Cleveland Llewellyn Morgan was born on November 13, 1926 to the parents of Legonia Elizabeth Nicholson and John Morgan in the city of Kingston, Jamaica. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California on May 22, 2017. Cleveland lived in the city of Kingston for approximately three years when he and his brother, Lloyd Days were sent to live in the hills of St. Andrews, Woodford District. It was there he would be raised by his foster grandparents Jasper “Daddy” and Hannah Paschoe. Cleveland attended Woodford Elementary School and was encouraged by his daddy to further his education by studying extensively to pass the Sr. Cambridge exams, because the High Schools in Jamaica were not accredited at the time and he could enter any university or college in England. During summer breaks, he and his brother would go work on the farm with Jasper and Hannah Paschoe.
While working on the farm he learned to raise chickens, goats; grow sugar cane, coffee beans and fruits. In addition to; he was a farmer, carpenter, and shoemaker. As a child he never wanted for food or clothing because he grew up happy. After the death of his grandparents, Cleveland’s hard work on the farm landed him as an apprentice to the F.A. Hardy, a school for contractors and builders. It was there he met and lived with Mr. Stout whose wife was a Seventh-day Adventist. It is through the Stouts that he began his journey with Adventism.
In 1944, at the age of 16 and without his mother’s knowledge, he left Jamaica and enrolled into England’s Royal Air Force. His dreams were short lived because he was considered too young and was sent home. Cleveland, doctored up three affidavits to change the date on his birth certificate, which allowed him to be recruited once again to England’s Royal Air Force. He served in the Air Force for four years, during World War II. Serving, in both the European theater and Pacific theater he had the opportunity to travel all over England, the Middle East, North Africa, Cecily and Italy.
In 1948, he returned to Jamaica, where he studied theology for four years. He worked for Government Marketing, Lands, and Forest Departments. His employment allowed him to work in various islands, including the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas and Trinidad. While in Trinidad, he took a leave of absence and worked at the Texaco Oil Field. In 1951, Cleveland resumed working for the government and was assigned to work in the United States. He worked on tobacco and vegetable farms in Florida, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Cleveland went to Springfield in Boston, where he met and married Ealin Fisher. From their union came three children; Lloyd, Ebeth “Betty” and Perry Morgan. Out of the brew came six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Cleveland moved his family in 1968 to Los Angeles, CA to work as a Literature Evangelist with the Southern California Conference for six years. Cleveland took pride in one year leading 25 souls to baptism. He has worked alongside Evangelist George Rainy at the Bible Speaks Crusade. In 1979, he married Daphne Elaine Richards. From their union he gained five more children: Barrington, Carol, Bruce, Troy and William.
Cleveland has been a faithful member of the Berean SDA Church since 1980. His favorite gospel songs were “Seeking The Lost” and “I Wandered Far Away From God Now I’m Coming Home”. In his own words, “life has been blessed and I enjoyed the company of most of my children and grandchildren”. His last wish is that his family and friends would love the Lord and do what He asks.
Cleveland is survived by his wife, Daphne Morgan; brother, Dr. Lloyd Days (Thelma); six sons, Lloyd (Liz), Perry, Barrington, Bruce (Rebecca), Troy (Rhonda) and William; two daughters, Ebeth “Betty” and Carol (Trent); and a host of grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Legonia Nicholson; father, John Morgan; and grandparents, Jasper and Anna Paschoe.
“Keep looking up to the Master, He’s looking down on you.” -Cleveland Morgan, April 23, 2017.
