Matthew 11:28-30 - " Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest"

 

With great sadness, we reach out to our extended family and friends to share the devastating news that our beloved Vibert Joseph James is in the end stages of cancer.

 

Joseph, Josey, Joe, Joey, Daddy, Uncle Josey – brother, father, uncle, and so much more – a quiet, steady, strong soul that is always willing to help; always caring and supportive in small, simple, kind ways that leaves a mark on anyone he comes into contact with; with a joyful spirit that loves to tell jokes and enjoy a good laff, warming any place he graces; He always brought delicious fruits from the trees he grew himself at home.

 

Joseph learned his trade in the workshop of his father Joseph “Jesse” James and struck out on his own after his father’s passing, developing his craft as a joiner, furniture maker, carpenter, upholsterer and all-around handyman. He is also building his own home from the ground up in KuruKuru, Guyana. Daughters Onedeige and Rose have inherited his resourceful spirit and love of independent life and carry it on in New York.

 

In August 2020, Joseph was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in Georgetown, Guyana, and due to the ongoing health system challenges during these Covid times, cancer quickly spread to his liver, prostate and lungs by the end of 2021 before much treatment could be administered. He has now declined to the point of being bedridden and needing full hospice care in March 2022.

 

This fund is being established to ask for any support on behalf of Joseph’s immediate family as they work to make this phase of his life as pain-free and comfortable as possible and plan for the end-of-life costs required in the coming weeks and months. We are seeking assistance and support from our family, friends, and anyone else who would be willing to assist us in covering these costs, which will include

- paying for full-time hospice home care

- prescription pain medicine

- transportation costs for several family members who need to travel daily to remote KuruKuru to oversee his care

- funeral arrangements include burial plot purchase and transportation

- and any other unforeseen end-of-life costs associated with Joseph’s passing.

 

Onedeige will administer the funds from this Gofundme from New York and work with relatives to transfer them to Guyana for Joseph’s care.

 

Above all else, we ask for your prayers and any other types of support, even if you can’t contribute money. We especially ask for your emotional support for Onedeige and Rose, as well as for Agnes James-Mohabeer, who had taken on the care of Joseph for the last few months despite her health and life challenges.

 

May God provide peace and comfort to Joseph and strength to us to support the family in this time of need and grief.