Mr. Cedric Silvester Boatswain

Cedric Silvester Boatswain was born to Noel and Ann (Robinson) Boatswain on the island of Aruba and was raised on the island of Montserrat. He attended The Caribbean Aviation Training Institute in Trinidad, West Indies and was trained first as an Air Traffic Controller then as a Commercial Pilot during which time he was certified as a multi-engine pilot with instrument rating. In 1981, Cedric immigrated to the United States, settled in New Jersey, married his wife of 37 years, Venoreen Browne-Boatswain, and raised two children, Chenelle and Kianna Boatswain. Cedric attended Rutgers University and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1988. Cedric embarked on an engineering career with Consolidated Edison in New York as an Assistant Engineer in Power Generation. In 1991, he was recruited by Excel Power Company (then NSP-Northern States Power Company) in Minneapolis, Minnesota as an Operational Analysis Engineer and was later promoted as a Project Management Team Leader. When Cedric left Excel Energy, he chose to transition careers and pursued a secondary teaching license in Mathematics while reserve teaching with Minneapolis Public Schools. To know Cedric is to know his love of music. In addition to his rich bass singing voice, Cedric played guitar, piano, and had a unique whistling talent. Cedric grew up singing in school and church choirs, so it was only natural that when he first moved to Minnesota he joined the Men’s Chorus and Adult Choirs at St. Peters AME Church. When his family joined him in 1992, Cedric moved his membership to Wayman AME Church and joined the Mass Choir and Men’s Chorus. Over the years he served as the Mass Choir as Secretary, Vice President, and President. He enjoyed traveling across the country with the choirs, singing at the Gospel Music Workshops, church conventions, Men’s and Women’s Day celebrations, and of course the ever popular Mass Choir concerts. The choirs were family to him at Wayman and he took his role in the “bass section of two” to heart. Cedric grew to embrace a personal relationship with the Lord. He carried out his love for learning, reading, and the Lord through active involvement in Bible Study Fellowship in which he was so invested that he continued to study well after he became ill. Cedric diligently carried a bible and notepad nearly everywhere he went recording songs and scriptures that came to his mind. In his own writing, he expressed gratitude for His salvation in the Lord, with these words written in one of his bibles: “Celebrating God’s acceptance of my confessions and His forgiveness of my sins, and His eternal love.” Cedric Silvester Boatswain transitioned from earth to his heavenly home on October 15, 2018. He is missed by his wife, Venoreen, and daughters, Chenelle & Kianna. He is preceded in death by his parents Noel and Ann Boatswain and is survived by his sister Maybeline (Everis) Williams, son, Vanburn Payne; in-laws Lenox & Ethel Browne; nephew and nieces: Anthony Williams, Aretha Williams, Yharnet Browne, Leanna Browne, and Kotatti Browne; Cousins: Chriscelma Osborne-Vargas (Felix),Lindora (James) Daniel, Velma (Walter) Joseph, Carmelita Osborne, Errel Osborne, Mariella (Bertram) Meade, Christine Osborne Skerritt (Andrew), Beverly Osborne, Deserie Osborne, The Roach Family, Carnie Joseph, Iris Greenaway-Danielle, and many more extended family, church family, and friends.

Tributes

Mr. Cedric Silvester Boatswain

September 12, 1951 - October 15, 2018

Tributes

Mr. Cedric Silvester Boatswain

September 12, 1951 - October 15, 2018

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203