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News > COB Students Remembered at Inaugural Memorial Service
COB Students Remembered at Inaugural Memorial Service In a memorial service that paid tribute to their energy; honoured treasured memories and celebrated their humanity, Brenton Smith; Lavette Smith and Keisha Thurston - all College of The Bahamas students who have died within the last year - were in the spotlight perhaps for a final time on Thursday, April 8th. The service was an inaugural event held at The College to pay homage to students who have passed and support their grieving families and friends. "During their time here with us, Brenton, Lavette and Keisha exhibited a love for life. It is this love for life that drove each of them to become the successes that they were in their own right. And by choosing higher education, they had already distinguished themselves as an inspiration to their contemporaries," College of The Bahamas President Janyne Hodder expressed in her condolences.
Brenton died in July 2009 and Lavette and Keisha both passed in February of this year. Grieving family members that included siblings, parents, grandparents and extended relatives sat among students in the Performing Arts Centre as their loved ones were eulogized. "Here we are today still trying to comprehend your profound loss. Looking at your pictures, we let ourselves cry, knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens," reflected Gabrielle Goodman about her dear friend Lavette. "What I have come to realize is that you don't ever get over a profound loss, you just get through it. The sadness doesn't get better; you just learn how to cope with it."  For the family and friends of Brenton Smith who died tragically last July, the pain of his loss is still fresh. Upon graduation from St. Augustine's College in 2008, Brenton wanted to become an engineer. He enrolled at The College of The Bahamas in the Fall of 2008 to pursue a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. His family continues to keep his memory alive and established the Brenton Hector Smith Foundation to support young men in their educational pursuits and enhance relations between law enforcement and the youth. Even through tears, Brunell Coakley smiled as she remembered her high school and college pal. "[Brenton] took his time to listen to me and it honestly made me a better person," she said. Keisha Thurston obtained an academic scholarship to attend The College and pursue a degree in Education. She was also a member of the Education Awareness Society and an exceptional athlete who played a starting position on the Women's volleyball team. Still gripped with the pain of losing her, friends remembered Keisha's outstanding performance both on an off the court. "Keisha had exceeded all of our expectations…Keisha was a young player but she played the game with a finesse that was beyond her years," shared Kenisha Thompson, captain of the volleyball team. "Keisha was an exceptional student. She was serious about her studies. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have made an excellent teacher." The College intends to hold the memorial service on a regular basis, to remember students who have died and will also erect a memorial wall on which plaques will be mounted with the names of those students. During the service, each family was presented with a memorial plaque. Afterwards, a relative of each of the deceased lit a candle in memory of their loved one whose footprints are now etched in eternity.
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