For Gurvan Whitely, the parish of St Elizabeth represents more than just a geographical location—it embodies his Christian upbringing and a multi-generational family legacy. This profound connection compelled him to action when Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, devastated his homeland in late October.
Whitely, co-founder of the DLW Foundation established in 2013, personally led relief missions to the most affected areas in early November. The organization, created in Queens, New York, to honor the memory of his mother Bishop Doris Louise Whitely, maintains operational offices in both New York and St Elizabeth. The hurricane’s aftermath presented the foundation with its most formidable challenge to date.
The storm’s impact was catastrophic, leveling significant portions of St Elizabeth and the commercial hubs of Black River and Santa Cruz. Official reports confirmed 45 fatalities across Jamaica, with St Elizabeth and Westmoreland parishes suffering the most severe infrastructure damage, including the destruction of homes and medical facilities.
Operating with military precision, Whitely’s extended family network ensured efficient distribution of critical supplies. His sisters Bernardine and Schroeter Whitely (based in the United States and Cayman Islands), cousin Stead Whitely in Queens, and team member Petrine Bryan in Kingston coordinated efforts to deliver aid to residents in Bellevue and Lacovia. The relief packages contained non-perishable survival food sufficient to sustain a family of four for one week, alongside essential toiletries.
Despite his own family suffering property damage—including the homes of his mother and brother, plus the Mount Zion Church Of Christ The Redeemed where his mother ministered—Whitely maintained perspective. ‘Our damage was minor compared to a hardworking man who lost his home and has his children and wife looking at him, asking what’s next,’ he told Observer Online. ‘It’s heartbreaking and I couldn’t look away.’
Whitely attributes his philanthropic drive to the spiritual foundation provided by his mother and church elders. ‘For it not being the prayers of my mother and the elders, I wouldn’t be where I am today,’ he reflected. ‘They believed in me and I was taught that you have to serve so that one day you will be served.’