even the way she died."

'Energy and enthusiasm'

Golding said the short time Christie spent at the SDC had brought great "energy and enthusiasm" to the organisation.

"One of my greatest regrets is that she did not get enough time to do enough to improve that organisation that has the potential to do so much for social development," he lamented.

"When we went to see her, you could see the illness was taking a toll on her body but she refused to let it take a toll on her spirit. She fought it with courage and defiance. Death is not something that is strange to us. It comes so sudden and so we are challenged as to how we cope. In Sonia's case, God was preparing to call her home but, when the news came, I don't think any think of us felt as ready as she was," he said.