Neville Coombs

Deacon Neville Newton Coombs, a beloved son of the late Percival Linval Coombs and Doris Maud Coombs, was born on August 8, 1942, in the town of Gibraltar, District of Moneague, St Ann, Jamaica. His early years were filled with the joyful simplicity of rural life. He attended Faiths Pen Primary, Clover Hill, and Jeffrey Ville All Age School. An affectionate and lively child, he reveled in planting, harvesting crops, and caring for livestock alongside his father and brothers. His love for his parents, sisters, and brothers was boundless, and he found great joy in playing marbles and cricket, displaying his unique left-handed prowess. His moves were quite amusing to his siblings. Knuxing marbles and chopping things in the opposite direction created a great deal of laughter among them. Known for his quick wit and unwavering spirit, he was ffectionately nicknamed "Cunnie." His gentle yet firm demeanor endeared him to all who knew him. Our Dad was playful and had tons of jokes, all while keeping a serious face. It was through fate that he met the love of his life, our mom, where an immediate affection blossomed into a lifelong partnership. After a long courtship, Daddy married Mama -Gervena Coombs, affectionately called Barbara on August 24th, 1968, in Vineyard Town. Daddy nurtured and instilled in his four children Janet, Michael, Nicola & Nadine the gift of love, putting God first, patience, discipline, respect, integrity, humility, to believe in themself, to never look down on anyone or let anyone look down on them and to always give a helping hand to those who needed it. Daddy was a God-fearing man and raised his family in church where they played an active role singing and reciting bible verses. A family that prays together, stays together.

Our Dad was a diligent worker and avidly provided not only for his household, but also for those in the community near and far who needed it. He made sure we were never in need of anything. Dad would often tell everyone that his family came first. Daddy was a father to all, respected and loved by many. To create a better quality of life, he moved from Kingston to the parish of Portland where he planted his roots. As a Mason, he shared his passion with others and taught them the trade. He was a staple in the ommunity and had a lot of influence among his friends. After some time, he decided to change his life around and invited his friends to church where he became a Christian and a member of The Church of God in Christ United, Hart Hill District. There, he played a vital role in the building and extension of the Church. Daddy was later ordained as a Deacon, and even after migrating, he continued to support the church building fund up to today. On February 14th, 1993, he made the courageous decision to migrate to the United States with his family, where they resided with his sister Avis for a period of time. Initially settling in the Bronx, he worked as a Janitor in Yonkers up to retirement, leaving an indelible mark on the residents, forging friendships, some of whom are gathered here today. Dad became a member of Calvary Temple Evangelical Church of Christ, and continued his dedicated service, contributing to the volunteer program and ministering to residents in Nursing Homes alongside his beloved wife and church family.

Known for his integrity, kindness, and unwavering faith, he spoke words of wisdom and shared testimonies of God's miracles in his life. Our Dad was honest, fair, loving, kind, respectful, dependable, trustworthy, dependable, and enthusiastic about living. Despite his illness, he remained steadfast and resolute, finding solace in singing and reading the Bible, his favorite book. His resilience and unwavering hope inspired all who knew him. If you were in the medical field and saw his records, you would wonder how he is still alive? That was "THE GOODNESS OF GOD." Daddy was strong in his faith to God and never faltered, determined to live, and fight for his family and that he did fearlessly. The love of his family was added fuel in the engine that kept him going. Mama was with him through all the ups and downs, every doctor's visit, every hospitalization spending countless days and nights in the hospital with him. She supported and loved him like no other to the end. As a family, we spent a lot of time together celebrating just because, special occasions, and each other. His in laws became just like his own children. And oh, his Grandchildren, he loved them dearly. Throughout his illness his family, church family, medical team, friends, and well-wishers prayed, visited, and rooted for him. In his last few weeks while in the hospitalization, he was blessed to have his niece Teisha and her husband Delroy administering to his needs. He was our "SUPERMAN." Even in the face of daunting medical challenges, his tenacity and enduring spirit were a testament to his remarkable strength.

On January 20th, at the suggestion of our mom, we gathered to share an incredibly special moment with family members and friends, who were gifted the opportunity to see his face, hear his voice, and speak to him one last time. That night, he prayed for us with fervor, imparting his blessings and urging us to take care of Mom. Little did we know that this would be our final cherished moment with him. It was an event destined by God, yet entirely unexpected. Not yet. Not yet. What a man! What a giant of a man! God's son! Our Dad! The love of our mom's life, the love of our life! He was perfect for us - that was our Daddy! Deacon Neville Newton Coombs passed away peacefully with a smile on his face on January 21st, 2024, at 6:33 am, surrounded by his family. Following his passing, the hospital granted us ten precious hours to be with him, to touch him, kiss him, cry, laugh, and pray over him one last time. They were deeply touched by the love and bond we shared during Dad's time there. God is good, and we thank Him for the wonderful years and his precious gift called Daddy. He was 81 years old and is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Michael; daughters, Janet, Nicola, and Nadine; grandchildren, Jesse, Renaldo, Nakeem, Aleah, Gabrielle, Alex, and Dominic; daughter-in-law, Kathion; sonsin-law, Kishma, Willard, and Linton; siblings, Elfreda, Albert, Dudley, Patrick, Marjorie, Avis, Kathleen, Ralph, Raymond, and Ivan. Siblings Byron and Gwendolyn predeceased him. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and friends. Daddy, you glowed, you shone, reflecting all the good things in the world. What we have once enjoyed deeply, we can never lose. What you have imparted, we can never forget. What you have touched, we can never let go. How blessed were we to have you. With all our eternal love. Sleep in eternal peace, our darling." As Daddy would affectionately say "Yu no win, but Tek winnings."