An East End businesswoman was found dead in a home in St David’s on Saturday.

Selena Minors, 51, was discovered at the property in Cove Valley Lane shortly before 4pm.

She was remembered yesterday as someone who helped others and acted like a “second mother” to young people in her community.

Ms Minors, a St David’s Islander, was the owner and operator of Selena’s restaurant in St George’s before it closed about two years ago.

Quinell Francis, the Mayor of St George, said yesterday: “She will definitely be a miss. This is very sad.”

She said Ms Minors had two children and ran Selena’s for more than ten years, becoming “instrumental” in community events in both St George’s and St David’s

Ms Francis recalled how the businesswoman held a fundraising event for her birthday in August to help a mother whose son needed medical treatment overseas.

She added: “She was very community-minded and she was about ensuring that her community would succeed. She used to assist in any area that she could.

“The Facebook comments have been pouring in to say how much she was like a second mother to a lot of the young people in the community.

“She was a very personable person, she really was concerned about people and ensuring they could fill out their full potential.”

Ms Francis added: “There are many people that are shocked and saddened by the news, especially around Christmas time.

“Our heartfelt, sincere condolences go to her children, siblings and grandchildren.”

Ms Minors was renowned for her cooking and worked at a string of restaurants including the Halfway House, Wok and Specialty Inn before opening her own business on Mullet Bay Road.

Her community work included an annual Causeway BBQ Throwdown & Block Party which gave passionate barbecuers a chance to showcase their skills.

Kim Swan, the Progressive Labour Party MP for St George’s West, said: “I’m very saddened by the news of Selena’s passing.”

He remembered Ms Minors’s barbecue cookouts as being “very popular”.

Mr Swan said: “She was an entrepreneur but she had a tremendous spirit of helping.” He added: “She was a good businesswoman and she ran a good business establishment.

“What struck me was that although she was a business person she took her organisational skills to help the community as well.”

Mr Swan said: “She did things that helped other people’s children. She was well-loved and well-liked and respected.

“My wife Cindy and I express our sincere condolences to her family, to her friends and to the community that mourns her passing.”

Mr Swan pointed out that people in St George’s had “endured quite a number of deaths recently”. He added: “2018, when it comes to persons passing on, has not been very favourable for us in that regard.”

Police said on Saturday that Ms Minors was found in an unresponsive state and foul play was not suspected but an investigation into the death was launched.