A Life Lost, Children left without their Rock

On December 23, 2021 5 days before his 42nd birthday the life of Kentish Bennett/Kayla Stennett was tragically taken by people he trusted. The two most important people in Kentish’s life is now left without their father. Kentish was everything to his children, although they lived in Trinidad there wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t speak or FaceTime with them; if there was a day he had trouble reaching them that was his worry and topic of conversation until communication was made. The phone calls between his children and him often were about his dream of bringing them to live with him in the U.S, all the things he wanted them to experience with him, and if the conversation wasn’t a serious one they would send each other funny faces or have an animal head while on the video call. In Kentish’s last days of life, he had found an apartment that would accommodate his children and was in the process of trying to get his children here; unfortunately his life was cut short and he could not complete this task. Kentish and I had a conversation about his children during one of the times he was struggling with not having his children by his side, during that conversation he made me promise to take care of his children if he ever passed, and do what I could to offer them a better life here with his family in the U.S, and now that my brother is no longer here that is my sole focus from this day forward, to honor his wishes and allow him to be able to rest easy knowing his children are in a safer environment with unlimited opportunities.

Kentish was multitalented, from a young age he was always interested in the arts and performing; he was an Artist, Dancer, Gymnast, Musician, Model, Hair Stylist and Designer. One of his contributions to the PPE shortage surrounding the Covid Pandemic was working on a project with a longtime business owner to manufacture hospital gowns that were reusable, this article was published in Albany N.Y June 14, 2021.

Kentish was an active member in the LGBTQ+ community, his Drag Persona Kayla Stennett was a prominent picture in the Albany LGBTQ+ community for over fifteen years and helped to inspire many within the community; Performing on stages in Maine all the way to Miami Florida. Kayla was known as a “local legend” performing at Rocks, and Waterworks Pub in Albany. Kayla would captivate audiences with their rapping, singing, dancing abilities. In addition, Kayla sewed all her own costumes as well as constructed her own wigs. Kayla was not only talented but humble and welcomed everyone . Kentish/Kayla has performed at shows and sold clothing designed and sewn by himself/herself to raise money for organizations such as Breast Cancer Awareness and Homeless Shelters; he/she has also done work for Project Hope, a community program to help people living with HIV.

Kentish was described as a “creative designer, singer and overall kind soul“ by one of his friends, someone who considered him to be a brother.

This fundraiser has been created for Kentish’s children by his sister Ann Crosby. All donations raised will contribute to getting Kentish’s children here in the U.S with his family and to help towards their future, his oldest child is 18 and she no longer has a parent to pay for her education expenses.