Baby Asia-Marie Small who died on November 9 is in heaven and will not have to account for any sins. These were the words of comfort offered to her parents, 19-year-old Chelsea Robinson and Brian Small, family members and friends who attended the funeral service yesterday.
Officiating minister Cleave Bascombe told the young couple at Faith Assembly International, Five Rivers Junction, in Arouca, that even though they went through a period of adversity and God took their baby, he preserved their lives.
Pointing at the couple, Bascombe said, “Go forth and multiply.”
Asia-Marie died in her mother’s womb before an emergency delivery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex after medical staff discovered faeces had entered her mouth. Robinson spent three days in labour. Reports said she was turned away by hospital staff who told her she was not ready to give birth. The family intends to take legal action.
In spite of the tears and hurt, Bascombe said, he had good news.
“That good news is that Asia-Marie is in heaven right now. Parents and family members, be comforted that Asia-Marie is having a good time with the angels in heaven.”
As she entered the church and saw her baby in the little white casket, Robinson started to cry. Small, however, remained composed throughout the service.
Poems were read by Asia-Marie’s maternal grandmother, Mary, and her aunt, Elisha. The eulogy took the form of a poem and was read by Dixie-Ann Gabriel.
Bascombe told the young couple not to allow the baby’s death to adversely affect their lives. Despite Universal Children’s Day being observed on Friday, the minister said there was a cycle of abuse against infants.
He referred to the shooting death of two-year-old Keyra Singh and the stabbing incident which left three-year-old Arti Ramkhalawan in a critical condition last week. Singh’s funeral was also yesterday.
“If we trace back at the other weeks gone by, we see a process where infants are the targets of unscrupulous adults,” Bascombe said.