Bodies of Jessie Ripoll principal, wife back in island ahead of Feb 8 funeral
Published:Saturday | January 25, 2025 | 4:18 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
The bodies of the late principal of Jessie Ripoll Primary School, O’Neil Stevens, and his wife, Camesha Lindsay-Stevens, have been returned to Jamaica in preparation for their funeral.
Stevens and his wife were killed in a motor vehicle accident in South Carolina in the United States on January 3.
The funeral has been set for February 8 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on North Street in Kingston.
Family members told The Gleaner that the bodies were shipped home and arrived in the island earlier this week.
Stevens and Lindsay-Stevens died in the accident that took place in Myrtle Beach as they were on their way to the airport to catch a flight home to Jamaica in preparation for the January reopening of school.
A memorial service was held in Myrtle Beach recently for family members and friends who will be unable to attend the funeral in Jamaica.
Stevens and Lindsay-Stevens had spent the Christmas holidays with the latter’s mother in Myrtle Beach.
Stevens, his wife, their two daughters, his mother-in law and a cousin were travelling to the airport when the car being driven by the cousin developed a flat tyre and they pulled over to the side of the road.
The beloved principal, his wife, his mother-in-law and the cousin all got out the vehicle to change the flat tyre. While outside the car, they spotted a van driving at a high rate of speed and both Stevens and his wife began running to the embankment but they were struck by the vehicle. Stevens died on the spot while his wife died on arrival at an urgent care centre.
Their children, his mother-in-law and the driver of the vehicle in which they were travelling were not injured.
No arrest has been made in connection with the accident.
The Gleaner understands that the driver of the vehicle that struck the couple remained on the scene and passed a breathalyser test.