Neville Edward McKenzie

Neville Edward McKenzie, the son of Florence Pauline McKenzie and the late Cyril McKenzie was born on June 29, 1943 in Hope Bay, Jamaica West Indies. He was the first born son of 8 children. Neville received his early primary and high school education in the Parish of Portland and his college education at West Indies College currently known as Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica. Following his education, Neville worked as a civil servant for the Jamaican Government in the Ministry of Communications & Works and the Airport authority. As you can imagine during his 75 years he experienced all the joys that are associated with life. Like many, Neville enjoyed many milestones such as a marriage of 46 years to Florence Urane Davis. During the course of his life, he had three children Patrick, Suzette, and Camille. After migrating to New York, Neville worked for twenty five years at Manhattan Plaza Hotel as head of security from which he retired in 2005. Following his retirement, Neville relocated with his wife to Georgia. During which he enjoyed the remainder of his life. A lifelong Seventh Day Adventist, Neville was a member of the Hope Bay, Jamaica, and Lakeview Seventh Day Adventist churches. Utilizing his musical talents he served in the capacity of a pianist and organist at all of these congregations. His church family played a significant role in his spiritual life. He loved to participate in church related activities such as camp meeting, AYS programs, business meetings and church socials. The crux of Neville Edward McKenzie’s lifetime can be summarized into three aspects. These include his time spent with the family that he was born into, the family he created, and the time he enjoyed with his church family. It is said that the measure of a man’s success in life is not the money he made, but how he lived his life and how he was regarded by others. For those who knew Neville he was an honest, loving, boisterous, humorous man. He was a man of principle, he said what he meant, he didn’t pretend to know things in order to impress others, and he was true to himself. The phrase silent rivers run deep aptly describe him as he was often found at home in a thinking man’s pose. He was a proud Christian, hardworking, intelligent, and political enthusiast. He often spoke very candidly about things. For which you either liked or disliked but you could respect him for his honesty. In March of 2011, Neville suffered a stroke which lead to a gradual decline in his overall health. On November 10, 2018 he was called to his eternal rest. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Florence U. McKenzie; daughters, Suzette McKenzie and Camille McKenzie- Brown (son- in- law, Hopeton Brown, granddaughter Anita Kay Brown and grandson Tristan Brown), Son: Patrick McKenzie (daughter- in- law Jennifer McKenzie, granddaughter, Jasmine McKenzie) Mother: Florence P. McKenzie, Sisters: Elveda and Cynthia, Brothers: Melvin, Reginald, Vivian and Walwin and a host of other family members, church family and life-long friends.