George Henry, Gleaner Writer

Mourners view the body of late journalist and former Gleaner employee, Darren Khan, at the thanksgiving service at Bethlehem Moravian Church in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, on Saturday. - Photo by George Henry

MALVERN, St. Elizabeth:

Sombreness hovered over the Bethlehem Moravian Church in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, on Saturday as mourners paid their last respects to late journalist and former Gleaner employee, Darren Khan, who died tragically at his St. Andrew apartment on December 6.

Attendees, especially family members, cried uncontrollably, as they recalled the unfulfilled promise of a young man characterised by his wit, knowledge and genuineness.

The Reverend Devon Anglin, pastor of the Bethlehem Moravian Church, who delivered the sermon, reminded the congregants that man's days were numbered.

"Man comes from the earth, and to the earth man must return. In life, man decides what will happen to him after he is dead," preached Rev. Anglin with conviction.

Among the mourners were members of the journalism fraternity, Dwayne Gordon, STAR editor and a close friend of Khan; Gleaner columnist Melville Cooke; Observer columnist John Maxwell; and several past students of Munro College.

Passion for words

In his tribute, Cooke said Khan was an excellent writer who had a passion for words. Cooke, who stated Khan was always true to himself, had a friendship going back to the late '80s and early '90s at their alma mater, Munro College. Khan was born in England on February 23, 1973.

Tanya Batson-Savage, a close friend of Khan while he was at the University of the West Indies, delivered the eulogy. She said his passion for knowledge fuelled his reading, a talent which helped make him a prolific entertainment writer and meticulous proofreader at The Gleaner.

"Darren read voraciously. He collected numerous comics of which Spiderman and X-Men held pride of place; magazines and numerous books of varying genres, but with particular emphasis on fantasy novels," said Batson-Savage.

Khan's body was interred in the Bethlehem Moravian Church cemetery.

He is survived by his mother Delores; brothers Cass and Tony; sister Barbie.