By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
From left to right, Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Sports and Tourism; Michael Hall, chief operations officer of the West Indies Cricket Board; Rev. Wes Hall, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, and Brian Breese, CEO of the Jamaica Cricket Association sing during yesterday's thanksgiving service for the late Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Laurie Williams. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
GLOWING TRIBUTES were paid to the late Laurie Williams by members of his family and the Jamaica and West Indies cricket fraternity at a thanksgiving service held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, North Street, Kingston yesterday.
The 33-year-old Williams, a former Jamaica and West Indies all-rounder, and his younger brother, Kevin Jenninson, died in a car accident on September 8.
Heading the list of mourners were the Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Sports and Tourism, and the President of the West Indies Cricket Board, the Rev. Wes Hall.
Among the other notable attendees were Michael Hall, chief operations officer of the West Indies Cricket Board, George Sterling, first vice president Jamaica Cricket Association, Brian Breese, CEO Jamaica Cricket Association, Robert Haynes, coach of the Jamaica cricket team, Roland Holder, secretary West Indies Players Association, Philo Wallace, representing the Barbados Cricket Board, Linden Wright, manager of the Jamaica cricket team, former West Indies players Courtney Walsh OJ, Jeffrey Dujon and other former and present Jamaica and West Indies players.
Simpson Miller said it was not difficult to say good things about Williams.
"I watched him on the field of play. He was such a team person and when things seemed not to be going too well you would see him giving support and urging his teammates on," Simpson Miller said.
"He was a loving person and I share what a number of persons said in their tributes to him - he was a gentleman on and off the field of play. I am sure that the young people of this country can emulate his discipline, his courage and being a good team player," the minister said.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board Rev. Hall said Williams' example on and off the field was so exemplary that many should want to follow it.
"Records on the field can be broken any day but what can't be broken is the indelible man that God has left on the minds of young Jamaicans," Hall said.
