Demarcvjai “Marvin” Williams and Marco Salema died after their bikes collided on Marsh Folly Road last Friday night. The Royal Gazette spoke to family and friends of the two in interviews that highlight the loss of young men with everything to live for

Recently promoted at his job and planning to surprise his mother by buying her a new home, Demarcvjai “Marvin” Williams had everything to live for.

His mother Astoria Williams-Smith spoke of her devastation at the loss of the 29-year-old, who she said was a happy, well-mannered man with friends in every corner of the island .

Ms Williams-Smith raised Mr Williams from the age of 11 months and adopted him when he was 3.

She said: “Marvin was a loving child, he was lots of fun and always joking. He was never disrespectful to me.

“Whenever he left home to go to work he would kiss me on my forehead and say, ‘Mommy, have a nice day.’ If I was sick he would call home and check to see if I was OK.

“He was involved in football, and cricket, and he was also a track runner for many clubs. He had a lot of trophies and did a lot of travelling overseas — that was his love and joy, travelling.

Ms Williams-Smith added: “He had planned to buy me a house — the house I lived in with my first husband in Somerset. He was in the process.

“He would give you a hug and he would hold you so tight you would know it was love. He had good manners — that was how I brought him up. I was strict with all of my children.”

Ms Williams-Smith said she had a bad feeling when she heard emergency service sirens on Friday night.

She added: “About half an hour later the police were at my door. They told me to get to the hospital right away because my son had been in a serious accident.

“I went, not knowing when I got there I would see my son laying there with a little smile on his face. He always had a smile on his face.

“He would give you his heart and he has helped many people along the way.

He loved cooking and he loved to cook on the BBQ. He was a very jokey, loving humble person.”

Mr Williams went to Southampton Glebe Primary, Sandys Secondary Middle School and had started at Berkeley Institute, but left after his brother Cecil became ill and died.

Ms Williams-Smith implored the people of Bermuda to take care on the roads.

She said: “Be safe and listen to what is said. You might think you know it all, but sometimes parents are only trying to guide you and show you how much they care about you.”

Mr Williams was recently promoted to a management position at his job at drinks distributor Burrows Lightbourn.

His employer at his second job at Serpentine Liquors, Jason Dennis, said he was one of the best workers he had in 20 years.

He said: “It takes a certain type of person to work here and deal with people. Marvin had that personality; he greeted everybody and you would never know if something was bothering him; he didn’t bring it to work. You couldn’t really be mad at Marvin.

“He was popular. My daughter turns 16 next month and I told her when you come to this funeral you will see the fallout of what happens — it doesn’t have to be your fault. You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Mr Williams’s funeral service will be held today at the First Church of God on North Shore.

Electrician about to get engaged

Marco Salema was about to get engaged to his girlfriend when his life was cut short in a double bike crash.

Mr Salema, 34, was originally from the Azores and was an electrician at Sea-M Electric.

Chris Montgomery, president of the company described Mr Salema as a “fun and energetic young man”.

Mr Montgomery added: “He was a hard worker and made friends easily.

“Everyone is taken aback. He was just an all-round great guy. All he wanted to do was work and to support his family back home in the Azores.”

Mr Salema came to the island to help support his family.

His brother, Vasco, also lives in Bermuda, but most of his family members are overseas.

Mr Salema’s father has been ill for some time and his mother is now struggling to cope with losing her son.

He had no children but planned to marry his girlfriend, who was in the Azores, when tragedy struck.

Mr Montgomery said: “I have been in touch with his family through his brother to help with funeral arrangements.”

Mr Salema’s job was his second stint on the island as he had worked as an electrician on the construction of Hamilton’s Washington Mall for P&M Electric.

He left Bermuda when the mall was finished, but returned in 2015.

Mr Montgomery said “I think all of the island’s crosswalks should be raised just to slow people down a little more throughout the island. Everybody kicked up when they did it in town, but it works.

“I also believe there should be more training.