A brother’s grief

One of Barbados’ cultural icons has been dealt a devastating blow by the news that two of his younger sisters living in New York recently succumbed to the raging COVID-19 battle.

Desmond Weekes, former lead singer of popular ‘Spouge’ band the Draytons Two confirmed that he had been plunged into mourning first by the death of Jean Weekes-Husbands, 65, who died last Wednesday and Almonda Weekes, 68, whose passing followed days later.

What makes their passing even more painful is the fact that he will be unable to mourn alongside other relatives in the Big Apple due to the unprecedented restrictions which accompany the deadly virus.

“Hearing that they contracted the virus was devastating to me, because even though you know that the virus was going around and anybody could catch it, you still never would have imagined it would hit so close to home and it’s a lot more devastating for me because their lives started here with me in a little house in the village,” he told Barbados TODAY.

The two sisters who grew up in Carrington Village, St Michael migrated to the US decades ago. Last year, Weekes recalled visiting them in New York unknowingly for the final time.

“We have always been very close and I would miss them being away from home, but now it is different and I will miss them more than ever,” he said, before turning his mind to their humble beginnings in “the village”.

“I can’t get them out of my thoughts, because growing up we slept in one bed as kids, we shared one cup and one cake of soap and the same spoons and the same forks. That is how we grew up…so this bond started in our early years,” he recalled.

As his sisters grew older and migrated, childhood bonds remained strong, and as the spouge singer travelled to perform in auditoriums across North America, his siblings became his biggest advertisers and supporters.

With a tinge of happiness in his voice, Weekes remembered Almonda as a “happy-spirited lady” who was very affable and attracted many friends.

“Even when she comes to Barbados, she had friends because she had something on her that people would just love,” he said before reflecting on the character and personality of Jean, a senior analyst at a financial investment firm in New Jersey.

“Jean would be very involved in the church and in things church-related. Jean was more business-like, but the two were very close. They loved each other and although sometimes they might have had differences, we understood that it was all a part of being in a family,” Weekes added.

On Tuesday evening the COVID-19 death toll in the metropolis was calculated at more than 10,000 – almost two dozen are Barbadians.

Like in many other affected areas of the world, non-essential business has been halted, strict physical distancing rules have been implemented and most flights from Barbados have been suspended. It is now virtually impossible for Weekes to return for the funerals of his late sisters.

After enduring an extended fast over the Lenten season, he is now looking to the “Most High” for strength.

“I am drawing strength from God… but the feeling that you experience when you can’t say goodbye cannot be explained. These are my sisters whose doors have always been open to me and I cannot go and support the others. Right now, I am thinking about Jean’s husband who is like a brother to me,” said Weekes.

“It hurts that I can’t go and even though I am a strong person, I was speaking to my niece the other day and she started to cry over the phone and even though I was feeling strong when I called her, I started to get weak and I had to ask the Most High to come and control me again.

“Everything is alright, and everything will be alright because the Lord said he will never leave me nor forsake me,” he repeated.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb