Sunrise: June 1, 1971 – Sunset: May 17, 2026
Robert Ashton Mayers
Aged 54
Of Bound Brook, New Jersey
Formerly of Pleasant View, University Drive, Cave Hill, St. Michael, Barbados
Lawyer of Mars Inc, Newark, NJ
Son of Dervil Mayers and Robbin Toppin;
Beloved husband of Vanessa Mayers née Spittle;
Loving father of Leighton & Angelina Mayers;
Brother of Delano Howell;
Great-grandson of Rose Delcina Ford;
Nephew of Sylvan Mayers and Ann Mayers;
Great-nephew of Mary Codogan, John Jordan;
Uncle of Iannia & Antonio Ashton Howell, Ally and Tristan Baltz;
Relative of Minister Chad Blackman, Joanna, Felicia, Jewell, the Mayers family and the Toppin families of the USA.
The Service of Thanksgiving takes place on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 10 a.m., in the Chapel of Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, Christ Church; followed by the interment.
The Chapel Organist is asked to attend. Wreaths may be sent to Downes and Wilson Funeral Home, on Monday, June 1, 2026 no later than 7:30 a.m.
Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Downes and Wilson Funeral Home, Eagle Hall, St Michael on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 3-5 p.m.
Live streaming via Downes and Wilson Funeral Home YouTube channel
Condolences may be sent to www.downesandwilson.com
Condolences(5) 
Previous Adriana Walkes Next Agatha Applewhaite
Sybil Holder says
June 1, 2026 at 4:20 pmSybil Holder and Family, extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to you are dear Friend Derville and your Family on the loss of your beloved Son.
May you find comfort in the countless beautiful memories you shared together, and strength in the love and support of family and friends who surround you during this difficult time.
Keeping you all our thoughts and prayers.
Steven Stewart says
June 1, 2026 at 1:53 pmI first met Robbie in 2005/2006, we were part of the Barbados National Rugby Team. The first thing you noticed was his presence. He was a beast of a man — powerful, strong, and physically imposing. But behind that size was something even greater: a kind, warm, generous and charismatic man who made people feel welcome wherever he went.
I had the privilege of playing alongside Robbie for Barbados. We were all proud to represent our country, but for Robbie it meant something special. Although he built a successful career as a lawyer in New York, Barbados was always home. He was a proud Bajan through and through, and every time he pulled on that Barbados jersey, you could see exactly what it meant to him.
Together, we were part of a Barbados team that achieved something truly extraordinary. We became the top rugby nation in the Caribbean and fought our way through World Cup qualification to reach the final stage of the Americas competition. Out of all the nations in the Caribbean, and many across the Americas, Barbados earned the right to compete against rugby powers such as Canada and the USA for a place at the 2007 Rugby World Cup Finals.
For a small island nation made up largely of amateur players, that was an achievement of historic proportions. It remains one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of Barbadian rugby, and Robbie helped make it possible.
One of his & our proudest moments was taking the field against the USA at Stanford University in San Francisco. Robbie representing Barbados in the country where he had built his new life meant a great deal to him. It perfectly reflected who he was — proud of where he came from and proud to represent it.
Today, we say goodbye to a teammate and a friend. Robbie helped etch Barbados rugby into history in a way that had never been achieved before and has never been matched since. His passing leaves a space that cannot be filled. The world is a little less bright without him, and the Barbados rugby family has lost one of its own.
Rest easy, Robbie.
From Steve, and the entire Barbados National Rugby Team of 2005–2007.
Susan Brown says
June 1, 2026 at 12:38 pmMemories of Robert: The most important thing to me is that he made my friend Vanessa happy and gave her two beautiful children. He was gentle with a kind spirit yet very strong and confident. He was a good Dad. God bless his children. My dear father passed at the same age and it’s so hard to lose a parent you love so much. As someone told me, I’ll share with them. As long as they are alive, he lives on in them. So carry that comfort that your Dad is part of you, Angelina and Leighton, and always will be. Let the best of him be reflected in you. Much love and sympathy to all. Robert, we all love you.
Stuart Bishop says
June 1, 2026 at 10:53 amPlease accept our condolences Vanessa and family…
Sorry to hear about this so soon – bit of a shock actually… Still have great memories of your visit with Robert to visiting our place at Christmas a year or so ago and again more recently when you were back here in Perth… spoke to Robert a bit which was very nice and something I can hold onto…
Goodbye Robert
Stuart And Collette Bishop
Family Linda & Uwe Balz says
May 31, 2026 at 9:17 amE-Mail : uwe.balz9@gmail.com
Linda & Uwe Balz lindabalz@web.de
_________________________________________________________________________________
31st of May 2026
Our heartfelt condolences to family Mayers, Vanessa, Angelina and Leighton, & Dervil
What are our memories of you Robert?- well, lots and lots of lovely ones with fun and smiles and to begin with – the delight and magic of your wonderful wedding of course, on Barbados, to dear sister Vanessa Angelina, after the German Balz family, Uwe, Linda, Alessandra & Tristan, Mum Emmieline Spittle nee Moodie, Australian Soh’s, Cecilia & Charles, English cousin Adam, and many US friends, who all (dangerously together?) flew with you & Vanessa, from New York to your wedding celebration on Barbados, surrounded with beautiful, turquoise-blue water.
Barbados – where you will now rest, Robert.
We remember how wonderful and happy you, Vanessa and everyone looked on that day,
the beautiful blue of the skies, sea and bridesmaid’s dresses, how proud Tristan was carrying your rings in front of his sister Ally, so pretty as one of your bridesmaids.
Then later you came to visit us in Germany with Vanessa at first, at Christmas, when you decided to check out lots of things, Christmas Markets and Glühwein, and hey, a lovely December trip to then foggy, Venice, coming home, with beautiful Burano glass chandeliers!
When you visited us with your (and our) precious cargo of Leighton and Angelina! What a wonderful Christmas surprise that was. Real candles that never got lit on the Christmas tree.
We’ll miss those times with you, Robert! We’ll miss you, we are already doing so !
There were many other memories of you Robert, too numerous to mention here, but safely locked in our hearts, of your thoughtfulness…the little communicating radios you sent the children with, when you allowed them to stay with us in Germany, all the clothes you packed for them, the asthma equipment, Vanilla and Mount Gay Rum from your Mum Dervil from Barbados (I think we’ve still got some in the cellar after all these years!). Our (surprise) stay with you in winter 2019, at the start of Corona, – meeting twice in Australia at Alessandra & Alex’s as well as Tristan & Simone’s. What a wonderful time we had together.
And then in January this year our sad goodbyes at the airport– we all hoped that you’d be in remission for many more years. Who could know….
Sadly, and this is the worst part, Robert, none of us really believed we wouldn’t see you again. We still expected to read messages and receive pictures from you or hear your voice to say you’re coming to see us in Germany for Christmas this year as discussed when we were last together.
We already had written a card for your 55th birthday which we never sent out to you in time.
Whatever it is that we believe….and we all believe differently. All our lives are now much emptier of something or someone special: ….YOU !
Good bye, dear brother Robert.
Linda, Uwe & Family Balz
Letter of Condolences 31.5.2026 pdf