St John family grieving again

Carmel Billingy looking at the wreckage of the motorcycle which she said took her brother’s life.

Raymond Lewis lost his life in a vehicle accident earlier last week. (Pictures by Nigel Browne.)

Mon, February 11, 2013 - 12:09 AM

TRAGEDY HAS struck Carmel Billingy and her family – again.

This time, she has to say goodbye to her brother Raymond Lewis, 41, of Clifton Hall, St John, who lost his life after a vehicular accident on February 5.

He was riding a motorcycle when he became involved in a collision with a van. He died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Billingy, who lived in Carter’s, St John, said it brought back memories of losing her daughter’s father Pedro Greaves, who was killed.

She added that she never thought her brother, who was the peacekeeper of the family, would pass away before she did.

“I have been sick and he was always worried about my health. He used to search on the computer and give me advice. I really thought he would bury me one day but now he gone.”

Billingy still has the wreckage of the motorcycle she said took her brother’s life covered nearby. She had never warmed to the idea of riding motorcycles, she said, but her brother loved them from the time he was a child. He was the second of her six siblings to pass away.

“We are preparing for the funeral and just trying to cope,” she said, adding that her brother’s birthday was just a month away.

Lewis’ son, 15-year-old Raymond Monro, said his father had three great loves: his motorcycle, fish and dogs. His father kept many animals but eventually had to give away the dogs because he could not handle them all.

Monro, a student of Metropolitan School, said he and his sister would miss their dad, who was a labourer and well-digger but was also skilled at plumbing and tiling. (CA)