Funeral Services for Mr. Cecil Sylvado Elliott will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 10:30AM at Lohman Funeral Home Palm Coast located at 220 Palm Coast Parkway SW, Palm Coast, Florida 32137.  A committal service will follow at 3PM at Daytona Memoria Park located at 1425 Bellevue Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114.

Early days
Cecil was born to Charles and Leonore in Plowden, Jamaica. He grew up with his grandfather and father with much fruited and farm lands around him, and he acquired an early love of farming. It was also his job to tether the goats and water the animals including cows. During dry seasons, he walked several miles to a spring near Alligator Pond to water the cows before going off to the primary school nearby. He excelled at the Primary level and was ahead of his normal age. He took the Third Jamaica Local Examination 4 times successfully before being deemed to be of the 'appropriate' age to move on.

Cecil's reading was notable for its clarity and precise pronunciation at an early age. He tells of his being placed on his uncle's shop counter to read need of World War II from the newspapers, to the neighbors who gathered to hear the latest updates.

Christianity
Cecil grew up under the guidance of his grandfather and father, faithful Presbyterian church members. He learned to play the piano and was soon, though still a youth, playing for church services. He accepted The Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour during a week of Evangelism there at Plowden.  A principal at the school introduced Cecil to a more scriptural way of following the Lord, with less hierarchy, social status concerns and formalism, whereupon Cecil saved and bought himself a Bible. Detailed study, and guided by others who with his principal met and studied the scriptures, lead him to opt to meet, study and worship in a manner prescribed by scripture. See Matt 18 v20 and 2 Timothy 2 vs 19 – 21

Although respecting his elders' faith, Cecil subsequently, stopped attending the organized establishment church services and often walked miles to get to where these believers who were guided by a more in-depth and fundamental view of the scriptures and Christ's assembly. His family and church members were deeply offended at his break from establishment tradition. Jamaica at that time was dominated by a religious 'Big Three'-  Anglicans, Presbyterians and Moravians. Those who broke away from this were viewed with disfavor.  At age 21 however, Cecil was free to meet and break bread to remember the Lord as requested in the upper room prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ Our Lord. (Luke 22 vs 14-20) Cecil continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine encouraged by many, chief among whom was the late Sydney Scott. He lived his life truly in this world but not of it. He drew nearer and nearer to his Savior the Lord Jesus Christ through the word of God, prayer, spiritual hymns and for the most part, fellowshipping with those who were of like precious faith.

The group, which has had several offshoots in different countries, was known generally as 'Plymouth Brethren', after the fervency and commitment of believers, who met in intense prayer and Bible study groups in that English city. Former Anglican theologian and clergyman, J.N. Darby, himself had quit the 'establishment approved' hierarchy of his day- Anglicanism - for a more scripturally-based and in-depth way held by ordinary believers, and often met with those at Plymouth. Darby's writings were voluminous, including his well-regarded Darby translation of the Holy Bible.

Cecil joined persons of like mind, stepping out in faith to walk with those who gathered to the name of the Lord according to Scripture, (Matthew 18 v20 and 2 Timothy 2 vs 19-21) Cecil's spiritual life was scripturally faith based and devoted. His fellowship with these believers was to take him to many holy convocations of the Lord in many places such as different states in America, Canada, Jamaica, England and Scotland.

Career and personal life
Cecil attended the Mico Teachers and became a certified teacher. In 1955 he along with his lifelong friend Roy Ebanks, graduated with honors. He then taught at Central Branch Primary, considering it his most rewarding time .There he successfully prepared students for the GCE school examinations. He also worked with the Ministry of Support Services before migrating to the USA, living for many years in New York before permanently moving to Palm Coast, Florida in 1994, where he lived till the time of his passing.

Cecil was married to Eleanor Maynard, a US Citizen in 1962. She predeceased him in 1992. The union produced one son, David Elliott (whereabouts unknown). He migrated to the States in 1965. There he juggled work, being a devoted husband and father with evening classes until he successfully attained his American Bachelor's Degree. His career included stints both as a Business Manager at Equitable Life Insurance, and he also obtained a Florida's Teacher's Certification in 1989. In addition to his regular job, he was known to have done much voluntary community work. He supported worthy causes such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind He loved farming too and often had pineapples and other produce to offer to those around him.

Final days
In his last years, Cecil maintained a large garden, played hymns, read his Bible, and sang and recorded hymns and get-togethers of groups of believers including his own family. His relatives in Jamaica include his sister, Beverlye, brother Julius, nephew Colin, and nieces: Marcia, Susan, Jeanette and Tracey.

He kept in close touch with the many stalwart men and women he had known since Jamaica days, including, Blossom and Vivian Matthews, Alton Matthews, and many others.

He also was pleased to be in touch from those he knew back in New  York, including Javis Hunter, Cecil Dixon, and many others.

Cecil maintained many links with those of his fellowship including Villa Grove- Illinois: Tim Oberg, Jeff Oberg, the many others of the Oberg family, New York: David and Hannah McFarland and family, Ethlyn Philips, Ross, Ken and the Pye family. Indianapolis - Knauss family. Florida:  Gordon and Ilene Ashby, Lorrell and Mae Bernard, Noel family and many others.

Cecil also enjoyed gardening and was a Florida Master Gardner, enjoying interactions with students and fellow gardeners.  He also appreciated fellowship with Sherry DeAugustino and other members of the Lighthouse Bible Church in Palm Coast, Florida.

A special thanks to his neighbor, Richard Tucker who helped him greatly in his final years and considered Cecil to be an inspiration to him and others. His neighbors, such as Carol and Alex Maller, Meehi and Greg, and others nearby were also appreciated. Now, he is absent from the body but present with the Lord. Before the public display of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, The Lord the righteous judge will assess Cecil's sojourn here in this scene. He now peacefully Awaits that day. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saint.

Favorite hymns of Cecil

Jerusalem

1 JERUSALEM, the holy,

Whose builder is her God,

Resplendent with His glory

Her shining spreads abroad;

Descending out of heaven

To fill with Christ in grace,

In blest administration,

As bride and wife, her place!

2 Jerusalem, eternal!

The city of Christ's God,

Thine origin celestial,

Thou art His blest abode;

Thy beauty all adorning

For Him whose bride thou art,

To fill with joy unfading,

With Christ, thine endless part!

3 O residence of glory!

God's tabernacle then,

Where He — O wondrous story —

Doth dwell so near to men;

Where new creation's splendour

Doth hold our raptured gaze,

Kept by the Spirit's power,

And moved by Christ to praise!

4 The Father, source of glory —

The Son, the centre blest —

The Spirit all pervading —

The Fulness pleased, at rest!

O God supreme, we bless Thee,

And praise Thy glorious Name,

For of Thee, through Thee, for Thee

Are all things now, Amen.

Hymn 221 Musical Meter  7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6.

-Stanley McCallum, Little Flock Hymnbook

O bright and blessed scenes

O bright and blessed scenes,
Where sin can never come;
Whose sight outlining spirit weans
From earth, where yet we roam.

Yes! In that light unstained
Our stainless soul shall live;
Our hearts' deep longings more than gained
When God His rest shall give.

His presence there,my soul
It's rest, it's joy untold
Shall find, when endless ages roll,
And time shall ne'er grow old.

Oh Love supreme and bright,
Good to the feeblest heart,
That gives now as heav'nly light
What soon shall be our part.

Hymn 64. Musical Meter: S.M.

-- J N Darby. Little Flock Hymnbook

Some favorite Bible passage of Cecil:

2 Samuel 15

"And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed over before the king.

And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why dost thou also go with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and besides, thou hast emigrated to the place where thou dwellest.

Thou didst come yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I can? Return and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee!

And Ittai answered the king and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over…"

--2 Samuel 15: 18-22