Guyana Born Shipping Mogul Dead At 78

Captain Lawrence Nelson Medas, Sr., co-founder of Medas Shipping.

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Jan. 26, 2017: The Guyana-born founder of the NY-based Medas Shipping has passed away at the age of 78, News Americas has learned.

Captain Lawrence Nelson Medas, Sr., according to relatives, died on January 18, 2017.

Captain Medas was born was on December 16, 1938 in Lenora Den Amstel West Coast Demerara, Guyana and migrated to the US in 1969. He continued his education upon his arrival in Brooklyn, NY and became an international shipmaster when he received his worldwide shipping license from Fort Schuyler Maritime Academy. On August 21, 1972 Lawrence married Lucille and together they were baptized by Philadelphia Church of Universal Brotherhood in Brooklyn, NY.

The couple launched Medas Shipping in a one bedroom apartment in 1973 and went on to make their first million in the basement of his home on East New York Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

The Medas headquarters moved to a huge warehouse at 803 Sterling Place Brooklyn, NY in August 1981 and soon became a household name for West Indian immigrants who shipped items in barrels and boxes between New York and their Caribbean homeland.

The Medas family was also great supporters of the many local events in the West Indian Diaspora in NYC, including the West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn, NY from the early 1980’s to 2000.

Captain Medas was also one of the founding fathers of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and industry and used his office and warehouse space to nurture the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He was also an honorary member of the Guyana police department and as a member of the Philadelphia Church of Universal Brotherhood in Brooklyn, Captain Medas served as a minister and an elder.

Captain Medas is survived by his wife Lucille Medas, four sons and three daughter in-laws, 16 grandchildren, two sisters and cousins and a host of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Captain Medas will be held in Brooklyn New York at the Philadelphia Church 530 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11225 on January 29 at 1 P.M.