Heartbroken friends pack funeral

• Author: Kirsty Wynn
• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Bay of Plenty Times

Friends and family said goodbye to “their beautiful boy”, Cameron Cumming, yesterday in Whitianga where the 19-year-old grew up

Close family friend Nicole Bryant said the mix of people at the service showed how open Cameron was and the wide range of people he attracted.

“He was just gorgeous and he had this energy that just drew people in,” Bryant said. “He was goofy and funny but he also struggled having all eyes on him. He was just a modest but amazing kid.”

Bryant met Cameron six years ago at Mercury Bay Area school in a class for teens who were not engaged in class.

She took the teen under her wing and said he thrived and grew in confidence, marketing a business making furniture out of wood pallets.

He eventually worked as a builder for Bryant’s husband and became “like a son” to them.

“We loved him like a son and he loved us back,” Bryant said.

“He was all about family and was dedicated to his mum, Juanita, his dad, Dean, and his brothers.

“It was such a pure love, he was a protector of his family and he just loved every one of them so fiercely.”

Younger brothers Seth and Knox idolised Cameron, Bryant said.

“It’s heartbreaking and there is no button you can press to take away their pain. They absolutely...