A life committed to basketball

A DEDICATED MAN committed to the cause of basketball.That was how the late Kirk Patrick was portrayed by Reverend Hughson Inniss during the slain national player’s funeral service at James Street Methodist Church, The City, yesterday.Delivering the eulogy, Inniss described the prominent point guard as a committed family man who an enthusiasm for basketball long before he could understand what the game was about.“He gave his life for what he believed in – a commitment to a cause and this cause was basketball. Kirk lived his life for basketball. His mother even found it difficult to get him to come off the court.”Family, friends and fans filled the church as the Pinelands and basketball community got to say their final farewell after Patrick was fatally shot just outside his home in Hilltop, Princess Royal Avenue, The Pine, on August 13.But instead of vengeance, Inniss asked to let the tragic death help in re-energising the efforts to rid communities of “senseless violence” because Patrick was a man known to love peace.It was the theme of the message delivered by Rev. Colton Bennett, who conducted the ceremony and reminded the congregation that “vengeance is God’s alone”.“The easiest thing for us to do is to retaliate, get revenge, but we must be willing to leave judgment to God because He is the only one qualified to do so,” said Bennett.“The only solution God came up with for sin is forgiveness, so we must put a stop to the cycle of hatred and revenge.”The interment took place at Westbury Cemetery.Patrick is survived by parents Sonia Patrick and Owen Sealy, his son Jalen Batson, and siblings Veredene Jacobs, Sheldon Sealy and Therand Morris. (JM)