Family

“If we were all writers, we could all be mentally free.”

—Imelia Prescod

Teenage Bethel “BeBe” Benoit circa, 1986.

The Protector & Protected. Esme’s mother, Bethel, is a kind and easygoing woman. From a young age, she embraced the belief that blessings and opportunities will find you if you remain open, rather than chasing after them—a life philosophy she has passed on to her children. Like her daughter, Bethel is multi-talented. She’s skilled in hairstyling, baking, and sewing and has a strong background in medical health.

Growing up in the parish of Saint James, Bethel was adventurous yet gentle. She loved to learn and cherished time with her friends. However, her carefree girlhood took a sharp turn when she became entangled with the wrong man, marking the beginning of a more difficult chapter in her life.

Her new lesson in life, which unfortunately her children had to experience along with her, was to be cautious and wise when it comes to marriage. The wrong person for you in your life can destroy everything. And in Bethel’s case, it almost did, but she proved that she was stronger than her adversaries.

BETHEL “BEBE” CIRCA 1988. 

“The secret is to be fearless with most things. Be fearless with risk, opportunities, styles, and wisdom.”

—Imelia Prescod

A Little About BeBe

The Original Benoit

Bethel never sought attention, yet her quiet brilliance had a way of drawing others near. With hands that were steady and skilled, she mended not just wounds, but hearts and homes. Whether she was baking a velvet cake from scratch, raiding intricate cornrows for a neighbor’s child, or offering calm support in a moment of crisis, Bethel carried herself with a grounded grace that made people feel seen—and safe. Beneath her gentle presence, though, was a deep and enduring strength. As a single mother during much of Esme’s teenage years, Bethel became the anchor of their family. Her resolve never wavered. She raised her children to lead with compassion, but also to move through the world with discernment. Her quiet fortitude, her faith in divine timing, and her unwavering belief in the power of kindness—these are the values she passed down. She might never call herself a protector, but Esme has always known her as exactly that: the one who held steady when everything else felt uncertain, the one who made their house feel like sanctuary. Bethel didn’t speak much about her own hardships, but in time, Esme would come to see just how much her mother had carried. The long shifts at the clinic, the painstaking management of every dollar, the way she shielded her children from life’s heavier burdens—all of it done with quiet resilience. Somehow, there was always enough: enough food, enough laughter, enough love. Many underestimated Bethel. Her softness was mistaken for weakness, her humility for inexperience. But those who truly knew her understood: Bethel Benoit was strength wrapped in gentleness, steel hidden beneath warmth. Her wisdom didn’t clamor for attention—but it endured. And when the moment called for it, she stood firm—fierce, faithful, and resolute.

She never asked to be remembered. But she made herself unforgettable.

“The secret is to be fearless with most things. Be fearless with risk, opportunities, styles, and wisdom.”

—Imelia Prescod

Mother of Grace & Mother of Intellect

Two Sides Of The Same Bill

My mother and grandmother were both incredibly fashionable women—women of big dreams, strong desires, and faiths uniquely their own. My grandmother was raised Catholic, but after the death of her mother, she began to distance herself from organized religion. Instead, she found wisdom and freedom through the guidance of saints and our ancestors. That spiritual strength and knowledge were passed on to my mother, her youngest child and dearest friend.

My grandmother was a calm, intelligent, graceful, and beautiful woman. Her deep curiosity about the world allowed her to live a long and fulfilling life. She didn’t follow man-made rules; instead, she placed her faith in the spirits that visited her altar—spirits of departed loved ones and ancestors who offered guidance and wisdom.

Imelia has always represented the kind of woman I aspire to be, though shaped with my own needs and personality. My mother, whom I became especially close to around the age of twelve, has always been a source of light in my life. As my grandmother’s health began to decline, my bond with my mother deepened. I had always loved and admired my grandmother, but now, seeing my mother in her own radiant light, I’ve come to hold the same deep love and reverence for her as well.

“We all have a reason, my foremothers were mine.”

—Jesme

Sweet & Fierce

ESME’S BEING THE PERFECT BLEND OF HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

Esme is the perfect blend of her mother and grandmother, inheriting the best qualities from both generations. From her grandmother, she’s gained a sharp intellect and a strong sense of independence, always thinking ahead and standing firm in her beliefs. From her mother, she carries a gentle wisdom and warmth that draws people to her, making them feel seen and valued. The connection between her mother’s and grandmother’s personalities lives on in her, as she embodies the spirit and essence of both women in a unique and beautiful way. Mentally and spiritually, she reflects more of her grandmother’s depth, while her softness and adventurous spirit mirror her mother’s. It’s as if both generations live within her, quietly guiding her every step. Esme doesn’t just resemble them—she carries their legacy forward with grace, compassion, and unwavering confidence.

“What cannot be understood, cannot be fully enjoyed.”

 —IMELIA PRESCOD

Their Matriarch

FIRST WRITER IN THE FAMILY

It all began with Imelia P. Prescod, born in August 1919—a woman of Bajan and Senegalese heritage from the parish of Saint George, Barbados. Her mother, a light-beige-skinned Senegalese woman, was born in Thiès, Senegal, and relocated to Saint George with her family at the age of ten. Imelia’s father, a tall, tan man, was a native of Saint George, where he spent his entire life.

Imelia was homeschooled by her mother until the age of eleven, during which time she developed a deep passion for literature. She often carried a brown leather journal, capturing her thoughts and the world around her with words. The second of five children, Imelia took on a caretaker role after the tragic death of her sister, raising her nephew as her own until the young man left for college.

At fifteen, Imelia suffered a devastating blow with the death of her beloved mother—her favorite parent, her teacher, and closest confidante. In her grief, she turned to cigars and rum in an attempt to dull the emotional pain. When she was eighteen, her father remarried. While her younger siblings remained with their new stepmother, Imelia set out to pursue higher education.

Her academic journey, however, was cut short at age twenty, when she had her first child with her then-husband. The couple would go on to have two more children before her husband's untimely death—a loss shrouded in privacy, with the details known only to close friends and family.

Some years later, Imelia met her second partner, Carissier Benoit—a local man of French descent—in the bustling, noisy fruit section of the street market. Though they never married, they built a life together and raised six children. The youngest of them—Imelia’s ninth and final child—was Bethel “BeBe” Benoit, who would later become the mother of Esme.

Prince and his wife and son.

Fragments of Her Life Live Within Her Stories

THE KNIGHT IN BLACK ARMOR

Through her storytelling, Esme weaves fragments of herself—both visible and hidden—into the worlds she builds. Her narratives go beyond fiction; they are intricate mosaics of personal experience, with each piece reflecting a deeper truth from her life. For instance, the story of her uncle’s death inspired a poignant scene in one of the books from her Legacy series.

The knight in black armor: Prince Steven Benoit, son of Frankie—Imelia’s fifth child and Carissier’s second—and nephew to Bethel.

Frankie was a rebel to the core. Courageous, bold, and unrelenting, he refused to be confined by rules or expectations. He made his own code and often didn’t follow even that. Feared by many, he was a free spirit who thrived in the golden days of travel, when the world felt open and unbound. He loved women and fathered many children, though he only claimed three from the ones he held dearest: Prince, Farah, and Bonnie.

Frankie’s life was cut short at the age of thirty-seven in 1991, when a confrontation with a foreigner ended in a fatal gunshot to the head.

Prince, Frankie’s second-born and brother to Farah, is his father’s echo in many ways. Though he lacks Frankie’s love for conflict, towering height, and copper-toned skin, he inherited his sharp mind and fearless spirit.

Prince plays a pivotal role in both Bethel’s and Esme’s lives. From the moment he was unexpectedly introduced to the family, he became Bethel’s favorite nephew. The two grew up nearly side by side, as Bethel was the youngest of her siblings. His loyalty didn’t stop with her—it extended to Esme and her brothers. But among their many relatives, Esme was always his favorite. Time and time again, especially during the trials her mother endured, he proved that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the ones he loved.

BETHEL, CIRCA 1999.