The family of well-known Grahamstown businessman Ming Chan-Henry were struggling to come to terms with his sudden death ahead of his funeral last weekend.
The family of well-known Grahamstown businessman Ming Chan-Henry were struggling to come to terms with his sudden death ahead of his funeral last weekend.
Chan-Henry died in a car crash near Colchester on 27 September, apparently after suffering a heart attack. He had been on his way to collect stock for the family's general dealership.
He was buried on Saturday at the Saint Patrick's Catholic Church. Chan-Henry's son Neil said his father's death had come as a big shock to the family. He was fit. Even though he was he was nearly 80, he would still go to do groceries himself, Neil said, speaking to Grocott's Mail on Friday.
He was on one of those trips when he suffered a heart attack and crashed his car. Neil said his father would be remembered for his willingness to help others. Chan-Henry had been living in Grahamstown for more than 60 years. He took over the shop after his father died.
Neil said his father had always wanted to help and uplift the community. The Chan-Henry family immigrated to South Africa from China during the Anglo Boer War at the turn of the century.
Before he died, Chan Henry had been running the shop with his daughter Charisse Evans. He had become part of the community he has served for the past 65 years. Motherwell police station spokesman Warrant Officer Dumile Gwavu was not able to give details about the accident at the time of going to press.
