The end of summer denotes new beginnings, but only grief awaits the family of Tavaris and Tavaughn Bulgin, as they are left to pick up the pieces after their deaths.

Scores of family, friends and well-wishers are today (October 1) gathered to bid farewell to the brothers at the New Testament Church of God Convention Centre in Old Harbour, St Catherine—roughly seven weeks since they plummeted to their untimely deaths in the United States. 

The only surety on Saturday is the unmistakable, sorrowful aura that permeates the thanksgiving ceremony. 

With coffins draped in the colours of their favourite football team, FC Barcelona, the loss still cuts raw for mourners. Those present at the funeral have vowed to remember the brothers as the fashion-forward, lively young men they were and not for the tragedy that shocked the nation in mid-August. 

According to an NBC News report, the Bulgin brothers were among four friends who jumped off the ‘Jaws Bridge’ on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday, August 14. 

Deemed a ‘rite of passage’ for young adults in the area, as the first half of the group safely swam to shore, both Tavaris, 26, and Tavaughn, 21, did not resurface after taking the plunge. 

The Bulgin brothers, originally from Jamaica, were working at a local restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard and residing in the town of Oak Bluffs. 

The Massachusetts State Police first recovered the lifeless body of the elder Bulgin a day after the tragedy, while Tavaris was later found on August 18.