CECIL CORNELIUS AIRD ORBITUARY

May 27, 1931 – July 13, 2020

Cecil Aird, age 89, passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, July 13th, 2020. He was born on May 27, 1931, in Hanover, Jamaica, West Indies. He married the love of his life Vida Tingle-Aird, who lovingly supported and cared for him through his end of life. They lived together inseparable for 61 years.

Cecil became a lifelong resident of Brandon, Florida. In 1983, he relocated from Jamaica and settled with his family for the first 5 years in Mt. Vernon, New York. In 1989, encouraged by friends and longing for warmer climate, they left all the kids, overstuffed their belongings into his red cargo van, and along with his sidekick, Vida, hightailed it to Brandon, Florida without mishap.

Cecil born and raised in Jamaica, he graduated from Beckford & Smith High school (St. Jago High School) and later became a certified Vocational Instructor with the Jamaican Government. He was head of the vocational program in the southern region of the island, whereby he had a significant impact on the lives of the young people he trained. He was well involved in political activities as a trade unionist and community organizer. Cecil worked as a master carpenter in the greater New York area, and later with the Tampa Housing Authority and Tampa General Hospital where he would eventually retire.

Cecil was a dedicated and devoted family man. He treasured and embraced every moment spent with his family. He loved his wife dearly and was supportive of his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter, as well as others he took under his care over the years. He was kind, generous, supportive, and a father figure to many.

Cecil had a strong personality, and a good heart, he loved helping people. He literally gave away the shirt off his back. His great sense of humor was enjoyed by all who knew him, he had a knack for making everyone laugh until they cry.  He was affectionately known as "Dredd" to many and will be greatly missed by a host of other relatives and a plethora of friends and colleagues that knew him.

Cecil was truly a great storyteller; he will be remembered for his words of wisdom and comfort he provided through his stories that he loved to share. He was passionate about living life to the fullest. He was always making and fixing things. His strength and hard work never lightened with age. He loved cooking, baking and churning ice cream. His other hobbies were reading, music, dancing and fishing.

Cecil loved life and desired to live his life the best he could for as long as he could.  His life could be summed up in the words recorded by one of his favorite artists, Frank Sinatra, "I Did It My Way." Yes, Dredd un-apologetically lived his life his way, and practiced one of his beloved phrases "Do the best you can until you can do better!"

Cecil is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife, Vida, five children: Audrey, Newton, Jacqueline, Joan, and Lorna, five grandchildren: James, Andrew, Kevin, Jozephine, and Kimberly; great-granddaughter: Aria; sister: Linda Carr; many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Aird and Clarise Brown, brothers: Altin Aird and Ronald Aird.

Memorial arrangements to celebrate Cecil's life will be made for 2021.