By Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter 
Grant
HIS SMILE and pleasant personality gained him friends from all walks of life. He was known for his courtesy, polite demeanor and most of all, his attire.
"May I clean your windshield please?" read the t-shirts he wore day after day, as he stood at the intersection of Trafalgar and Hope roads, working to provide for his three young sons. Richard Grant's life was, however, cut short on Monday, December 13, when he was shot and killed by a gunman while standing at a garage on Hagley Park Road in St. Andrew.
Betty-Ann Blaine, founder of Youth Opprtunities Unlimited (YOU), said her relationship with Richard went back several years. She told The Gleaner that she first met him seven years ago when she organised a meeting with a group of young men who cleaned the windshields of vehicles which stopped at the intersection of Hope and Trafalgar roads. "I wanted to speak with them to let them know that by being courteous to motorists, they could earn more money and respect," she said.
Mrs. Bliane recalled that Richard's attitude during the meeting took her by surprise. "On that first encounter, I realised that he was a leader. His manner was outstanding," she said. Mrs. Blane added that she informed the men that she would provide them with a set of t-shirts, each printed with a polite request; "May I clean your windshield please?"
About two weeks later, Mrs. Blaine took the t-shirts to the men. When she gave Richard his, she was surprised by his response. "When I handed him his shirt, to my surprise he handed me a thousand dollar bill. He said to me, 'Miss use this and help wid the shirt dem,'" she said, adding that this almost brought her to tears.
"This demonstrated how responsible he was. He didn't want a handout," she added.
Mrs. Blaine said she managed to see Richard interact with his children on several occasions and was more impressed each time. "He had a loving way about him. The way he spoke with them was beautiful," she noted.
"Last Christmas, I was in a line of traffic and he saw me. He ran up to my vehicle and handed me an envelope. I opened it and saw that there was an air freshener and a note inside. The note read, Merry Christmas, Jesus loves us all," said Mrs. Blaine, adding that the gift meant a lot to her.
Since his death, the outpouring of love for Richard has been continuous. Mrs. Blaine said she has received numerous letters from persons wanting some kind of memorial set up in Richard's name. "One man wrote to me saying we should print bumper stickers encouraging people to emulate Richard's ambition," she said.
In response to these requests and with a view of helping Richard's children, Mrs. Blaine has established an account in his name. Persons wishing to contribute to the fund may do so at any branch of the National Commercial Bank, account number; 354168243. There will also be a prayer vigil tomorrow at the intersection of Trafalgar and Hope Roads, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
