Celebration of the Life of
Cedric Darnell Trahan
aldwin B March 17, 1984 - May 30, 2021
Saturday, June 12, 2021 11:02 a.m.
Trinity Valley Missionary Baptist Church 801 Sam Houston Street Liberty, Texas 77575
Rev. Marvin O. Etheridge, Sr. Pastor & Eulogist
Cedric Darnell Trahan Baldwin Cedric Darnell Trahan Baldwin was born in 1984 on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at 3:16 a.m., in Houston, Texas to Pamela Trahan and Chester D. T. Baldwin. He was reared in Liberty and was a proud member of the Riva Ratz, the Trinity River community. Cedric confessed Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized into the Trinity Valley Missionary Baptist Church on June 5, 1988 by Rev. Melvin L. Lewis. He participated in all of the children and youth activities. He especially loved Vacation Bible School, probably because he was getting double the snacks from his grandmothers. He later joined the Mount Sinai Baptist Church (Pastor A. W. Anthony Mays) in Austin. When his father returned to the Houston area he joined him at the Covenant Glen UMC (Pastor Robert E. Childress) in Missouri City. He eventually returned to his roots at Trinity Valley (Pastor Marvin O. Etheridge, Sr.) Being the first grandchild, Cedric was spoiled by his beloved Grandma, Paw and GrandDear and his aunts and uncles. He was affectionately called Ced and his Uncle Sip nicknamed him whippersnapper. He encouraged his nieces and nephews to call him Uncle Black. Just as he was beginning to learn to talk, he could be heard singing along to his favorite TV theme songs of Duck Tales and Thunder Cats. He fell in love with the song “That’s What Friends Are For” and you would hear him singing loud and proud. Keep smilin’, keep shinin’ Knowing you can always count on me for sure That’s what friends are for For good times and bad times I’ll be on your side forever more. That’s what friends are for. Ced was a precocious child with an infectious smile and deep dimples. He didn’t hesitate to use that smile, dimples and the quick wink of the eye to diffuse whatever trouble he created or found himself in. He knew how to throw on the charm and could sell sand to an Arab and ice to an Eskimo. He loved to laugh, crack jokes and enjoyed being the center of attention and the life of every literal party. As a kid he was most comfortable walking around in shorts with cowboy boots, mix matched outfits (his favorite color was blue), and he loved slides and being barefoot taking on the persona of his Uncle Bubba. He attended school in Liberty and later transferred to Dayton ISD where he excelled in varsity football. He moved to Pflugerville and graduated from Pflugerville High School in May of 2003. In the summers he was a youth camp liaison in his father’s Performing Arts Academy Summer Camp. Cedric later worked in several industries including security and as an oilfield roughneck. Cedric enjoyed being around his family and friends. He loved hard and partied harder. He especially liked those gatherings that included eating good food, the spicier the better. He and his mother enjoyed going grocery shopping usually on
a weekly basis. He loved to cook, thinking himself to be a chef extraordinaire. He relished in showcasing his culinary skills and his made up dishes and concoctions that often included every spice from the rack. He loved all kinds of wild game and animals. Cedric never met a critter he didn’t want to fry, bake or stew. He was obsessively competitive in board games, cards, dominoes, and video games, particularly the Madden series. He spent hours playing, keeping a cool drink near by, leaded and unleaded, and some hot Cheetos. He was not a gracious winner and a worse loser. Cedric gained a bonus dad when his mother married Jeffery Edwards, and he loved being the big brother to his four brothers. He got a “bonus baby brother” when his Aunt Tina had Jordan and the two of them were inseparable. He also had a special bond with his twin/cousin, LaDarien (DJ) Hicks, as they were born the same day in the same hospital. Ced was born at 3:16 a.m., several hours before DJ, and he loved the fact that he was the older “twin.” He had a lot of friends but Cameron Baldwin was his “ride or die” and he considered him to be his brother from another mother. With the love of his life Franchesca by his side, he was rearing his beloved children, CiCi and Cash. Frannie was his rock and supported him through his struggles to get gainful employment. He would laugh and say ‘I’m just a glorified housewife’ and Frannie countered with, ‘Ced is a good father and he takes good care of us.’ He was an avid sports fanatic. He loved playing them, participating in the Fantasy Football League and cheering for the Washington Redskins Football Team. On Sunday, May 30, 2021 Cedric had been watching his beloved Los Angeles Lakers when he was called to eternal rest. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmothers; Doris (Grandma) M. Randolph Trahan and Gussie (GrandDear) B. Baldwin Jones and his uncle, Arthur G. (Bubba) Burrell. He leaves to cherish his memory his fiancé: Franchesca Harrison; children: Cianna Dion Baldwin and Cash Dejon Baldwin; parents: Chester D. T. Baldwin and Pamela K. and Jeffery O. Edwards; brothers: Cordale Douglass Baldwin (Barbara), Christian Domineke Baldwin, Xavier Sedale Edwards, and Robert Christopher Edwards; grandfather: Kenneth (Paw) A. Trahan, Sr.; grandmother: Margaret Edwards; nieces and nephews: Chase Douglass Baldwin, Cassidde Denae Baldwin, Kynnedy Lynn Baldwin, Caleb Draven Baldwin, Xavier Lee Baldwin, Kylen Zaire Edwards, Addison Lynn Baldwin, and August Luke Baldwin; aunts and uncles: Loretta C. (Aunt Sissy) Baldwin, Tina (Nanny) L. Trahan, Marvin S. (Uncle Sip) Baldwin (Donnya), Gerald E. (Uncle Buster) Baldwin (Torey), Dennis C. Trahan, Kenneth (Junior) A. Trahan, Jr., Kim G. Mouton, Natalie A. Edwards, Felecia G. Tousant, and Rodney C. Edwards; great aunts and uncles: G. W. Baldwin (Pavia), Artie S. Randolph, Maxine Booth, and Beverly Melonson; god mother: Margie Leno; and a host of other family and friends.
A Life Celebration of Cedric Darnell Trahan Baldwin 10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Music.......................................................................The Celebration Chorale 11:02 a.m. Processional....................................................................................The Family “Walk In The Light” The Reading of the Cedric’s Dash .................................................................... Old Testament Reading..............Isaiah 40:1, 28-31.................Pastor Keith Turner Pastor-Valley Community Church-Liberty, TX
New Testament Reading...............John 14:1-6................... Rev. Marcus Williams Glad Tidings Church-Vallejo, CA
Prayer ...................................................................................... Pastor Vern L. Cooper Pastor The Ark Church-Houston
Music ....................................................................................The Celebration Chorale Church & Family Acknowledgements. ...................................... Connie H. Paintsil Pastoral Encouragement .................................................... Pastor Melvin L. Lewis New Bethlehem Church-Houston
Pastor G. V. Clark Pastor- Mount Zion Baptist Church-Austin, Texas President-Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas
Music ................................................................................ The Celebration Chorale A Brother’s Perspective. ......................................... The Baldwin & Edwards Boys A Parent’s Tribute & Song ...................................................Chester D. T. Baldwin Eulogy.....................................................................Pastor Marvin O. Etheridge, Sr. ............................................................................. Pastor-Trinity Valley Missionary Baptist Church
A Parting View Recessional
Tribute to Cedric
To my baby boy When I had you my life changed. You were always into something. You were outspoken and never met a stranger. Your smile could melt anybody’s heart. You gave me my first grandchildren. Through them, you will live on. We will take care of both CiCi and Cash. It is hard for me to say goodbye, so I’ll say see you later. I know Grandma and GrandDear are waiting with open arms to take care of you. Rest well, I love you! Mama My dear son, my firstborn From the moment I laid eyes on you that Saturday morning on St. Patrick’s Day only a few hours old, I was in love. Looking at a little bit of me, looking back at me with those eyes, I was in awe. Thirty-seven years later I still saw that baby, that toddler, that boy, that teen, that man, that father as my baby. That look in your eye became a twinkle and that toothless grin became a radiant smile disarming and diffusing every situation, bending it to your will every step of the way. You were the first to call me daddy but you said it with a twist and a twang, not Daddy but “Deddy.” I taught you never to say goodbye when we parted, it was always “I love you, don’t forget to pray” and the response “how can I.?” So today I don’t say goodbye but I love you and rest easy Ced. Daddy aka “Deddy” Daddy, You have always been there for us. Whether it was taking us to the park, lifting weights with Cash or having a cooking battle with me...my pinto beans versus your delicious turkey wings. Cash thought you was the funniest man on earth. All I knew was that you was the best daddy in the world. We thought you would always be here taking care of us, fussing at us & pushing us to be the best at everything we did. Cash is sad that you won’t be here to take him to football practice or play Madden with him. I’m sad that I won’t ever hear you yell at me to clean my room or wash the dishes. But, me & Cash will always remember that we had the best daddy ever. Love always, Cici & Cash I thank God for your strength, courage, and confidence, you were more than just a big brother. You were a great father, son, friend, and just an awesome person to be around and know. So big brother you will be greatly missed and for now it’s see you later! I love you, Dale Gone but never forgotten I’ll miss you more than words can express. Gone are the times we will be able to play the game, cook, play pool and just chill and watch sports. But forever more I now have you as my guardian angel. Watch over me from above. Until we meet again Love you big bro. Christian
Ced, I met you when you were three years old. I helped to raise you as my own son. I’m going to miss hearing you say “Pop let me borrow this or how you do this? Don’t worry cause I’ll take care of Mama, Cici and Cash. Rest on my son. Pop (Jeffery) Our big bro We will miss our game nights and our cookouts. You were always the chef in charge. Gonna miss our talks. Rest well big bro. Love Xavier and Robert I want to thank God for the years we have had together. Thru everything we have always made our way back to each other because of the love we have for each other and we knew we were meant to be. You will have a piece of my heart always. Until we meet again. Love always, Frannie Words do not do justice of how I felt about you. I had two sons and nobody could tell me different. I loved & treated you like my other son, & you knew it. I adored your laugh, smile & your sense of humor that made you, you. I wasn’t...I’m not ready to let you go. I haven’t processed in my mind that you’re no longer here. My heart is not ready to accept that I won’t hear you say “love you Auntie” again. You taught me how to live unapologetically and according to my own will. You loved your family and friends unconditionally! I’m so saddened that the strong, special bond you have with Jordan, your “brother”, is now broken. I will miss our late night texts & your corny jokes that YOU find hilarious. Rest easy my sweet baby. I love you with everything In me. Tina To the one who made me an Auntie first..... My Dear Ced I will miss you sooo much. I’ll miss hearing you call my name, “AUNT SISSEE!”. I’ll miss how you made me laugh uncontrollably, making fun of anyone, you first and yes your Dad. I’ll miss how you would secretly try to get me to influence your Dad to do something or give you something as if I could convince him to do it. It was you I needed to help sway him to do something for me. I’ll miss the times you called me just to talk and when I gave you advice you’d say “Yea you right Aunt Sissee, my bad.” I’ll never forget you calling me on your birthday when I was in Ireland. It scared me at first and then I went on and sent the money by Cashapp but you couldn’t retrieve it for whatever reason. Man you almost got me big time. So many moments of fun and laughter and now there’s no more time to create more. I’m missing you more and love you most. In my mind, you’ll always be smiling and shining. Your Aunt Sissy (Sissee!) To my first and oldest Nephew, I’m going to miss you, you’re gone too soon. However, I thank God for the short 37 years you were with us. I’ll forever cherish our Uncle-Nephew bond and your ‘Radiant Smile.’ I recall giving you your nickname, just as I did with your Father and your younger Baldwin Brothers. RIP Cedric Darnell Trahan Baldwin, aka ‘Whippersnapper’ Until we meet again! Uncle Sip Ced, my neph, you know me, I am of few words. I’m gonna miss you. We had our own bond and I will keep an eye out for CiCi and Cash. I want to say something more, but I don’t have the words. Love Uncle Buster
March 17, 1984
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May 30, 2021
The Active Casket Bearers
Cordale D. Baldwin Christian D. Baldwin Xavier S. Edwards Robert C. Edwards
Jordan Trahan Jason Hicks LaDarien Hicks Cameron Baldwin
The Honorary Casket Bearers
Cash D. Baldwin Chase D. Baldwin C. Draven Baldwin Xavier L. Baldwin Rodney Edwards Travis Young Clark Melonson Marcus Williams
Dennis C. Trahan Kenneth A. Trahan, Jr. Gerald E. Baldwin Marvin S. Baldwin Marcellus S. Baldwin Gerrod E. Baldwin Fred Booth Aaron McGee
The Flower Bearers Family & Friends
The Honorary Flower Bearers Cianna D. Baldwin Cassidde D. Baldwin Kynnedy Lynn Baldwin
The Expression of Gratitude
Truly you have made this most difficult time for us bearable through your prayers, acts of kindness, visits, calls, floral tributes, food and caring support. We sincerely thank you for each expression and we praise God for his daily outpouring of strength. Knowing the saints were praying for the entire family has helped us to walk through this valley. May God bless and keep each of you is our sincerest prayer.
The Baldwin, Trahan, Edwards Families
The Interment
Wells Memorial Cemetery 705 Minglewood Rd Liberty, TX 77575
The Professional Services Wells Funeral Services 300 Alabama Street Liberty, Texas 77575