Lenette Pearl Burnside, affectionately known to everyone as Ms. Pearl, was born on April 26, 1928 in Allman Hill, St. Catherine Jamaica to Edward and Sarah Waugh, the eldest of ten children.  As the first grandchild, she was adored by her grandparents. Ensuring that not only she, but her brothers and sister, would receive their education, they stayed at their grandparents' house during the week because the school was so far from their home. She attended Parks Road All Age, formerly known as Allman School, where she was an attentive student and kept busy playing.

At the completion of her studies, she interned as a seamstress for a popular local dressmaker in her town. Excelling at her trade, many women in the community would be seen wearing the dresses that she personally made with her two hands. Not ever wanting to be idle, she also assisted her mother in selling goods from her father's productive farming business.

While young, Pearl met her future husband, Vernal. And even though her parents were hesitant to let their first-born marry at such an early age, the marriage would  later produce 12 beautiful children. No one could ever doubt Pearl's love for children.

She migrated to the Bahamas in 1969 and worked tirelessly to support her children and provide them with  better opportunities. While raising her own children, she cared for other children. Even recently, now grown with families of their own, they call family members to ask how is "mom". Her influence on their lives was just that strong.

After enjoying the tropical weather for some years, she decided to move to the Big Apple in the early eighties, where she continued to work hard and was always out and about.

At some point, her daughter Bibs suggested that living in South Florida should be the next move she should make. Whether it was the tropical weather, the change of pace or the lifestyle, it didn't take much because she made the move and never regretted the decision. Although she continued to work, the move to South Florida also brought about a change in her spiritual walk. She was baptized, found a church home and strengthened her walk with God.

Sabbath was always extra special to her. If you stopped by the house on Sabbath, and you happened to catch her home, it was only because she was waiting for a ride to take her back to church in the afternoon for bible study or some other afternoon program. And while she was able, Pearl was famous for her coconut drops which she would bake. Her expertise in the kitchen led to many sales and would enable her to raise quite a bit of money for church fundraisers.

Her move to South Florida also seemed to be the catalyst for many of her children and grandchildren to also make the move to South Florida. She was happiest while sitting at the dining room table looking at all the family present at a gathering. It was at that time, she would take the opportunity to pray for all of her loved ones, especially all the little ones  because she truly cared about them.

Pearl was preceded in death by her husband Vernal, two of her children, Pearlette and Ivanhoe, and one of her grandsons, Brian. She is survived by ten of her children, Daisy,   Aloysious, Elaine, Avris, Burnetta, Edward, Karen, Cheryl,  Diane, and Donna, her son in law, Paul, eighteen grand-children, twenty great-grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, and her uncle Goumbay. In addition, she leaves to mourn a whole host of nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends that would lovingly call her Grandma.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun;

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.

Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Ms. Pearl, rest in sweet peace, while we wait for the Lord's return!