Kervin Llewelyn Clenance

Obituary for Kervin L. Clenance

Early Life

Kervin Llewellyn Clenance was born on a Palm Sunday, April 11,1954, in St. Croix, in the United States Virgin Islands, to Beryl and Keith Clenance. He was raised with his siblings Cheryl, Genevieve, and John Clenance.

Residing initially in the historic “Free Gut” neighborhood of Christiansted, he developed a strong sense of community and culture which he would carry with him throughout his life. Kervin fell in love with music at an early age and often recalled playing basketball while listening to Carlos Santana. Kervin loved raising and racing horses, especially Spring Prince, his first horse. He also enjoyed Boy Scouts with childhood friend Tyrone Browne.

Kervin grew close to friend Kenneth “Wes” Amaro who, along with Tyrone and friend Willie Garcia, remained close with Kervin throughout his life. Academically, Kervin excelled and attended University of Connecticut

(UConn) with a scholarship. UConn brought Kervin to the continental US and this his life forever. A Labor Management major, Kervin nurtured his relationship with radio and music as a DJ on the campus radio station. It was there that the name “Crucian Fire” was born! Kervin met his college roommate and lifelong friend, Maurice Robertson as well as first wife, Vernetta King at UConn.

Career

After graduation, Kervin took his talents to South Florida where he made a mighty impact on the radio broadcast programming and sales industry. Kervin tried to put his “on air” experience to good use, however the radio station that hired him refused due to his heavy Crucian accent. So instead Kervin launched his broadcast sales career, where he flew up the ranks and before his 25th birthday, he was named the VP/General Sales Manager at Gilmore Broadcasting, better known as LOVE94. Kervin’s passion for radio led him to launch his own station, “The Breeze”, in St. Thomas, USVI, making him the first and youngest Black radio station owner in USVI. Kervin closed “The Breeze” when the station suffered irreparable damages due to a hurricane.

Still engaging in entrepreneurial pursuits, for several years he teamed up with Linda Vanderpool and Mario De Cherbert to create and produce the St. Croix Jazz Festival, also known as “Jazz in Paradise”. Kervin returned to South Florida where he accepted a position as Local Sales Manager at WHQT/HOT 105 radio where he quickly became the General Sales Manager, and built an amazing sales team, which he affectionately named “The Force”, a stellar team of professionals he led to achieve record breaking sales success. Kervin’s love for community and radio drove him to espouse the viability of the Black community and its buying power. He built remarkable radio programs such as the Hits and Oldies Family Reunion, Hot Topics, Rhythm Magazine, the Word For The Day, and Rodney Baltimore Cares, which runs to this day.

In 2004, he joined Reach Media, the home of the beloved Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) as the Director of Affiliate Sales. He later joined the parent company Radio One (now Urban One) to launch WTPS in South Florida, which Radio One sold in 2007. Always the entrepreneur, he launched The Sales Department, a freelance sales organization, employing the talents of his network to meet the marketing goals of small businesses. He briefly joined West Palm Beach’s CBS Radio Group while developing The Sales Department.

His Faith

Kervin was raised in the Lutheran Church (Lord God Our Sabaoth), had vast biblical knowledge and often spoke of his 4 years of confirmation classes. In South Florida he found a church home at Church of the Open Door, UCC Congregational (COTOD), a community to which he was deeply devoted. For more than 40 years Kervin served at COTOD in the roles of Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Morning Announcer, Fundraising Chair and many others. His children were raised and baptized in the COTOD and its supportive community of members became their extended family. As a Deacon Kervin loved checking on the sick and shut in, promising to make it his full time job upon retirement. Praying for and encouraging them gave him much joy. One of his favorite roles at COTOD was “Kervin’s Moment of Comedy”, a beloved Sunday morning service ritual.

Hobbies and Other Activities

Kervin was a devoted Miami Heat fan and an original season ticket holder.He loved golfing with his buddies Harvey Lockhart, Levart Combs, Willie Garcia and Sam Moss. All but Harvey Lockhart, have preceded him in death. Kervin’s activities also included supporting community organizations such as the M. Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation, 100 Black Men, the Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Collective Banking Group and 5000 Role Models of Excellence.

A Large Loving Family

Kervin was born into a loving family and wanted to start his own which he accomplished in his first marriage to Vernetta King Clenance (deceased), to which two daughters were born, Jamallah Clenance (deceased) and Imani Clenance (1985).

In 1996, Kervin met his Wife and Lifetime Partner, Jacqueline Hampton. They married in 1997 and quickly added Ayana Allyse Clenance (1998) and Kervin Llewellyn Clenance II (1999) to his happy family. Being a Husband and Father was second only to his faith and relationship with God.

Kervin was a loving “In-law” to his Mother, Betty Early (Michael), Brother, Steve Hampton and Sister, Angela Buxton. He also remained close to his previous in-laws, Fraciel Tooks, Chery and Locksley Dawes (Vernetta’s Mother, Sister and Brother, respectively). Kervin was a devoted Uncle, Godfather, and Friend.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his Wife of 27 years, Jacqueline Hampton Clenance, his children Imani Marie, Ayana Allyse and Kervin Llewellyn Clenance II, his siblings, Cheryl Clenance King, Genevieve Clenance and John E. Clenance. Last, but not least, a grand-puppy, Honey Clenance (Ayana), who brought him joy every day.

Kervin was preceded in death by his parents, Beryl and Keith Clenance, a Daughter, Kamallah Clenance, a Brother, Clinton Clenance and a Grand-dog, Stella Clenance (Imani). All of whom he loved and adored.

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