A TIME TO BORN: GelethaMcKenzie and James Bastian were showered with blessings as they welcomed theirson into their lives on the bright day of October 31st , 1940. He wasthe only son for James and the twelfth child for Geletha; they named him CecilDewitt.
A TIME TO EDUCATE: Healways told his children he never went to high school as his mother ensured hebegun working at the age of twelve. He said the only time he went to highschool was when he went upstairs to the second level of the school.
A TIME TO BE EMPLOYED: Cecil proved to be a hardworking, industrious youngman he began a life of various careers. He entered the workforce when he was 12years old under the tutorage of Mr. Ivan Smith at the Ministry of Works as aplumbing apprentice which lead to his main job as a plumber. He proved to bethe only one to keep the waterfall at 66 Steps on which led to him beingtransferred to the Princess Margaret Hospital to enable him to be on site whenneeded for repairs. He begun to venture out as a business man: he was aphotographer for the King & Knights Club and for private events; he owned arecord shop on Baillou Hill Road and finally ventured into his most belovedfield- DJ for private events, Larry’s Pub, Adelaide Pub and Goodman’s Bay. Heeventually open B&B Tire Repair on East Street & Lifebouy St (now JohnChipman Way); he retired so that he could work fully in his business which hedid until health caused him to retire in 2016.
A TIME TO MARRY: At the age of 17 he was walking along when he lookedup and saw the love of his life in a guinep tree eating the fruits of her labor.He asked her for some of her guineps and was told no because he could climb andget his own. His reply was that it would be sweeter coming from her and thusbegun a relationship that resulted in holy matrimony on May 19th,1963. Their union was blessed with five (5) children which increased to six (6)when they legally adopted a baby boy, they also had children that theyindividually or collectively adopted (unofficially) into their lives.
A TIME TO ENDURE: In2016 Cecil had to accept that a time for change had arrived, due to visualproblems he was unable to run the business or drive. For a man use to movingwhenever he was ready this was a major problem. He missed speaking to thecustomers at B&B Tire Shop and going to visit friends at their place ofemployment.
In 2019 his beloved wife of 56 years passed into eternity andnow he was alone; he did not adjust to this situation very well.
A TIME TO DIE: OnNovember 14th , 2022 his daughter, Meishelle received a call from Ms.Lenora Davis, that she felt he had suffered a stroke. On arrival he was foundsimply lying down not moving or speaking. He was transported to the hospital.
On November 16th , 2022 the third anniversary ofhis beloved death, he suffered two seizures and had another the following day. OnNovember 21, 2022 at 9:30pm he passed from here to eternity to bewith his beloved wife.
He waspredeceased by his wife Gertrude Emily Bastian, his daughter Carmelia Roker, hisparents Geletha McKenzie and James Bastian and all of his brothers and sisters.He would say to persons that of all his mother’s twelve children he would bethe last to die; thus the last of Mama’s twelve children has gone on to takehis rest
LEFT TO CHERISH HIS BELOVED MEMORIESARE HIS:
4 DAUGHTERS: MeishelleBastian-Williams (Nathaniel); Kimyllie Bastian-Forbes (Kingsley), JacquelineJoseph and Rosie Fox
6 SONS: Jerone, Wayne(Natasha), Dwight, Dimitri (Ellinor) and Dario Bastian, Ezekiel Lafleur,
GRANDCHILDREN: NiveaWilliams, Shatasha, Shakera, Antoinette, Dewaynia, Doniqua, Kevanna, Dimitria,Eurika, Eurisha and Dwyiesha Bastian, Alexandria Joseph, Ceara, and AlexsandraHanna, Monalisa Carter-Taylor, Claudeenah Clarke, James, Valentino, Wayne ll,Dimitri Jr., Dario Jr., Drew, Custom Officer Jerone ll, Dwight, Kanye and Vijay(Randisha) Bastian, Leading Mechanic Nathaniel (Samantha) and Nathan Williams,Lavardo “Shine” Sands, Prince and Cecil (Louise) Roker, Zelton, Chakotay,Chavantay, Mckein, Falarno and Kingsley Jr Forbes, Julian and Dwayne Archer,Claudlyn Clarke, Damien Armbrister, Edward Roach, Jarad and Delano Marshall.
GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Destiny Armbrister, Dequnatay, Denerah, Shavano, De’Asia, Tanaysha, Samiyah,Javion, Rapsanique, Elijah, Zion, Verdah’lia Knowles, Adajanae, Demarzian,Samara, Hope, Nathalia, Nathaniel Jr, Fritzanique, Kiawinna, Exavious, Antonio,Deondrell, Bryon, Valentayshia, Javona, Kevano, Javon Jr, Tyreek, Aliyah,Delano, Jayden, Amari, Carter, Marco, Maria, Mariah, Julian, Martao, MarioEdward Jr., Summer, Zimya, Keanu,Phoenix, Coliyah, Brooklyn, D’vonia, Darinique, Rania, Skylar, Semaj,Sidte’vaney
GREAT GREAT GRAND: Ka’Mari, Brenay and Shakaya
2 BROTHERS-IN-LAW: WilliamCulmer, Eduard Leonce
2 SISTERS-IN-LAW: Thelma Deveaux, OlgaLeonce
SPECIAL FRIENDS: Oscar Hunt; Sis.Sherice Ferguson (ZNS); Devain (Beaver) Saunders; Vera Rahming; JE Tires(Rollin), USA; Mrs. Lenora Davis and Lashell Adderley.
NUMEROUS NIECES, NEPHEWS, GRANDNIECES AND NEPHEWS; NUMEROUS COUSINS, FRIENDS AND SELF ADOPTED CHILDREN:
Especially the Culmer, Colebrook,Bullard, Gibson, Huyler, Johnson, Roker and Williams families; Dianne Mackey,Donna Rolle, Lucinda Rolle, Cynthia Neely, Irene Ingraham, Esther Rolle andfamily, Crew at ZNS, customers of B&B Tire Repair, New Bethany BaptistChurch, Universal Village Ministry, East Street and John Chipman Way Crew,Kathleen Gardiner and family, Rowena Lloyd and family, Lillian Newbold andfamily, Mae Missick and family, Kathleen Wilson and family, Christine Curry andfamily, Sharon Ellis and family, Antoinette Bowe and family, Eleanor Conliffeand family, Carl Dawkins and family, Brenda Darville and family, Alvin Griffithand family, the entire Lockwood Bend Community, the Medical Records Department(PMH), Public Hospital Authority especially Capital Development.
We apologize for any names that mayhave been left out inadvertently.
