WHILE survivors of the late Mrs. Pearl Elaine Beatrice Ming Charles of Devonshire continue to grieve on the one hand over her passing in her 90th year several weeks ago, they are on the other hand having some elation over the opportunity her funeral provided them for a reunion and time to reflect on the rich legacy she has left them to share in.

Mrs. Charles sprang from the Ming dynasty that dominated much of the religious, cultural and social life of Devonshire during the first three-quarters of the 20th century. She was one of the 14 children of Edward and Mae Ming; and to pinpoint her even more, we only have to think of siblings who predeceased her like Emma Ming, reputed to have been one of the country's best-ever cake makers; Reggie Ming, OBE, who almost single-handedly in his heyday did what the new-fangled Government Department of Cultural Affairs now does.

There were also the Quinton, Laurie, Earl and William Mings and sister Inez Burt just to name a few, and a nephew to boot, like the late AME Bishop Donald Ming, whose forte was building churches in various parts of the United States and Southern Africa.

Not only was she one of a family of 14 brothers and sisters, Pearl and her late husband Thomas (Tom) Charles during their 49 years of marriage produced 13 children of their own. They in turn yielded her 23 grandchildren, 20 great grands and two great great grands.

So, aside from the too numerous to name nieces and nephews on the Ming side, there were those on her husband's side of the family, embracing the Webbs, the Brownes, like the Dame Lois Browne Evanses, the Famous and Bullens, all families with noteworthy achievers among them.

We gather they all highly esteemed Pearl Elaine Beatrice Ming Charles, who consistent with her name and nature stood out among them as a genuine Mother of Pearl.

Her passing brought together a host of cousins (to reduce them to one common denominator), many of whom were meeting for the first time. They came from as far away as Ohio, Philadelphia and New York, some of them arriving on the same plane from New Jersey not knowing they were related until the reunion at and after the funeral.

Last rites for Mrs. Charles were held at Christ Church, Devonshire. The church had figures prominently in the Ming and Charles family life. Her son, the Rev. Allan Charles II, delivered the oration at the service. He has lived in the States since 1961, when he left to study at Wilberforce University and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio and Wright State University I Fairborn, Ohio.

Rev. Charles graduated from Wright State Univ., with a BSc in Chemistry/Math, Payne with a Master of Divinity. He is currently working on PhD Candidacy Studies on Hypan Hydrogels for Facial Creams and Hand Lotions. He was educated in Bermuda at Elliot School, Devonshire, St. George's and Sandys Secondary Schools and the Berkeley Institute. Rev. Charles served as pastor and re-builder of St. Paul AME Church in Circleville, Ohio and of St. Luke's AME Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

MRS. Charles delighted in reminiscing with her offspring about her childhood days. Although the Ming family was large, she often spoke of how loving and respectful they were to one another. As far as her mother was concerned, chores had no gender, as brothers and sisters had to do the cooking, farming and housekeeping.

Her chores had to be done in the morning before walking to school from Devonshire to Flatts, and back home again. She often told of how when her siblings went to work, all the money they earned had to brought home to mother, and they were lucky if they got a small portion in return.

On March 12, 1931 Pearl married John Thomas Charles, and as the family produced 13 children, the cycle of long, hard hours of work began all over for her. She rose precisely at 5.30 each morning to prepare a good breakfast and freshly made lunches for the children who went to work and school, and supper was never late for their return home in the evenings. She set the standard for the love and harmony she always stressed in her children.

Pearl is survived by eight children: Leslie, Raymond (Ray), Allen, and Howard (Hobby) Charles, Betty Robinson, Rita Peniston, Ruth Tucker and Catherine Pond as well as two sons-in-law, Wendell Pond and Leroy Tucker, and three daughters-in-law: Joan, Marlita and Deidre (Dee) Charles, two siblings Pat Swan and John Ming, and two-sisters-in-law, Lucille and Marie Ming.