Daughter speaks of their ‘unbreakable bond’ as Shelley Clarke is laid to rest

Former Managing Director/Editor of The News newspaper, Edward Shelley Clarke, was laid to rest at the Kingstown Cemetery last week Friday, December 27, 2024, following his funeral service at the St George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown.

Clarke died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMC) on Friday December 13, 2024 at the age of 75.

He would have celebrated his 76th birthday later this month.

Delivering the eulogy, communication specialist, Theresa Daniel, recounted that Clarke was one of the foundation broadcasters who helped to build Radio St Vincent and the Grenadines (Radio 705), now the National Broadcasting Corporation- NBC Radio.

“He was among the broadcasting pioneers who helped establish the country’s premier national broadcast system.”

Daniel, also a former broadcaster at Radio 705, and former editor at The News, said it was Clarke who taught her the rudiments of the profession.

Describing him as a private and discreet individual, Daniel also mentioned Clarke’s love for netball and calypso.

In a tearful tribute to her late father, Clarke’s daughter, Cheyenne, spoke of the “unbreakable bond” which she shared with her father.

“I was my father’s shadow,” Cheyenne said, as she recalled always following her father around.

Overcome with emotion, the young woman had to be consoled by two relatives. She said she has great memories of her dad, whose “selflessness was one of his most defining qualities”.

She also remembered him as a man who did not tolerate nonsense.

Shelley Clarke was originally from Chili Village in Georgetown, where some of his relatives still reside. Delivering the homily, Anglican priest, Ulric Jones, shared having also received a call to preside at Clarke’s wedding in 2016, as was the case to officiate at his funeral. Fr Jones had words of consolation for the family.