Families, friends and community members gathered in Walvis Bay on Saturday for a moving Walk of Remembrance, creating a space of healing, hope and solidarity for parents who have experienced the loss of a child.
The five-kilometre walk, organised by Juanita Lawrence, was held in memory of her daughter, Candra, who died in a motor vehicle accident in 2023 at the age of 21. Starting at the Walvis Bay Municipal Swimming Pool and ending at the lagoon, the event brought together people from across the community to honour the lives of departed loved ones while supporting one another through grief. Lawrence said the initiative was born from her own journey of loss and her desire to ensure that grieving parents do not have to suffer in isolation. “Today is to celebrate not only my daughter’s life, but all the children who have gone before us,” she said. “At the same time, we are collecting donations for children’s homes that need the love and support we can no longer give our own children. That is why we are coming together today to celebrate our children’s lives and to walk together through our grieving.”
Throughout the event, parents and family members shared memories of their children, comforted one another and reflected on their personal journeys of loss. Donations collected during the event will be distributed to children’s homes in need. A candle-lighting ceremony formed one of the most emotional moments of the gathering, symbolising love, remembrance and the enduring bond between families and the children they have lost. Through shared stories, prayer and quiet reflection, participants found comfort in knowing they were not alone in their grief.
Delivering an inspirational message, Pastor Bennie encouraged those in attendance to hold on to faith and hope despite the pain of losing a loved one. “God never promised that everything would always go well, but He did promise, ‘I will never leave you. I will never forsake you,'” he said. Using the image of a painting, he compared life’s painful experiences to an abstract artwork that is often difficult to understand, while describing God’s purpose as a beautiful landscape that offers hope for the future. “Sometimes life looks like an abstract painting that doesn’t make sense,” he said. “But when God paints, it is like a beautiful landscape. You may not be there yet, but it gives you hope because you know where you are going.”
He reminded grieving families that the Gospel brings healing over time and encouraged them to draw strength from the Christian promise of eternal life. The Walk of Remembrance concluded with a message of compassion, resilience and unity, leaving participants with renewed hope while reinforcing the importance of supporting one another through life’s most difficult moments.
By Rudi Bowe
