Our Pearl

 Pearline Lorraine Clarke Nee Branker

  

August 20, 1957 – May 2, 2017

“It’s a girl!”  The excitement filled the room

As the jolly, chocolate-coloured baby arrived,

“Chubby Cheeks” became her first nickname

Just as one of her three brothers had prescribed.

Roy and Rosemary Branker must have been over the moon

As they beheld this bundle of satisfaction and joy,

What a fitting conclusion to their productive endeavour!

Three boys and two girls instead of another boy.

The arrival of their Pearl brought the needed balance

To the lopsided situation of three boys and a girl,

Now the scale was virtually level if you see what I mean

Since one of those girls was our very own Pearl.

Educated at the then St. Giles’ Girls’ School

And then on to the Alexandra School she went

After which she attended the Barbados Community College

And showed much for the time there she spent.

An internship followed at the Advocate Co. Ltd

Forming the basis for her secretarial career,

Confederation Life, LOB, Sagicor and BB Insurance

Was the journey that for twenty-nine years she steered.

After six years at home beginning 2010

She returned to BB Insurance just over a year ago

And there she worked up to the time of her passing

Just another hour and it would have been literally so.

She awoke complaining of feeling unwell

Tuesday morning as early as four

But back to sleep again she went

Without any indication of what lay in store.

Transported there by her beloved spouse

Off to work she went

But called him back before he had gone too far

Only a few minutes had she spent.

   

Again she complained of feeling unwell

So he did all a loving spouse would do

But she moved beyond in less than an hour

And her sojourn here was suddenly through.

An ache burns deep within our hearts

For we did not anticipate when she would go

But God knows best; He always does

And He leads in paths we do not know.

Even on this sorrowing occasion

We can see still His hand of mercy

Reaching out in unmistakable compassion

Inviting his children, “Draw the nearer to me.”

 

This “Pearl” as she was so aptly named

Exuded a loving nature unsurpassed

For family and friends almost alike

And everyone saw her as a woman of class.

Her loyalty to family was clearly evident

As she anticipated their wants and needs

And often would go to the greatest limits

Such was the extent of her deeds.

She will be missed; I mean sorely missed

For her encouraging and inspiring words

Especially through Facebook to her FB Family

By now everybody must have heard.

Facebook has been noted for many an ill

But there was not the slightest chance with Pearline,

To her it was a facility in her mission for God

To inspire, to inform and to motivate her team.

Many are the photos that she transformed

With floral backgrounds or in other unique ways,

Birthdays and anniversaries were always remembered

And were also featured on her Facebook page.

I decided to scroll through her Facebook friends

With the hope of assigning to them a number

But I eventually gave up having grown tired of scrolling

And now as it stands I am still left to wonder.

  

Gifted in handicraft and dried floral art

We have all enjoyed her expressions

And no doubt still prominent in some of our homes

Are several of these enduring decorations.

A visit to Clerview Heights would surely reveal

Environs punctuated with divers plants,

All this the handiwork of this unforgettable Pearl

As her surroundings she meticulously enhanced.

Flowers and palms and exquisitely shaped hedges,

Golden apple, star apple and mango

Together with herbs and vegetable assortments

Spread all around the house in an organized flow.

And how could I not mention her ceramics

For which she once had an abundance of passion,

Flower vases, teddy bears, drinking mugs and pots

Of all types and forms and fashion.

There was a time when she would make an outfit

That would be the envy of those who viewed

And not long after their eyes had feasted

They would engage her to make some other style too.

The children in the family doted on her

Her lap and her dress hem were sources of comfort

And she had time for them engaging in their play

And in so many ways she rendered them support.

She was a great believer in upholding family

For that’s the upbringing from which she gained

And no stone was ever left unturned

In her effort to ameliorate disappointment or pain.

Michael, her spouse was a principal beneficiary

Of her care, her love and her affection

And the way in which she related to him

No doubt for him was his greatest attraction.

Thirty-two years of marriage on the twentieth of April

No children of her own but several she raised,

The many babysitting assignments were never a chore

And up to this day these grown adults still sing her praise.

For Michael his Pearl’s price was way far above rubies

And way beyond diamonds or purest gold,

Unlike these she could reciprocate his love

And in her arms of comfort his body enfold.

Such was the case when he had taken ill

For a few weeks it was as though time stood still

Those anxious moments with prayer she filled

And God took away her bitter pill.

God with her did such a miraculous work

That Mike is here for her graduation today,

Why this turn of events we can only hazard a guess

And continue to let go and let God have His way.

 

We are assured of that home for her

That Jesus has gone away to prepare,

We know he’ll come again and receive her to himself

And all who are looking for him to appear.

You see she made sure of that before her demise

For only in life is such a determination possible,

God honoured her request and drew her to the fold

And now that decision is irreversible.

To be brought up in the church was her parent’s desire

And at Carrington’s Pilgrim Holiness is where she acquired

The instruction to fashion her life as God desired

And there pledged her loyalty until the time she expired.

I don’t recall her filling positions on committees

But that is not surprising, certainly not to me

As we all know that singing was her thing

And for doing such she had a distinctive ability.

As a soloist, in duets, in quartets, in the junior choir

She sang from her heart and we so admired

Her beautiful voice as it blended with the groups

The Carrington’s Church is where this skill was acquired.

The memories of the youth chorale come to the fore

Standing in the soprano line awaiting the encore

Then in the Wesleyan District Youth Chorale in a similar spot

With the audiences longing to hear more and more.

What a life lived, exuding panache and style!

What memories remain of that radiating smile!

What a wife, what a sibling, what a relative and friend!

What a consolation that death is not the end!

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on his gentle breast

Today we can rejoice with this songwriter

That God works out everything for our best

This He has done for our Pearl and she has passed the test

Having labored here in her bivouac of life

In Jesus she is now at rest.

  

Awaiting that great getting-up morning

When the dead in Christ shall be raised

And all those who are alive in Christ and remain

Will join them in never-ending praise.

But for now that Tuesday will be etched in our memory

For even now our minds are still in a whirl

At the same time we shall continue to give God thanks

For the time that we spent here with our Pearl.

Thanks to all those who in her last moments

Tried desperately to extend her stay

Like those at Sandy Crest who were quick on the ball

But she was still taken from us on that fateful day.

Your presence here today as we commit her remains

Is testimony of her influence and her impact

But bear in mind that the job is not ended

For Pearl would expect us to cover Michael’s back.

To all who sorrow Pearl’s passing this unforgettable day

And who will do so for a long time to come

Accept our thanks and believe us when we say

We are truly grateful to you and that means everyone.

 

So Pearline, Aunt P, Pearlasia, Pearl

We would have kept you longer had we that choice

But we are resigned to a greater than we

As we cherish your legacy, your memory, your voice.

Stewart Russell © May 2017