Members of the Caribbean group in Brooklyn braved the bitterly chilly climate on Friday night to pay their final respects to Grenadian-born singer Allen Wayne Noel, famend as “The Michael Jackson of Grenada,” throughout his funeral service at Union United Methodist Church on New York Avenue in Brooklyn. Noel died on Jan. 27. He was 67.
A number of Caribbean musical artistes paid homage to Noel in songs and musical devices earlier than and through the service.
They included former perennial Grenada Calypso Monarch Ajamu, McDonald Fest Gospel Winner Gerard Placide, saxophonist Joe Alert, keyboardist Venor Yark, and Randal Robinson.
In eulogizing Noel, Ken Purcell — who was a part of the singing group The Bee’s, which Noel’s brother, Derek Ventour, based — mentioned Noel “touched numerous lives by way of his music, his kindness, and his generosity.
“He had a coronary heart of gold, at all times keen to lend a serving to hand or listening ear,” mentioned Purcell, Noel’s shut pal and former co-worker, stating that Noel’s musical journey started at a young age, “sparked by the encouragement of Ms. Bernadette Fraser.
“His father, the late John Noel, was approached by Ms. Fraser to have Wayne carry out at Eric Gairy’s GULP Meet the Individuals tour on the Beaulieu R.C. (Roman Catholic) College grounds,” he added, referring to Grenada’s first Prime Minister Sir Eric Matthew Gairy and his Grenada United Labor Occasion.
“Wearing his scout uniform, Wayne captivated the viewers along with his rendition of Tony Orlando and Daybreak’s ‘Knock Three Instances,’” Purcell continued. “This second marked the start of a exceptional musical profession.”
He mentioned Ventour – a outstanding, Grenadian-born, Caribbean leisure promoter in Brooklyn – finally fashioned The Bees with Noel, Stokely Phillips, Benedict Fraser, Ken Purcell, Kester Hagley, and Michael Mitchell.
Purcell mentioned the group “mesmerized” audiences throughout Grenada.
“Dubbed the ‘Jackson 5 of Grenada,’ they carried out at quite a few venues, together with the Carnival Queen Present, Regal Cinema, Lion’s Den, and the Pedmontemps Outdated College,” he mentioned.
Purcell mentioned famend bands just like the Weevils, Substances, and Blue Hen Combo usually backed the group.
“Together with his boundless expertise and charisma, Wayne earned the nickname ‘The Michael Jackson of Grenada,’” Purcell mentioned. “His musical legacy continues to encourage and uplift all who have been lucky sufficient to expertise his reward, even as much as his passing.”
He mentioned considered one of his favourite recollections of Noel was “his love for singing.”
“He’d usually break into tune; his wealthy voice will fill any room with pleasure and laughter,” he mentioned. “His music introduced folks collectively, creating recollections that can final a lifetime.
“Famend singer and former member of the long-lasting Bees singing group of Grenada, Wayne Noel, was a gifted vocalist and performer who captivated audiences along with his soulful voice and charismatic stage character,” Purcell added. “Wayne could also be gone, however his legacy lives on by way of us.
“His love, kindness, and generosity impressed us to be higher variations of ourselves,” he continued.
Purcell mentioned Noel, the second baby of John and Louisa Noel, attended the elementary Constantine and Wesley Corridor Methodist colleges and St. John’s Christian Secondary College.
After commencement from secondary faculty, Purcell mentioned Noel’s first employment was at Her Majesty’s Jail, then on the Grenada Port Authority.
After he migrated to New York in 1986, Purcell mentioned he launched Noel to the brokerage agency of Pershing, now BNY Mellon, the place he labored for 35 years earlier than taking early retirement in 2021.
“He knew his job very nicely; he skilled the general public who got here to his division,” he mentioned. “Wayne was very a lot appreciated as a pricey pal and co-worker. He was very reliable and labored laborious to get issues finished within the workplace.
“He would are available in early on his personal to verify he was caught up with servicing the purchasers,” Purcell added. “He additionally sang a few of his favourite songs when he noticed you within the pantry or the hallway – a real gentleman that at all times had optimistic issues to say about others.”
Former Grenada New York Tourism Director Christine Noel mentioned Noel was her mother’s “favourite nephew.”
“He at all times carried a smile on his face,” she instructed mourners. “He was actually a joyful individual. Music was his ardour.”
The Rev. Wesley Daniel, the Grenadian-born former pastor of Union United Methodist Church, introduced the Prayer of Consolation; famend Grenadian poet Wendel DeRiggs learn the Outdated Testomony Lesson from Job 14; and Ansha St. Bernard learn the Epistle from 1 Thessalonians 4.
The church’s Guyanese-born pastor, the Rev. Jacqueline Carter, presided over the complete service.
In his sermon, Bishop Chris A. Butler, a Grenadian-born affiliate pastor at Ebenezer Union Ministry Middle on Powell Road in Brooklyn, mentioned: “I do hope the reminiscence of Wayne will likely be a blessing to us.
“There’s hope,” he added. “Once we face the problem of dying, we should be reminded that dying brings hope.”
Purcell mentioned Noel “is in heaven now, with a band of angels, because the lead singer.”
He mentioned Noel’s love for his household was “unparalleled.”
“He adored his daughters, Roxanne and Tamara, and was so pleased with the ladies they’ve grow to be,” Purcell added. “His (4) grandchildren introduced him immense pleasure, and he cherished each second spent with them.”
Noel can also be survived by his aunt, Eastlyn Welch; sisters, Janice and Jillian; brothers, Derek and Stokely; niece, Shenice; and a number of other family and pals.
His physique was interred the subsequent day at Canarsie Cemetery in Brooklyn.
