Herbert Arthur Gidden

Born February 3, 1927, to Viola (Bowen) Gidden and Albert Gidden, was Herbert Arthur, 3rd of 7 children. He was born in Byndloss, St. Catherine, commonly known as Cross Roads. Herbert, affectionately called Herby, and his family enjoyed a good humble life. He attended Jherico School as a youth.

As a young man, he began a career as a tailor at the Condensary, making uniforms for employees. This was the beginning of his independence and catalyst for him creating a life of his own.

In 1958 he met the love of his life, Ivy May McKenzie. They married after a brief courtship on February 7, 1959. She, along with her two sons, Rally and Sid, became his family.

In 1962, while working and enjoying life, he met and became friends with Sylvia and Cecil ‘Reds’ Anderson. Through this friendship, they were blessed with their goddaughter, Ann.

For the next decade, Herby continued working providing for his family. He took up farm work and this led to him traveling to Texas, Wisconsin, Toronto, Canada, Pahokee, Florida and Connecticut.

With shared goals, Herby and Ivy migrated to the United States in 1968 and made Bronx, New York their home. Both he and Ivy worked hard and saved to provide a home that their children and later grandchildren, could enjoy.

From 1968-1989, he worked at Lenox Hill Hospital as a porter and also in maintenance. After 21 cold winters and hot summers, they moved to Lauderhill, Florida to begin enjoying their retirement and be closer to their children and grandchildren. Over the next 30 years, they continued to live, love and prosper. To stay busy and out of Ivy’s way, he began working for Sid at Copans Road BMV, aka ‘the shop’, transporting customers to home and work, while their cars were being serviced and delivering auto parts as needed. He enjoyed this time and also got to meet lots of new people that looked forward to seeing him and hearing his stories.

During this time, he and Ivy made Jesus Compassion Ministries their church home and family, where they served God and the community. They both attended faithfully, and Herby became a deacon, continuing to attend regularly, until his last service on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Time moved on and with that change. On March 20, 2020, Ivy was called to Heaven and Herby was alone for the first time in 61 years. His strength, resilience, and newfound independence made us all proud. We had the opportunity to see a different side of Herby! He absolutely LOVED routines and had a very specific way he liked to do EVERYTHING. For example, coffee, morning, noon, and evening, putting his wrist watch on as soon as the sun came up, and washing every dish as soon as it was used.

He drove until February 2022, shopping, going to church and doing drive-bys, visiting family and friends. In his free time, which was all the time, he was an avid sports watcher. Baseball was his favorite, with the Marlins as his team, the NY Mets were second. Basketball was a close second, with Miami Heat as his favorite and then football was last, as he struggled with many others, to support the Dolphins. As much as he loved his sports, any game that was on a Tuesday or Friday at or around 7PM, wasn’t going to be viewed until after prayer service was over!

He missed his Ivy tremendously and every day, lived his best. Ann, his goddaughter, was and still is, an integral part of him living his best life and taking care of he and Ivy until their earthly departure. We are all so blessed and grateful that she is here.

Of course, time is continuous and with that, more change. On Thursday, April 13, Herby didn’t feel well and was taken to the hospital. Still in better shape than most people 30 years his junior, he decided that he lived a good, blessed life and went home to be with the Lord and of course, his Ivy, on Monday, April 17. We know that God knows best, but the loss in the flesh is huge. Herby will forever be remembered and missed by all.

He is preceded in death, by his wife of 61 years, Ivy, and siblings, Beryl, Ruby, Hiralda, Roy, and Barry. He leaves behind to carry on his legacy and love, his baby brother Derrick (Yvonne), goddaughter, Ann (Warren), children Rally (Vivien), Sid (Monica), grandchildren, Dave (Jackie), Nikki, Jeffrey, Sydene, Tiffany, and Brittany, 9 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

May he rest in eternal peace.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baileymemorial.com for the Gidden family.