The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AN Abaco pastor was killed in a traffic accident on Sunday.

Relatives have identified the deceased as Leroy Thompson.

According to police, shortly after 8pm on Sunday officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received reports of a traffic accident in the area of Black Wood, North Abaco.

Preliminary investigations revealed a 2008 silver Honda was travelling west on SC Bootle Highway driven by an adult male and accompanied by an adult female, and a 2010 yellow Chevrolet Camaro travelling east driven by an adult male and accompanied by an adult male when both vehicles collided.

Mr Thompson, the driver of the Honda, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver and passengers were taken to the local clinic for their injuries.

In an interview with The Tribune, Chantel Thompson, the deceased’s sister, said that her brother was loved by many.

“Everyone knows him as a comedian, he was a natural,” she said yesterday.

“He is a person who spent a lot of time giving of himself and that’s why he is so popular because he gave of himself and invested in people’s children and lives. He was the person who always encouraged people,” she added.

Mr Thompson was a pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Murphy Town, Abaco, and also served as an educator for over 30 years.

Ms Thompson reflected on their relationship as he was her “big brother”.

“He was my big brother; we always were teasing one another. He always called me to check in on me,” she said.

While reflecting on the life of her brother, Ms Thompson said in a Facebook post: “We spent this whole summer together. I’ll miss teasing you and you teasing me. Most of all, we shared the love for the word of God!

“We spent hours just talking about what God has done for our lives. I promise you to publish your book and that I’ll do! I love you big brother,” she added.

Mr Thompson was a “family-oriented” man, who left behind a wife, who was injured in the traffic fatality, and five children according to his sister.

“He was that type of person always contacting people, he was a very family-oriented person, actually he was a ‘housewife’,” she jokingly said yesterday.

“He loved to cook, and he loved to cook seafood specifically. He was the chef of his family. It wasn’t something he was forced to do, he loved catering to his family.”

Several Abaco residents expressed sadness over Mr Thompson’s death on social media, including Member of Parliament for North Abaco Kirk Cornish.

“As the Member of Parliament for North Abaco and Parliamentary Secretary to the office of the Prime Minister, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the Thompson family on the passing of Mr Leroy Thompson,” he said in a Facebook post.

“He will be missed greatly. May God keep and comfort his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Over the weekend, a second traffic fatality was reported on the island of Exuma on Saturday, which claimed the life of a 29-year-old man.

According to reports around 2.30am on Saturday in the Hoopers Bay area, the driver of a red coloured Silverado pick-up truck was travelling west on Queens Highway and the driver of a red Honda Accord was travelling east on Queens Highway when the accident occurred. The driver of the red Honda Accord was pronounced dead at the scene.