FROM HEARTBREAK TO HOPE

THREE YEARS AFTER TYRESE CAESAR’S DEATH, HIS MOTHER’S FAITH CONTINUES TO FUEL A MOVEMENT AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE.

TAKEN FROM: EASY SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2026.

STORY BY Cheryl Harewood

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Reco Moore

After Daniel and Jacqueline Caesar lost their son Tyrese at age 20, they founded the Tyrese Caesar Foundation Against Gun Violence.

Today, Jacqueline is the face and voice of the foundation, as she works relentlessly to honour her late son.

When they lost their only son and child Tyrese Caesar to gun violence on June 30, 2022, Daniel and Jacqueline Caesar decided his death would not be in vain.

Weeks after his death at the age of 20, they founded the Tyrese Caesar Foundation Against Gun Violence.

Today, Jacqueline is the face and voice of the Foundation, as she works relentlessly to honour her late son.

Most days she carries a smile. That’s because of her faith in God. Behind that smile however,

is a heart of pain.

In an interview with Easy this past week, Jacqueline recalled the birth of her child. “Being the mother of a much-anticipated baby was a dream come true. After having miscarried at five months previously, I awaited this baby with bated breath.

He was well worth the wait amid the anxiety, stress, and a carefully monitored nine-month term.

“From birth he looked like a cherub, and was labelled a gift from heaven. He lived up to his name, Tyrese, which means one who is strong, having overcome many challenges.

“His arm was injured accidentally at birth and that meant lots of therapy and eventually surgery. But my son certainly never accepted any limitations."

"He reached his milestones well in advance. He was strong and faced his challenges with resilience.”

Jacqueline spoke of how Tyrese was raised in the church, was active in Sunday school and youth ministry, and eventually functioned in the healing and exhortation ministries.

She recalled how he was a friend to people of all ages and ethnicities, and many nights had up to 16 children sleeping over at her home, until COVID-19 interrupted that pattern.

Embraced motherhood

“I enjoyed watching him grow and advancing through his teens. I embraced motherhood and dreamt of the days when I would take care of my grandchildren.

But that was not to be, as my son was gunned down by the senseless act of a gunman while attending a birthday party. “The newspaper headline read: Wrong Place, Wrong Time. I could not make the nexus between a birthday party and the headline.”

For Jacqueline, a future with her son was now a dream that would never become reality.

“Being alone at times constantly reminds me of how cruel this world can be. This has also become a life sentence for me behind the bars of shattered dreams and a future void

of my son’s effervescent personality, presence and love. I miss him, and I know I was truly blessed to have him call me ‘mum’.”

Recalling the hours leading up to his death, Jacqueline also often relives their lively friendly chatter, jokes, and heckling as Tyrese left home that day. “The news of his untimely death brought my world crashing down and filled my days with grief and pain. I lost all coordination and could not lift my head while sitting or some days get out of bed.

I was shattered.

“Being my mother’s only child, I tried to maintain a calm exterior, so she could maintain her vitals and cope with her own grief.

Surviving and coping was only by the mercy and grace of God. Every hour, every day, I literally begged God to help me. Days and nights were long, painful and cruel. I knew pain, despair and hopelessness like no other.It is from this grief and pain that the Tyrese Caesar Foundation Against Gun Violence was established.” “As a mother, it was my desire that no other mother would have to endure such pain if I could help it.”

Having registered the foundation in July 2022, mere weeks after their son’s death, Daniel and Jacqueline established a mission to empower communities, educate young people, advocate for policy and for social changes that will reduce gun violence and provide support for victims’ families.

New initiative

Over time, a new initiative unfolded.

To date, the foundation stages an annual 5K Walk/Run which supports anti-gun violence. There is also the schools’ P.E.A.C.E programme; a (H.Y.P.E) Helping Young People Excel monthly meeting; Here 4 You counselling services – a trauma and mentorship programme; the H.O.P.E scholarship programme; a Christmas cheer programme, a charity dinner which is held in recognition of International Day of Peace, and an annual prayer breakfast.

This year’s prayer breakfast took place yesterday.

Having spent many years in human resources management and as a lecturer, Jacqueline has honed the skills and tools to design and organise seminars, motivational talks, conduct

coaching sessions, and has carved out ways of reaching people in need and helping engender change within households.

Many of the early participants were her son’s close friends, and some days were just a painful reminder that he was not around.However, the support helped her to push on.

“Eventually, other grieving persons came onboard and we experienced growth.

I purposed to help wherever I could. That meant long nights, fulfilling multiple roles, and using my personal financial resources in the absence of sponsorships. But I remained committed and passionate about the mission that bore my son’s name.”

Jacqueline believes the foundation has brought her into fulfilling her purpose.

“I see my son’s life as sacrificial, so that persons might be brought into full understanding of how they should love each other and live in peace.He connected with thousands of people in his short life – through schools, church, university, sporting events, trucking and entertainment."

"I believe his legacy will reach many thousands in his death."

“As a mother, it is a different way of connecting to him and doing something meaningful, based on his values and what he stood for."

Good in his death

“Had I not been a Christian, I would have had tunnel vision and narrow-mindedness, which would not have allowed me to see any good at all in his death.

But every day, as people connect with me and seek the services of the foundation, I am reminded of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”People usually reach out after they experience loss, and Jacqueline encourages them to do so.

Even recently, the foundation has been addressing challenges faced by various people – challenges which fall outside its ambit.

“I have given my support by devoting my time, resources and personal care for others in ways unimaginable,” Jacqueline disclosed.

“Some situations lean heavily on my emotional bank, but never to the extent where I walk away. I exhibit a love that does not let go, so I find a way to help. This sometimes calls for prayer and intercession.”

For Jacqueline, as long as there are people experiencing loss or trauma, or youth are in need of guidance, she gives selflessly, based on her personal experience of loss.

In this season of her life she is grateful for the opportunity to serve, especially as it fuels her son’s legacy and all he stood for. “He loved unconditionally and always forgave, in a world filled with hatred.

He spent his time offering his support. I cannot think of a more fitting way to keep his memory alive,” she said.

“My heart bleeds for our nation and the current level of crime,” she added.

“However, I look toward the future with great faith in God and for a complete turnaround and drastic improvement in the gun violence situation.

Until such time, I will seek to complement any other programmes on island, and do all in

my power to change lives and communities by impacting one life at a time.”

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