Halifax homicide victims remembered as a loving mom and a grandfather who coached hockey

A father and daughter who were killed on New Year's Eve in Halifax are being remembered as a highly intelligent man who loved sports and a woman who was the life of the party.

Corelee "Alisha" Smith and Bradford "Coy" Downey were fatally shot in a vehicle on Gottingen Street on the evening of Jan. 31 by Smith's boyfriend, hours before he was found dead several blocks away of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police have said it was a case of intimate partner violence, the four and fifth of such killings in the province since October.

An obituary for the 40-year-old Smith posted on the Arbor Memorial website said she had a larger than life personality.

"Alisha was the life of the party. You could hear her before she enters a room. She could always make you laugh when needed," it said. "Her energy could move mountains."

'Alisha loved travelling the world'

The obituary said she was employed by Our Neighbourhood Living Society as a residential councillor and spent half of her career as a continuing care assistant.

"Alisha loved travelling the world," it said, adding that Smith was known for "always planning and organizing" family trips and girls nights.

The obituary describes her daughters, Naiziyah and A'Laysha, as her best friends.

"Alisha adored her two daughters more than life itself," it said.

She is also survived by five sisters and four brothers, as well as godchildren and many other family and friends.

The 73-year-old Downey is described as a sports fanatic who enjoyed watching football, baseball and hockey. He also enjoyed coaching a North Preston hockey team.

"Coy was a highly intelligent, smart man who enjoyed challenging himself with his favourite TV show Jeopardy," his obituary said.

It said he was a member of Saint Thomas Baptist Church and a retired construction labourer.

He is survived by nine children, six sisters and four brothers. He had 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Funeral service 

Smith and Downey were both from North Preston, a historic Black community roughly 22 kilometres outside of Halifax.

A visitation, funeral service and burial for both Smith and Downey will be held at Saint Thomas Baptist Church in North Preston on Saturday.