Pinky loses cancer fight - DHQ Carlene says sister will be buried in May Pen Cemetery

The family of Doreen 'Pinky' Prendergast is making arrangements to have her body flown home to Jamaica and have it interred at the May Pen Cemetery in Kingston, as was her wish.

Pinky, who was the sister of Dancehall Queen Carlene, passed away last Saturday at a New York-based hospice in the United States of America (USA) on Saturday. The 59-year-old dancehall aficionado lost her battle with breast cancer. Pinky lived in the USA, where she operated as a hairdresser

"She was always putting in place what she wanted, and one of the things on the list was to be buried at May Pen. We had a sister who died at a very early age ... . I didn't know her, but she and Pinky were close ... and she is buried there. Her name was Maureen, and Pinky is Doreen. Before Pinky died, I made the promise to her and we are going to keep it," Carlene told THE STAR.

Although overcome with grief, Carlene had a light-hearted moment when she shared that Pinky had warned a friend to make sure that Carlene carried out her wishes, "or else [she] a guh haunt her".

Pinky, a popular figure on the entertainment scene in the 1990s, was last seen in a celebratory mode at her fundraiser/59th birthday party at MECA on Constant Spring Road in February. Carlene said plans are under way for a nine-night to be held next Monday, August 8, at Stone Love HQ on Burlington Avenue in St Andrew.

Stone Love owner Winston 'Wee Pow' Powell was a close friend of Pinky's.

"Wee Pow was one of the first persons to call after Pinky passed and he said that he was there to help in whatever way necessary. Pinky was a big Stone Love fan and right there is the appropriate place for her nine-night," Carlene said

Carlene described Pinky as a devoted sister whose primary concern was for the family she was leaving behind. Although she had no children of her own, Pinky was "mother" to all her nieces and nephews, including Carlene's daughter, Crystal Davis.

"If Crystal don't call Pinky one day, Pinky upset. Pinky was the light and life of this family and she protected all of us like we were her kids. When I could no longer travel to the states after 2015, Pinky brought America to me. I would get three barrels every year and when ah seh she would put everything in them, I mean everything. And she wasn't working any big money, but she was just that kind of person. There is nothing she had that was too valuable for her to give to family or friends."

She praised her sister for putting up a brave fight against the disease, the ravages of which had taken such a toll on her body that at one point her weight plummeted to under 100 pounds.

"But Pinkey never lost her shine and she never complained. At the hospital she was the life of the ward ... the doctors and nurses loved her. We received so many prayers and get-well messages from person all over the world. Even Jill Stewart ... reached out and gave us inspiration," Carlene said.

Stewart, the wife of Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, lost her battle with cancer two weeks ago. Carlene said, "When I saw that she died ah really felt it."