What began as a celebratory getaway for the future bride of NBA star Tyrese Haliburton has turned into an unimaginable loss after one of the group’s closest friends died unexpectedly while vacationing in the Caribbean.
Makenzi Kern, a 26-year-old Iowa native, passed away on June 8 while traveling in St. Barts with friends during a bachelorette trip for Jade Jones, the longtime fiancée of Indiana Pacers standout Tyrese Haliburton.
According to reports, Kern died after experiencing health-related complications while on the island. Her family reportedly does not believe alcohol, drugs, or foul play played any role in her death. Additional details surrounding the circumstances have not been publicly released.
The trip was intended to be a joyful milestone ahead of Jones and Haliburton’s upcoming wedding, which is expected to take place later this summer. Instead, it became a heartbreaking chapter for a close-knit group of friends who had traveled together to celebrate.
Just days before her death, Kern appeared in social media photos shared from the vacation. Jones posted images of the group enjoying the beaches and waters of St. Barts, captioning the post, “hopped on a flight to cloud 9.”
The timing made the loss even more devastating. Kern had celebrated her 26th birthday only two days before she died.
According to an online obituary, Kern passed away while “surrounded by her closest friends on a once in a lifetime trip to St. Barthelemy Island.”
Her family described a young woman who embraced life wholeheartedly and found joy in adventure, family, and friendship.
“She loved boating with her dad, water skiing, and got to try out a seabob for the first time in St Barths. According to her friends, they had to drag her off because she loved it so much, evidence that she was having an amazing time,” the obituary reads.
Friends and family remembered Kern as someone whose positive energy left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
Loved ones wrote that she “lived life to the fullest” and had the ability to “brighten everyone’s spirits when she was around.”
After graduating from Iowa State University in 2022 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, Kern built a career helping others. At the time of her death, she was serving as a Membership Director at a YMCA in Omaha.
Her obituary noted that “Kenz was dedicated to her job, her friends and her beloved pets; especially her cat Dusty. She never wanting to let anyone down or upset them.”
The tribute also shared a story from childhood that reflected her generous nature: “So much so even as a child she would let all of the kids on the playground go down the slide first saying ‘you go first, I’ll get a turn later.’”
Kern is survived by her parents, stepparents, sister, stepsiblings, grandparents, boyfriend, and countless friends whose lives she touched.
Neither Haliburton nor Jones has publicly commented on the tragedy. As preparations for their August wedding continue, those closest to Kern are instead focusing on celebrating a life remembered for kindness, loyalty, and an infectious love of life.
