The Rev. Pearline James and her husband Evan immigrated to Boston from Jamaica in 1971 as part of an early wave of Jamaican arrivals in the city. They were the first to purchase a home on Mattapan’s Malta Street on the banks of the Neponset River.
From that time on, James did everything she could to make Boston and its people a better place – from a dedicated ministry to taking in kids from the neighborhood who needed guidance to running a family daycare business for decades to graduating college at age 60.
Rev. James passed on June 26, 2023, from cancer at 77. She left behind her daughter, Denella James Clark, and her husband – not to forget the memory of her son, Conrad, who was murdered not far from the home in 1989.
Now, two years after her death, family and friends have formed the Loving Gesture Fund in her name and last Thursday (June 26), they celebrated Rev. Pearline James Day in Boston with a block party and a ceremonial re-naming of the corner by her long-time family home.
“My mother’s love was for couples and families, and she gave a lot of her energy to counseling couples and helping marriages at her church, the Full Life Gospel Center (on Norfolk Street),” said Clark, who is the president of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation.
“She was a caregiver by nature,” she added. “After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019, she took care of him and was so busy doing that she might not have been caring for herself.”
Mayor Wu related that the ceremonial naming of the street was an act of respect for the family and the people whom the pastor influenced over so many years.
“This is a small, small gesture to recognize the impact of Rev. James and acknowledge that block by block great people change our city every single day,” said Wu, who afterward read off the mayoral citation proclaiming it ‘Rev. Pearline James Day’ in Boston.
Clark, and her daughter, Dr. Cherina Wright, said that they established the Loving Gesture Fund working with pastors and community organizations in Boston in hopes of changing the landscape for those who are caring for others and feel the weight of that task.
“We gave the first two awards away last Sunday at Greater Love Tabernacle in Dorchester,” said Clark. “They were in tears. I know what it’s like to be a caregiver. My mother was a caregiver.”
Josh Kraft, a candidate for mayor and early donor to the fund, said it was a “no brainer” to contribute and was completely in line with his own late mother’s charitable fund, the Myra Kraft Emergency Fund.
“It was her mission to help people when no other people would help,” he said. “I told Denella to sign me up. I know our moms are looking down on this and love this legacy of helping people quietly who need it the most.”
That same energy of remembrance and caregiving translated to the block party as well, where neighbors, elected officials, and family members recalled stories of Rev. James. Her husband gave the closing words, simply thanking everyone for such a great honor to his late wife.
Giving the opening prayers was Rev. Clementina Chery of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, and the closing prayer was offered by Rev. Liz Walker, a former Boston news anchorwoman.
Councillor Enrique Pepen and Council President Ruthzee Louijeune both spoke as well, along with pastors from churches around the community.
