By Nelson A. King
As St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
the Caribbean and the
Caribbean Diaspora were on
Tuesday fixated on the Home
Going Service of Thanksgiving
for popular and veteran Vincentian
radio and air personality
Ferrand “Randy D” Dopwell,
with superfluous tributes, one
person’s tribute and presence
were patently missing – Randy
D’s beloved only child, Fadiyla
“Fae” Dopwell Louis-Obike.
Dr. Dopwell Louis-Obike, 38,
a pediatrician, who resides in
Plano, north Texas, with her
husband, Michael, and their two
sons, were unable to attend the
funeral at St. George’s Cathedral
in Kingstown, the Vincentian
capital, or pay live tribute via
the internet. The entire viewing
of the body, tributes, service and
interment were streamed live.
However, in her tribute,
which was prepared for live
broadcast and made available
to Caribbean Life, Dr. Dopwell
Louis-Obike, said it was “obviously,
with great sadness that I
speak to you today.”
“As the only child of my father,
the love he gave to me was singular
Caribbean L 32 ife, JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2021
and bountiful,” she said
about Randy D, who succumbed
to prostate cancer on Jan. 14, at
69, at this home in Kingstown.
“And as I said to him on his last
day, no one could have loved
him more than I do.
“As you can tell, I inherited
the ability to love with a passion,
and unconditionally,” added the
pediatrician. “My daddy exhibited
this characteristic in all facets
of his life. As such, it goes
without saying that no one has
loved you all as my father had.
He devoted his life to our country
and Vincentian people as a
whole. He respected and loved
the beauty of the land, and the
talent and culture of our people.
“He built his career trying
to showcase our country and
all it has to offer to the world,”
continued Dr. Dopwell Louis-
Obike in her national tribute.
“Although I and his grandsons
are his direct legacy, you all
are a part of my daddy’s legacy.
Therefore, I would be remiss if
I did not take the opportunity
to encourage you to continue to
show the world what our country
has to offer.
“You are beautiful, and that
showed through the love and
support you gave to my daddy
and to me if we have met,” she
said. “Your posts and comments
are a testimony to who he is and
the strength of his character.”
Dr. Dopwell Louis-Obike
quoted from 2 Timothy 4:6-8
KJV in summing up what she
described as Randy D’s “journey
and the blessings that are
to come: ‘For I am now ready
to be offered, and the time of
my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept
the faith: Henceforth, there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his
appearing.’
“I thank you once again for
the love and support you gave to
Randy D with his only child, Dr. Fadiyla “Fae” Dopwell Louis-
Obike, on her wedding day, Dec. 31, 2011. Kingsley Roberts
Randy D, the King of Radio, the
host of Vibes Caribbean, a son, a
brother, an uncle, a friend, and,
most importantly, my daddy,”
she said. “Please stay blessed
and, eh, ‘keep the vibes alive.’”
In eulogizing Randy D, at
the Service of Thanksgiving,
Keith Boyea, Dr. Dopwell Louis-
Obike’s godfather and Randy D’s
very close friend, for over 50
years, said the late radio and
TV personality was “a true and
patriotic Vincentian.”
An only child’s tribute to
Vincy radio icon, ‘Randy D’
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