Sebert J. Beckford
Sebert J. Beckford, 76, of New Haven, died on January 8, at the Connecticut Hospice. Born November 12, 1930 in St. Andrew, Jamaica., to the late Acqui Beckford and Princess Mason, he was the spouse of Millicent Tracey of New Haven. He leaves to mourn, four daughters; Beverly Smith of New Haven, Delores Beckford of Miami, Florida, Joyce Thomas of New Haven, and Ann Marie Beckford of Brooklyn, NY; three sons; Rupert, Gary, and Barrington J. Beckford, all of New Haven, stepchildren Jeffrey and Sandra Duhaney, twenty-eight grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers. There will be calling hours on Friday January 12, at Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, from 5 – 8 pm. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday January 13, 2007 at 9 am at Bethel AME Church 255 Goffe Street, New Haven. Friends may call Saturday at the church from 8 – 9 am. Interment will follow in Hamden Plains Hamden. Online sympathy messages available here.
Melvin A. Esdaile
Melvin A. Esdaile was born on April 1, 1928 in New Haven, the son of the late Alexander and Lillian (Huggins) Esdaile. He was a graduate of Hillhouse High School and served in the US Marine Corp and retired from Avco Lycoming (Textron) after 25 years of employment. From the mid-1960s Melvin was very politically and socially active in the city of New Haven. He was Program Director of the Dwight PTA, Chairman of the Hill-Dwight Citizens on Police Community Relations, Vice-Chairman of the Dwight Area Association, member of the Dwight Concerned Citizens, Antillean Friendly Society and the East Rock Lodge of the Elks. He was a life long member of St. Luke’s Church and served as youth altar acolyte. Melvin later was the founder and Co-Director of the St. Luke’s Cadets and was elected and served three terms as Alderman of the 23rd ward in the city of New Haven. Mr. Esdaile was one of seven aligned aldermen who ran with Hank Parker to reform the city government. As Alderman he became the Democratic representative to the New Haven Park Commission and Committees on Urban Development, Legislation and Transportation. He was the coordinator of one of the largest voter registration drives in the city of New Haven and the State of Connecticut. Melvin A. Esdaile is survived by his son Melvin A. Esdaile II (Stephanie) of New Haven, Michael A. Esdaile (Sherrill) of Richmond, Virginia, and daughter, Lydia Marie Esdaile of New Haven; sister Ernestine Taylor of Hamden, Frances Hall of North Haven and brother A. Walter Esdaile (Sharyn) of New Haven; five grandchildren: Lauren Esdaile, James Esdaile, Helena Esdaile, Sophia Esdaile, and Marcus Esdaile; and a host of family members and friends. He is predeceased by his wife Charlotte Esdaile and his sister Violet Esdaile. A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 111 Whalley Avenue. Friends may call Thursday at the church from 10 – 11 am. Interment will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park, Hamden. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven. Online sympathy messages available here.
Wallie McCown Jr.
Wallie McCown, Jr, 58 of died on January 3 at the Hospital of St. Raphael. Born July 12, 1948, in Hemingway, SC, to the late Wallie McCown Sr. and Elease Brown. He was the long time companion of Christine Carmichael of New Haven. He worked as a Machinist for Arkwright Inc. in Guilford. Besides his companion, he leaves one daughter; Stephany Carmichael, four sons; Wallie Carmichael III and Stephen Carmichael all of New Haven, Windell Cooper, Gerald Patterson and one brother Frank McCown (Annie Ruth) all of Hemingway, SC., four grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, James E. McCown (Josephine) and Freddie McCown (Lynn). A Celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, January 9, 11 a.m. at Love Center 19 George Street, Hamden. Friends may call Tuesday at the church from 10 – 11 am. Interment will follow in Hamden Plains, Hamden. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven. Online sympathy messages available available here.
Charles D. Brooks
Charles D. Brooks, 70, of Henry St. died December 28, 2006, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Born August 28, 1936, in New Haven, he was the son of the late David and Melvina Bussey Brooks. Charles was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Antillean Club Association, the Elks Lodge, and a Veteran of the Armed Forces. He leaves to mourn his loss, three daughters, Evangelist Deborah Brooks, Desiree Brooks, Dana Brooks; sister Audrey Delores McNeil; two brothers, William and Harold Brooks; former wife Evangelist Barbara Brooks; seven grandsons and two grand daughters; and a host of family and friends. He was predeceased by three brothers, Albert, Arthur, and Abraham (Soup) Brooks; one sister Miriam Brooks. A Celebration of his life will be held Monday, January 8, 2007 10 a.m. at Howard K. Hill Funeral Services 1287 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06511. Friends may call 9 – 10 am Monday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street. Online sympathy messages available here.
Henry Moss
Henry Lee Moss, 78, of Eastern St. New Haven, CT, died December 31, 2006, at Yale New Haven Hospital, the husband of Lily Reed Moss. Born June 23, 1928 in Auburn, Alabama, he was the son of the late Robert Lee Moss and Amanda Yarbrough-Moss. He leaves to mourn his loss, one son Henry L. Moss, Jr. of New Haven, and two daughters Mary Newton and Lesley Moss of New Haven; twelve grandchildren, and one great grandchild; and a host of family and friends. He was predeceased by one son Lee Wincoop. A celebration of his life will be held Friday January 5, 2007 11 am at Howard K. Hill Funeral Services 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 – 11 am. Interment will follow in State Street Cemetery, Hamden, CT. Online sympathy messages available here.
Bessie Coker
Bessie Coker, 87, of Hamden, CT passed away on December 25, 2006 at the Hospital of St. Raphael. She was the widow of Eddie Coker. Born on April 1, 1919 in Americus, GA, daughter of the late Lonnie and Eunice Fredericks. Mrs. Coker served as Grand Marshall in the Order of the Eastern Star. Loving and devoted mother of Evelyn Coker-Chapman of East Haven, CT, one sister, Zola Waters of Minneapolis, MN, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. A son and one sister predeceased her. A celebration of her life will be held Friday January 5, 2007 7 pm at Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 – 7 pm. Online sympathy messages available here.
Tony Howell
Tony Howell, 31, of New Haven, died suddenly on December 24, 2006. He was the son of Clinton Hicks and Sandra Howell both of New Haven and was born in Bronx, New York on January 7, 1975. Tony leaves to cherish his memories, one son, Tony Howell, Jr. of New Haven; brothers, Marshall Howell of South Jersey, Michael Johnson of New Haven; sister Pam Patillo of New Haven; aunts Charlotte McLeod of Hamden and Sharon Scott of Kingstree, South Carolina and, a host of relatives and friends. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday December 30, 2006, 9 am at Wayfaring Ministries, 295 Treadwell Street, Hamden, CT. Friends may call at the church from 8 – 9 am on Saturday. Interment in the Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, CT. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT. Online sympathy messages available here.
Martha Cousins Coleman
Coleman, Martha Cousins (Granny), 78, of 135 Derby Ave. went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 23, 2006 at the Hospital of St. Raphael. She was the widow of Earl Coleman, Sr., Born on June 9, 1928 in Clover, Va., the daughter of the late Charlie Cousins and Rhode Scott Cousins.
Loving and devoted mother of two daughters; Barbara and Benita Coleman of New Haven, CT, three sons; Earl Coleman, Jr. and Ronald Sr., of New Haven, CT, Donald Coleman and his wife Julie of Vista, CA., fourteen grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by a son, a daughter, six brothers and seven sisters. Online sympathy messages available here.
Charles Cox
Charles Cox, 54, died December 17, 2006 at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was born on December 19, 1952, and he is survived by his parents Harry Green of New Haven and Emily M. Cox of Ayden, North Carolina. He is also survived by sons Christopher ?? of Middletown, CT, Jason ?? of Meriden, CT, and Jameel ?? of New Haven, and daughter Angela ?? of Durham, North Carolina. He leaves to mourn, his brother, Henry Davis, special cousins Terry Furham and Adrienne Langley; a special sister-in-law Donna C. Davis, and a host of nieces, nephew, extended family and friends. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT. Online sympathy messages available here.
Melvin T. Ledbetter
Melvin T. Ledbetter, 22, descendant of the late Mabel George of The Mashauntucket Pequot Tribe. He died at Yale-New Haven Hospital after a motor vehicle accident on December 17, 2006. He was born on February 22, 1984, to Melvin Poindexter and Doreen Ledbetter both of New Haven. He is survived by his son Ramal Poindexter of Hamden, and daughter Devion Hutchings of New Haven. He leaves to mourn, his brother Kendall Rose, sisters, Kaprise Ledbetter and Nijea Poindexter, all of New Haven; paternal grandmother Lottie Poindexter of New Haven; maternal grandparents Samuel Thomas of West Haven, and Geraldine Ledbetter of Hamden, a step-grandparent Cheryl Thomas of West Haven and a host of family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, December 26, 2006, 11 a.m. at Community Baptist Church 143 Shelton Avenue. Interment will follow in Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden. Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street. Online sympathy messages available here.
Joyce D. Gray
Joyce D. Gray passed away, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Born to Robert and Ruth Gray, she is survived by 2 daughters, 1 son, 2 grandchildren, 3 sisters and 1 brother. A memorial celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2006 ‚at Sweet Hope Church 57 Farren Ave. . Arrangements by Howard K Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St. Online sympathy messages available here.
