On Tuesday, August 11, the Parham community will gather to say a final goodbye to 18-year-old Zowie Tomlinson, whose life was cut short in a tragic incident at Devil’s Bridge nearly two months ago. The funeral service is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the local Parham Pentecostal Church, where mourners from across the area will come together to honor her memory and stand with her bereaved family.
Tomlinson’s death dates back to the late hours of June 20, when the incident unfolded at the popular coastal location. In the immediate aftermath, authorities launched a large-scale multi-agency search operation that brought together members of the national police and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard.
Challenging environmental conditions on the night of the incident made it impossible for search teams to continue their work overnight, forcing a temporary suspension of the operation. Search and rescue crews returned to the site at first light the next day to resume their efforts, and it was not long before Coast Guard personnel located Tomlinson’s body in the water and brought her remains safely ashore.
Born on June 4, 2008, Tomlinson had only marked her milestone 18th birthday a little more than two weeks before the fatal incident. Her sudden passing has left the tight-knit Parham community in mourning, with hundreds expected to turn out for Tuesday’s service to offer condolences, share memories of the young woman, and provide much-needed support to her grieving family as they navigate their loss.