JULY 8, 1941 - JUNE 16, 2024
A CELEBRATION FOR THE LIFE AND WORK OF:
“CAPTAIN TROUBLE”
Sunrise: JULY 8, 1941 Sunset: JUNE 16, 2024 Age: 82 YEARS & 11 MONTHS
Service Held at: ST. JOHN’S NATIVE BAPTIST CATHEDRAL
SATURDAY JUNE 29TH 2024 AT 10:00 AM
Officiating: BISHOP CARRINGTON S. PINDER
Interment: SANDY POINT CEMETERY, ABACO, THE BAHAMAS
JULY 8, 1941 - JUNE 16, 2024
A TIME TO BE BORN:
IT WAS A HAPPY DAY! On July 8th, 1941 Geneva Bowe and Reuben Dean welcomed their frst child who they named, Cyril Oscar Dean, into the world. He was born in Sandy Point, Abaco, a beautiful sleepy little town, nestled on the ocean. As a child, he matriculated through the James A. Pinder All-Age School.
A TIME TO WORK
Cyril was always a hard and industrious worker who loved mechanics and the ocean, learning his initial skillset from his beloved grandfather James “Pappa” Dean and his Uncle Captain Ernest Dean. As a young man he was employed with the Water & Sewerage Section. It was shortly after he was hired by Water & Sewerage that he relocated to Nassau for better opportunities. He was elevated to the rank of Superintendent and transitioned to Mechanical Engineer after the organization became the Water and Sewerage Corporation. Cyril was responsible for the barging of water from Andros to Nassau and Nassau’s desalination process at the Baillou Hill Water Plant. On retirement from Government, as the owner of Dean’s Marine, Cyril served as consultant for The Bahamas Government, in the private sector both nationally and internationally. Dean’s Marine was the consultant of choice to resolve all mechanical disruptions at the lift stations, treatment plants and marine generators throughout our archipelago and several cities in The United States.
A TIME FOR HOME:
Although he relocated to Nassau, his love for Sandy Point was strong and he was an avid member of the Sandy Point Improvement Association, heavily involved in the annual homecoming events and all matters the pertained to his beloved home.
A TIME TO DIE:
On November 28, 2023 while visiting his beloved Sandy Point Abaco; Cyril took ill and was brought to Nassau and was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital. On December 8, 2023 he as transported to Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas.
On Saturday, June 15, 2024 Cyril had to return to Princess Margaret Hospital and at 11:15 pm on Sunday, 16th June he transitioned from time to eternity.
He realized one day he would have to come face-to-face with his Heavenly Father. He attended St. Marks Native Baptist Church on Romer Street, Fox Hill Bahamas where he served and remained until his death.
LEFT TO CHERISH hisMemoriesare
HIS WIFE: Lillian Dean;
CHILDREN: Laverne Dean, Denise Dean-Rahming, Cyril Jr., Nelson (Carissa), Deborah Dean Ferguson (Pastor Darrel), Vanrea Dean, Tanya Reckley (Elvis); Michelle (Ogechi) Wachuku, Fenton, James, William and Shaquille Dean;
BROTHERS: Audric Dean, Percival “Percy” Roberts, Chris Roberts, Mancer (DeShaun) Roberts, Graylon Roberts and Ross Roberts, Hercules (Roselda), Clarke, Whitney Clarke Jr. and Rev. Dr. Carrington (Sabrina) Pinder.
SISTERS: Prescola Penn, Enid (Allison) Rolle, Melvinia Munnings, Brenda (William) Perry, Lutelle Brooks; Sheila Pratt; in-laws: Eugyneel (Ivan Bowe), Sylvanus Curry Absolom Curry, David Curry, Basil (Sharon) Curry, Leonard Curry, Joycelyn Curry Sharon (Sidney) Isaacs;
GRANDCHILDREN: Lily, Amanda, Ozioma and Chinonyerem Wachuku. Kayton and Katelyn Dean, Kristavia Johnson, Shelise Carroll, Ciara Rahming, Deneisha & Nevaeh Dean, Danielle & David Ferguson, Darra & Seth Francis, Leading Woman Aniska Bonaby, Kingsley Clare;
GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Kendreia Johnson, Kristofer Williams, Katalaya Dean, Jenae & Brianna Thompson, Mekayden, Ka’my, Amiya, Kacey Clare; Ghealisha Brown, D’erje Bodie, Rajon Dean;
NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS: Janice Dean and Christophe Roberts; Elsie Mae, Anita, Natasha and Mervyn Roberts, Rose, Rosanne, Edwina and Ross Roberts Jr., Nathan, Monet, Onan and Graylon Roberts Jr., Krystal Roberts, Mancer Jr., Meshach, Mandia and Jereau Roberts, James, Veronica, Sebastian, Fabian, Alfred, Jessica, Annie and Kenya Penn; Ricardo Penn and Rhonda Paris of Miami, Florida, Marlon, Shadell and Samara Munnings, Phillipa, Dwight Ramsey, Sydnei, Bashar and Kendal Isaacs, Chubasco and Ulysees Williamson and Joey Rolle, Crisel, Lavanda & Lavardo Clarke; Seneka Pratt, Gregory (Zelma) Bain, Nadine Bain, Raymond (Nadia) Bain, Julian Timothy (Nioshie) Bain; Javon Charles Bain; Edney, Derek Gaitor, Stephanie, Patrick, Marsha Roberts Jr., Lunsworth, Jonathan, Garret, David, and Ethel Lightbourn, Juliette Deal-Laroda, Rubilee Morley, Nicola Charlton, Glacie Gaitor, Clayton, Enid, Audrey Dean; Edwin, Monique & Vanessa Sears, Perry, Bernadette, and Kevin Adderley, Veronique (Bradley) Swain, Ricardo, Velva, Pedro, Vernette Burrows, Erica Rolle, Lensworth, Kirkworth, Ellsworth, Vernice, Sherice, Oral, Fred Bain, Manerva Colebrook, Valercia Bain, Buena Moss, Patrick, Bain Jr., Crystal, Lisa, Tanya, Suzette, Sherell, Sophia, Urie and Manassa Bain;
COUSINS: Jonathan “John” Dean, Don Thurston, John, Angelo, Peter, Patrick, Michael and Charles Grant, James, Otis, Bennie, Naydean, Shirley, Matilda Bowe, Liza Bain, Marinette Walker, Maebell Brown, Adriana Thurston, Julia McKinney, Esthel Strachan, Jestina Simmons, James, William, Robert, Johnny White, James, Marcus, Ernest Dean Jr., Shirley Saunders, Suzy Duncombe, Caralyon Burrows, Christine Sneed.
SPECIAL FRIENDS INCLUDING: Kenrick Skeete, Falcon Edgecombe, Rovel (“Cashie”) Roker, Hon. Carl Bethel, Kenneth Adderley, FNM; Van Johnson, Quientent & Lavy Longley; Quinton Lamm (Godson); “Bull” & Jennifer Munroe, Rudy and many other friends from the Peardale area.
SPECIAL THANKS TO those who assisted during his sickness and time of bereavement: Ivan Bowe and family, John Dean and family, Tanya Gibson-Reckley, Percival Roberts and family, the community of Sandy Point Abaco; the nurse who travelled to Texas; Dr. Miller, the assistants, St. John’s Cathedral Family, St. Mark’s Native Baptist Church Family and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Family.
If we inadvertently left out anyone, please forgive us as it was not intentional.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
IHoney loveyou;
I will always love you. I love you; yes, I do, but I let you go. Thank God for our times together!
TRIBUTE TO Daddy
Daddy, you were a man who danced to the rhythm of your own heart, painted your existence with bold strokes, and carved your legacy upon the tapestry of time. Daddy, without a doubt, you did it your way.
You were no mere mortal; you were a maverick soul – this was true of you right up until your departure. Conformity was a foreign language to you, and you viewed the rules of convention as mere suggestions. You waltzed through life with a mischievous glint in your eye, whispering to the wind, “I’ll do it my way.”
Daddy, you did it your way – sometimes pirouetting, sometimes stumbling – but always with fair. May the heavens echo with your laughter and may your spirit live on dancing to the tune of individuality. You were an extraordinary man, Daddy, and as I bid you farewell, I salute you, because in a world where we can choose any path, you did it your way.
Love always, MICHELLE
Granddaddy,
we will miss you!
If only we could have spent more time together, but alas you made the few times we shared together so fondly memorable that they are etched on our hearts foreverlike the time when you harvested coconuts from the tree and barked them for us. We enjoyed that coconut water and jelly so much, but most of all we enjoyed bonding with you. The wide, gleaming smile that you always donned when you saw us was infectious and we immediately knew you genuinel loved us – reminding us of the love of God.
Visiting you in the hospital and seeing how, through it all, you would always be so excited to see us, and you would even make jokes some days, and we all enjoyed laughing together. Your kindness and joy are a great part of your legacy, and we will always cherish you. Rest in peace, Granddaddy.
Love,
LILY, AMANDA, OZIOMA, AND CHINONYEREM
A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO myFather-in-law,
MR. CYRIL DEAN
I remember vividly when I spoke with Mr. Dean, to request his daughter’s hand in marriage and will always appreciate how comfortable he made me feel, and how he welcomed me into his family. He was a man of few words but showed his love through his actions. He was always hospitable and accommodating and full of encouragement. I could always see that he cared for his daughter and grandchildren and for me also, his son-in-law. He would always go out of his way to ensure we were very comfortable when we would visit and would make time out of his very busy schedule for his grandchildren. He prioritized our family and our relationship and that meant a lot to me.
He was a strong man who never complained, having a great optimism about life; pursuing his passions, in a way a man 20 years his junior might. He was a man you could always count on. His work ethic, unwavering even into his 80s, was a testament to a bygone era of fortitude and
diligence. I admired and was inspired by his strength and resilience. His presence was a comforting constant and his encouragement an appreciated gesture. We built a very strong bond over these past 23 years, and I will very much miss our conversations, and the times spent together with him as a family.
As we bid farewell to a man who was the embodiment of true grit and caring, we hold tight to the memories that comfort us. His legacy will continue to inspire, and his absence will be deeply felt. Though his departure seems too soon for one so seemingly indestructible, his memory endures—a true warrior, a rare breed of man who showed his love for his family, through his actions, and not with words alone.
Adieu, Mr. Dean, Adieu, your spirit remains with us. Rest in Peace, Sir, until we meet again.
MR. OGECHI WACHUKU (for the Wachuku family)
SOME CALLED YOU
OLE C,
Others called you Captain Trouble, But we called you Daddy,
A man who was proud of his heritage, A man who passed on all the teachings of Pappa Dean, A man who stood on what he believed and then declared that only God could change his belief!
So, it’s hard daddy to say goodbye, but it was even harder to see you laying down and unable to move around for yourself.
We will remember the good times and cherish you in our heart always. Love you, CYRIL, NELSON, AND SHAQUILLE.
THE THINGS I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT MyGrandad
His smile and laughter, the time you judged the sweet tea making competition and you named me the winner. Whenever I came to town, you wore the Bahamas fag necktie I bought you for Independence Day; even if it was just a regular Sunday. You calling my dad and asking me how I am doing. You always gift me a new $20 or $50 bill and before hanging up the phone you always say I love you.
From: KAYTON DEAN
You were many things to this world but to us you were our world; a big brother, second father and a good friend. Sleep on Ole C; we will always love you.
LOVE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Daddy,
as we refect on the past, we hold dear the times we enjoyed together as a family, and with extended family and friends around our home. Your love and knowledge of the land, producing fruits and vegetables, made our yard a grocery store for fresh vegetables and almost every Bahamian seasonal fruit imaginable. Always within us will be the lessons of pride, selfrespect, and standing frm in your personal beliefs and principles. Your words and lessons will forever be in our hearts and daily actions. We love you, Daddy, and we will miss you, especially those early morning “check-ins” to see if we were alright
Always, LAVERNE, DENISE, CYRIL, NELSON, DEBORAH, & VANREA.
Asweputyoutorest
thoughts run through our heads of times together. The things we were told, the words of wisdom you gave, the examples you showed. We remember your voice, your habits, your smile, your eyes. Above everything we remember you.
We know that you have impacted this family for generations to come, and although you are gone your legacy of excellence lives on in us. Sleep on and take your rest, we love you but Yahweh loves you best.
From YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
FENTON DEAN
Pallbearers:
WILLIAM DEAN
CYRIL DEAN JR. NELSON DEAN
JAMES DEAN
OGECHI WACHUKU
JOHN DEAN
SHAQUILLE DEAN
HonoraryPaulbearer:
PERCY ROBERTS
DAVID CURRY
GRAYLON ROBERTS
RAYMOND BAIN
FALCON EDGECOMBE
WILLIAM WACHUKU
AUDRIC DEAN
MANCER ROBERTS
ROSS ROBERTS
ROVEL ROKER
EDNEY GAITOR
Acknowledgement:
We are sincerely grateful to the many friends who have offered words of comfort and console us during this, our moment of sorrow, we express our sincere thanks and appreciation. As you depart from this service, keep Mr. Dean’s memory alive in your hearts.
