To pay respects to four members of the same family who were murdered in their own home, hundreds of mourners lined the streets.
At a home in Bermondsey, South London, four people—Samantha Drummonds, 27, her mother Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, her grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Dolet’s lover Denton Burke, 58—were discovered dead from stab wounds.
Joshua Jacques, Ms. Drummond’s partner, has been charged with four counts of murder after police were called to the residence in the early hours of April 25 in response to allegations of a disturbance. Jacques is 28 years old.
The four family members were interred yesterday after a joint service at the NTCG Brixton Community Church and a committal at Camberwell New Cemetery.
Each member of the family had their own pall bearers and funeral conductor, and the hearses followed in a convoy to the church and cemetery.
Each of the funeral vehicles was decorated with flowers and had pictures of the four family members atop their coffins.
Samantha’s mother’s coffin was decorated with white roses and periwinkle blue flowers to match the photo of her standing near a cruise shop wearing a sparkly blue outfit, while Samantha’s coffin was surrounded by lilac and pink flowers.
White lilies were placed on the hearses of Dolet and her companion Denton’s coffins to match the couple’s portrait in a white dress and suit.
The grandmother, who was from Lyssons in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, was slain while working at a neighboring hospital while receiving cancer treatment.
A red and white arrangement reading “dad” paid respect to Denton, while two bouquets of cream flowers arranged to spell out the word “mother” were placed on top of the vehicles carrying Dolet and Tanysha.
Pall bearers carried the tragic family inside the church in white caskets as heartbroken family and friends who were wearing t-shirts with images of the four victims watched on in shock.
Uncle, we may be miles apart, but you will always be in our heart, read the lettering on the shirt that one woman was wearing. Peace.”
Another mourner carried a badge bearing the words “In loving memory” and a picture of the four victims.
“It was an honor to conduct this large funeral for Dolet, Denton, Tanysha, and Samantha today, and I hope that we did them proud,” said Matthew Uden of W.Uden & Son’s Funeral Directors, who organized the ceremony.
“In the 145 years that our family have been conducting funerals we have never cared for four people from the same family in one ceremony.
“It was an extremely sad occasion but also a celebration of their lives.
“The loss of any life is really hard to deal with but to lose four members from the same family under such tragic circumstance is truly heartbreaking.
“I’d like to thank their loved ones for allowing our family to care for their family.”
On July 19, Jacques will make his subsequent appearance at the Old Bailey in relation to the deaths.