Clarendon, Jamaica – The thanksgiving service for the life of dancehall deejay Merciless is underway at the St Gabriel’s Anglican Church Hall on Church Street in May Pen, Clarendon.

The white coffin with the remains of the entertainer arrived at the church in a carriage.

Pallbearers are dressed in camouflage in honour of the entertainer who was often camouflaged for ‘lyrical war’.

Merciless, born Leonard Bartley, was found unresponsive inside a guest house on Walker’s Avenue off Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew on July 19.

The Chapelton, Clarendon native exploded onto the dancehall scene in 1994 when he was propelled by Stone Love (from a virtual unknown) to stardom after his hit song, Len Out Mi Mercy debuted at House of Leo nightclub in Kingston at the hands of Stone Love boss Winston “Wee Pow” Powell.

He followed up with a string of other hits including Mavis, which was the top reggae single in Jamaica in 1995. He also recorded Ole Gallis, Whaddup, Mama Cookin, Gizzada, Let Dem Have It, and God Alone with Little Hero and Action Fire.