OBITUARY

A week following the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35^th president of the USA, the late Alice Laing (Nee Dawes) delivered her fourth man-child.  The father, Randolph E. Laing was ecstatic…he named his fifth child in honour of this charismatic man who had captured the hearts of his people with his charm and speech; engaged them in ways unlike others before him and had challenged them to greater action.  Randolph in that act must have been prophetic. Fitz was no lesser man.

The child, Fitz Gerald Augustus Laing was born on November 29, 1963.  Like all his male siblings he also bore his paternal grandfather’s middle name.

Affectionately called Fitzie, he attended the Granville All Age School, Trelawny and gained a place to William Knibb Memorial High School in Martha Brae where he continued to be a model student endearing himself to peers and teachers. 

At William Knibb he displayed a sense of caring and was actively involved in several groups including the Choir, the Speech and Drama Club, Inter School Christian Fellowship, Key Club and Student Council.  He was president of the council and held leadership positions at the regional and national levels.

From very early he demonstrated an interest in the arts and during his high school years he developed a passion for speech and drama, particularly public speaking.  His speaking skills were honed through these activities as well as church productions and this served him well when he later responded positively to a call o his life.

He worked at the United Benefit Building Society (now Victoria Mutual) and then the National Commercial Bank spending a total of 14 years in that field.

Influenced by the spiritual leadership of his parents, primarily his father who was a stalwart of the Falmouth congregation and nurtured by that church community Fitz grappled with service to God through the church and was a Church School teacher, Young Adults Action Movement leader – Synodical President even, Elder and Lay Pastor.

Agitated for further service Fitz surrendered his all and responded to God’s call on his life candidating for the Christian ministry from the Webster Memorial United Church, St. Andrew, where he had transferred his membership and Eldership following his move to Kingston in 1991.

He served as a Missionary from the United Church to the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia (PC USA), South Carolina between 1995 and 96.  During this period he was the Church’s representative on the Joint Mission Action Team (JOMAT) coordinated by the Caribbean and North America Council on Mission (CANACOM). He subsequently undertook theological studies  at the United Theological College of the West Indies and the University of the West Indies, Mona and graduated in 1999 with a diploma in Ministerial Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology (Second Class Honours).

His assignments include the following congregations/charges:  St. John’s, Savannah (in Cayman), Hope, Ridgemount, St. Paul’s, Farm Heights and Andrews Memorial/Ebenezer which he was serving at the time of his death.

Fitz’s “journey” led him to serve the wider community in many ways including several parish committees associated with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, the Ministers’ Fraternal wherever he worked, the Mandeville Police as Station Pastor and the Rotary Club of Mandeville.

He was full of life, laughter, energy and love; he was a committed servant of God and a friend to all.  In his own words…  “We have come this far only by the grace and mercy of God.”

His journey became increasingly difficult when less than two years ago he was diagnosed with cancer of the stomach but with an eternal optimism and an unwavering belief in God, he stayed the course, he kept the faith, he fought a good fight.

In the end, death did not defeat him; he merely surrendered to his God, as he prayed often “Let Thy will be done.”

He passed into the bosom of His Heavenly Father on Monday, September 19, 2005 while resting in the hands of his beloved father, Randolph.

His siblings, Velores, Clinton and Ellis James; his other relatives, friends and the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and so many more are the poorer for his passing but the richer for having known such a wonderful promise –full of hope and Christian love.

His soul is at rest.