Obituary of Alfred Keith Levy

Our Father and Great-grandfather Keith Levy, 90 years old, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning February 16th, 2016. Married, Phyllis G. Levy May 24th 1951. Married, Meena Narriman February 10th 1979. Keith Levy, born to Alfred and Nina Levy in Glengoffe, St. Mary Jamaica W.I. Keith grew up in Leinster, St. Mary learning from his mother the truths of the Bible, he knew the word of God very well. He was known to read the scriptures daily, memorizing and living them. He was very familiar with a myriad of songs of the faith and even in his eighties he could be heard singing or whistling them in his son+óGé¼Gäós house where he lived in Malabar, Florida. His granddaughter, Chrissy, recorded many of the songs he would sing and has published them as testament to the younger generation of their heritage and benefits in Christ. The path of his life has been testament to the fact that God raised him up as the patriarch of this Levy Family. As a boy he contracted dengue fever (Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating, mosquito-borne viral disease) and it took a severe toll on his body. Symptoms of dengue fever most commonly include: Fever, up to 106 F (41 C), Headaches, muscle, bone and joint pain, pain behind the eyes, widespread rash, nausea and vomiting. He recalls that he was sick in 1933 from Typhus, Malaria and had the Typhoid fever for 19 days, then the malaria to 32 days. But the Lord was gracious to him and he recovered. Keith said this about his parents; +óGé¼+ôDaddy would get up at 4 -5 o+óGé¼Gäóclock in the morning and go up to Spalding Land and work there in the garden to ensure that food was there for our daily use. I have seen my father supporting my mother when she needed it. He was a man that the district could respect+óGé¼-¥. Concerning his Mother; +óGé¼+ôthere was not another woman like her in the world. Nin gave her all to a lot of the people in Leinster. She midwifed their children, and taught her children and theirs to read the Bible+óGé¼-¥. When Keith was 17 years old, he went to England to serve in the Royal Air Force (RAF), during WWII. The RAF motto; non-nobis sed vobis +óGé¼+ôNot for ourselves alone+óGé¼-¥ would become his life credo. He was honorably discharged and came back from England to Jamaica in 1947. Trained in England as an Electrician he worked for N. A. Taylor in Kingston, Jamaica in sales. He was an exceptional salesman and worked for Will+óGé¼Gäós Battery Company, Gimbles in Pennsylvania and subsequently had his own store called A.K. Appliances in Halfway Tree, Kingston. His friends from his stay in England were lifetime friends and he became President of the RAFA Ex-services men+óGé¼Gäós club called Curphey Place, where he was know as +óGé¼+ôSkipper+óGé¼-¥. Every year he would lead a visit to see Queen Elizabeth and her representatives in England, as he and a contingent of RAF ex-service men from Jamaica would go there for the Battle of Britain week celebrations, or the Queen would come to see them in Jamaica. Although those were great times of celebration, he was mainly interested in reminding the Commonwealth that there were men in Jamaica who were indigent and infirmed resulting from the war and thus in need of some reparations from Britain in order for them to survive. The funds would go to Curphey Home located in Manchester, to help the ex-servicemen who had put their lives on the line to defend Britain in WWI and WWII. This commitment to care for the indigent was spurred by the Commonwealth+óGé¼Gäós previous lack of support for the returning soldiers including his own father from WWI. He did this up until he was 85 years old, at which time the current RAFA Jamaica (580) generation has taken this commitment over. Every year at Christmas Keith would arrange a Christmas party held at Curphey Place for the children crippled by polio and other debilitating diseases. He would make sure that there was a Christmas tree and presents handed our by Santa Clause (one of the RAFA club members) for all the children in attendance including the children of the ex-services men. It was always concluded with ice cream and cake, soft drinks and a movie (this was a great treat in that day). In August of 1966 Keith and Phyllis Levy took their family from Jamaica to live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This move to the United States was after Jamaica became independent from England. It was there in Philadelphia he raised the first generation of, +óGé¼+ôJamaicAmericans+óGé¼-¥. He worked for Gimbles +óGé¼GÇ£ Cheltenham and became their top sales person in electronics and appliance sales. After the children were grown, he went back to Jamaica to restart his business career and there married, Meena Narriman February 10th 1979. In his second marriage he had 2 children (Camille and Paul). He loved all six of his children and loved to tell them stories and they loved hearing them. He wouldn+óGé¼Gäót just tell stories, he would sing it, speak it and animate the story. He loved just singing songs and they loved singing songs with him. October 16th 2006, he received the Jamaica National Hero Recognition 2006; Order of Distinction through Service. This award was presented by the Prime Minster of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller and was attended by Governor General Kenneth Hall, a military parade, and was televised nationally. This Jamaica National Honors and Award recognized those who by their service and contribution have had a meaningful and significant impact on the national life of Jamaica. He would hesitate to listen to commendations of himself, because he knew his flaws and failures, and could not think himself worthy of such acclaim. As an older man he thought much about his children, especially about those who have not come to walk with Christ. He repeatedly asked for prayers for them with tears in his eyes over his part in their life. However, he kept entrusting his soul to Him who judges righteously. His catch phrase was, +óGé¼+ô He who hath led will lead+óGé¼-¥ (from Frances Ridley Havergal’s Poem: The Unfailing One), in recognition of our need to follow Christ. On Sunday, March 13th 2011, at the age of 85, Keith publically proclaimed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by being baptized. He confessed his stubbornness of heart and urged those present to not presume on the goodness of the Lord, and to confess their need for Him. For the past 5-years Great-Grandpop Keith has resided in Malabar, Florida where Carol (Fred+óGé¼Gäós wife) was his health care provider, daily activity coordinator and confidant; she is to be thanked by all for her great kindness to our father. His home going precedes his wife Meena and his sister Grace, 6 children & spouses (Yvonne & Tony, Alfred & Carol, Harry & Paula, Richard & Karen, Camille & Taj, Paul), 16 Grandchildren & spouses (Freddie & Amina, Rachael, Chrissy, Nathan & Katy, David, April, Zachary & Amanda, Harry, Matthew, Nichole, Stephen, Megan & Mike, Andrew, Elysia, Taj, Kai) and 6 Great-Grandchildren (Amalea, Arianna, Autumn, Chloe, Jordan, Peter, another one coming in March). He has had the privilege to witness the first fruits of his spiritual legacy in the two generations of children who follow Jesus Christ. He lived for the love of his Lord Jesus and for others. He embodied the poem in his mother+óGé¼Gäós Bible, +óGé¼+ô I am my neighbors Bible he reads me when we meet+óGé¼-¥. His actions testified to this truth. He was tenacious in what he sought by following Christ and he received from the Lord what he requested; +óGé¼+ônot for ourselves alone+óGé¼-¥. A legacy of selfless living. Through the veil of death, he died peaceably in his sleep and he received the eternal life promised by God to those who love Him. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, Not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, That this mortality may be swallowed up by Life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 What would he say to us as a family today if he were still here? Non-Nobis Sed Vobis? Not for ourselves alone. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Be ye kind one to another, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. He who hath led will lead? Follow the Lord Jesus Christ. In the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him.A celebration of his life will be held at Community Bible Church; 91 W. Emerson Drive. in Palm Bay, Florida 32907 Open casket Viewing at 12:00 pm, Saturday February 20th. A Memorial Service at 1:00 pm, Saturday February 20th. If you wish to send flowers, send to; Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care; 950 Malabar Rd. SE, Palm Bay, Fl 32907. Interment will be in; the Sebastian Cemetery, Sebastian Fl.Keith’s greatest joy was seeing the Curphey Home for indigent ex-service men supported in Jamaica. In lieu of flowers, the family requests to please send gifts to: Keith Levy Memorial Fund – Curphey Home c/o Community Bible Church; 91 Emerson Drive. Palm Bay, Florida 32907.