Friends, relatives and workmates of Marcyn King gathered at the Lyken’s Memorial Chapel yesterday to pay their final respects to her and offer sympathy to her family before her body was taken to Tempe, West Coast Berbice for funeral service followed by burial at nearby Brittania.

The ceremony at the chapel was simple and solemn, as relatives grieved silently, although tears could be seen coursing down the cheeks of some mourners. The chapel was packed, and following a few brief tributes everyone present was able to view the remains.

The woman’s mother, Margaret Rawlins, was a dignified presence throughout it all, with her eyes filling with tears at intervals as she received hugs and words of solace from friends.

Some of the persons giving their tribute urged relatives to stay close to the Creator and commended them for not asking for revenge for King’s killing. They quoted scriptures in which Christians were advised that vengeance belonged to the Lord. The statement had much resonance among those assembled for the ceremony.

Opposition Leader Robert Corbin was there to show his support for the grieving relatives and went to view the body. Former talk-show host Mark Benschop who had been accused of treason but was pardoned by President Jagdeo last year, as well as attorney-at-law Llewellyn John gave brief tributes at the ceremony. John extended condolences to the deceased’s relatives while Benschop, among other things, said it was unfortunate that this was the third woman to have been gunned down in recent years, the others being Buxtonian mother of nine, Donna Herod, who was killed in September last year, and Donna McKinnon, who was shot and killed in April 2001 in Robb Street, Georgetown.

King, who was the mother of three sons, was shot and killed on her way home from work on Monday night. A brown car drove up beside her and a man got out and fired two shots which hit her in the chest.

One bullet perforated her lung and damaged her liver and the other lodged in her back, a post mortem examination revealed. Two .38 warheads were recovered from the body. So far the police have not arrested anyone in relation to the murder, which has been widely condemned.

Following yesterday’s viewing busloads of relatives followed the Lyken’s hearse to West Coast Berbice for the funeral service and burial.