The heat inside the National Gymnasium did not prevent hundreds of mourners from packing the Mandela Avenue Sports facility to its capacity with many more outside to say their final respects to National and GDF boxing Coach Terrence Poole.

Poole, also the Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) died on Wednesday, October 2nd at the age of 60.
Poole a Medal of Service (MS) recipient, died at a city hospital after completing his morning jogging and complaining of breathing discomfort.
Poole’s funeral was attended by the top brass of Guyana and the Caribbean Boxing fraternity as well as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson Jnr, who prematurely left the sitting of Parliament.
The Service, which was intended to be a celebration of Coach Poole highly impacting life got emotional for many and lasted over four hours.

Poole leaves to mourn his wife Debbie and seven children, as well as numerous accomplished and aspiring boxers who were touched by his remarkable service to the sport and its administration both in Guyana and the Caribbean.
Born to Ivy Poole and James Walter Peters on January 16, 1964, Terrence lived in East Street before moving to Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara. At the time of his death, he was residing 122 Laing Avenue where he raised his family.
Poole’s career in boxing lasted four decades serving as a coach, competition coordinator and mentor to many young of boxers.

Those gathered to pay their respects included family members, former pugilists, one of only two Guyanese female world Champions Shondel Alfred, World rated female boxer Alesha Jackman, Guyana’s only Olympic Medalist Mike Parris and his family, high ranking GDF members and members of National Sports Commission (NSC) among others.

There was a rendition of ‘I did it my way’ by Keith Campbell on his sousaphone while the GDF Choir also sang at the funeral fitting of the fallen hero.
In brief remarks, Minister Ramson said, “Poole is described as Coach Poole but I would say that Poole was a doctor because he saved the lives of many youngsters who would have succumbed to social ills by getting involved in boxing. I want you remember this. The sport of boxing would not be where it is today without the involvement of Terrence Poole.”

He was a close friend of Steve Ninvalle and someone we could rely on and someone we (sports ministry) trusted when he had meeting concerning boxing with me” Ramson disclosed.
Ninvalle, Guyana’s Director of Sports, disclosed that up to the time of his death, there were plans for Poole to lead a team to the World Youth Championship in the coming months in Montenegro.
“Terrence Poole had a wealth of knowledge, as it relates to boxing and we will find it ‘very very’ difficult to replace him.” Lamented Ninvalle speaking in his capacity as President of the GBA.
Throughout the tributes, Poole was described as someone who contributed in a significant way to the development of fistic sport not only in Guyana but in the Caribbean.

Barbadian female boxer Kimberly Gittens, a Central American and Caribbean Games Medalist, thanked Poole for all he had played in her and other female boxers’ development.
Alesha Jackman speaking on behalf of the local boxers, provided an emotional tribute to her coach and mentor. She was in tears as the top ranked Guyanese female boxer reminisced her time spent with Poole.
Olympian Keevin Allicock remembered that Poole was within the gym the night before he died giving him advice and how he should approach being a professional boxer.

Also speaking was President of the St Lucia Boxing Association David ‘Shakes’ Christopher and the President of the Bahamas Boxing Association and five-star Referee/Judge James Beckles, who represented the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association.
The eulogy was read by Poole’s eldest son Dwayne Edwards with Paster Marvin Smith giving a compelling sermon on ‘the good fight’ as he got the congregation into his preaching.
The body was viewed for the last time before it was taken to the Le Repentir Cemetery for burial.