Claire O'Bey

Good News Club. Only 2 teenagers showed up – no other children. The street was deserted, whereas it usually has children running up and down it. Later on, I saw a few of them at the funeral.
Claire O’Bey’s funeral was very big. Although it only started at 2.00 pm, people started arriving from 1.30pm. We had filled the schoolroom with as many extra chairs as we could find, but there were still people standing in the passage; some stood in the adjoining chapel – even though it is still full of rubble – and some even lined the street outside during the service.

The funeral was attended by young and old, socially acceptable, and not-so acceptable people.
The family made a courageous decision – they all wore red Aids ribbons, and had a red wreath in the shape of the Aids symbol placed on the coffin. Graeme preached a good message – Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life”, and then “whoever comes to me, I will never drive away”. Claire had made bad choices (and so have all of us), but if we come to Jesus, He will forgive and make us new.