COVID-19 claims Vincentian lives in New York

When Glenroy Layne spoke to his mother last Friday, March 27, she was showing him how beautiful the day was, with the sun shining through her hospital window.

Jenna Layne

A day later, he was being informed that his best friend had died as a result of COVID-19.

Jenna Layne is one of several Vincentians who have died in New York after testing positive for the virus.

“It’s not easy,” he said. “If I ever had any hard times in my life and thought it was hard, nothing in life is hard like this.”

He said his mother, who has been living in New York for at least 20 years, began feeling minor symptoms of the virus on March 13. He said she was tested and received a positive result.

Layne told SEARCHLIGHT that the 66-year-old had no underlying health issues and didn’t exhibit all of the symptoms relating to COVID-19, just a cough.

Even before she tested positive, Layne said Jenna, who was an extremely selfless woman, continuously cautioned him about taking the necessary steps to protect himself from catching the virus.

The distraught son said his mother spent at least 15 days trying to fight off COVID-19. She died on March 28.

“The effect of this thing is very much devastating to families, to economies, to everything…you can’t even say what’s going to happen tomorrow. People are prisoners in their own homes, to an extent. It might not be here but it’s just a sad, sad situation,” Layne said.

He also noted that the virus can be transmitted without an individual knowing.

Jenna is also survived by her daughter Karen, who resides in the United States.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that other Vincentians who have died in the United States as a result of COVID-19 include Cledd Barbour, originally from Bequia, Vincent Samuels and 57-year-old Mervin Williams, originally from Questelles.
Williams migrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1982. He was admitted to the hospital on March 24 and died on April 1. He is survived by his mother Valcina Avis Williams, brother Devon Williams, sister Brentlyn Williams and sister Jael Culzac, all of whom reside in the United States. Another brother, Travis Maule resides in Questelles, St Vincent.