Cranston Cedric Forté

Cranston Cedric Forte’ was born on March 8, 1958 to the union of Hildreth D. and Katherine M. Forte. He was the third of four children. He is preceded by both parents Hildreth and Katherine, Brother Dwayne Douglas; his grandparents Eldridge and Viola Forte; and Robert and Lucy Hudson.

On November 6, 1978 Cranston was united in marriage to Charlotte Smith. To this union were born five daughters.

Cranston was a devoted and passionate follower of Ifa Spiritual Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship. His soul was born a child of Orisha Oya and Orisha Shango.

In his earlier years, Cranston attended Finney High School in Detroit, Michigan, and later after moving himself and family to Phoenix, Arizona, where he resided upon his passing, graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Communication. From his youth on, he loved playing basketball and was a Piston’s fan until the very end. He was also very passionate about golfing and enjoyed the time on the green messing around with his brothers in law & friends, possibly more than he enjoyed the sport itself. Amongst his love of all these things, Cranston still had even more room in his being, and for many many years, was an Orange Sash student and instructor of the North American Kun-Tao Federation, in which he met many a friend whom have since become more of a brotherhood.

Cranston worked for Maricopa Community Colleges at Paradise Valley Community College for nineteen years, and was extremely passionate about the work he did there, as his sole purpose was to ensure each student had the things they needed to pursue their education to it’s fullest extent. He started there in the audio video department before moving to Student Life and Services. There, Cranston advocated for and coordinated the Male Mentoring and Empowerment Program. His dedicated commitment to the students, both male and female, built successful outcomes, that will have an impact on the world for many years to come.

He deeply loved the world of films, media, music & art, and was very passionate about his own aspirations in film, as he loved to write and produce, had many more ideas he hoped to share with the world & stayed true to what his knew to be his calling, til the very moment his beloved soul departed his physical being. He worked with many people, from local and national film organizations, via his company, CRC and Maddluv productions. which was started many years ago with his business partners, and best friends: Steve Rideau,Cedric Lamar, and Donovan Lamar. His movies "Same Same" and "Forbidden Fruitz" were shown in the 2009 Arizona Black Film Festival, and he hoped to bring his lessons to many audiences across many paths of life, as he firmly believed we are all one, interwoven by divinity & love.

Cranston leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Charlotte; his five daughters Chanika and husband James Sesay, Charlynn Forte’ and fiancé’ Kyshawn Randall, Charnise, Charmaine and Chanel Forte’, his brother Rickey Lamond Forte ‘and his wife Dinah Forte; brother Gregory Eldridge Forte; sister Dorothy Williams Forte; ten grandchildren; Airianna, Tyrice Jr, Ashiyah, Taevian, Javon, Jaleyah, Jasa, Imani, Jshaun and Kyshawn Jr; his Mother-in-law Dorothy Smith, sister in-law Lory Smith and brothers in-law Carnett, Michael, and Otis Smith & as well as Otis wife Nicole. Plus many other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, alive and now also ancestors, plus many friends, associates, colleagues, and students, that will hold him dear to their hearts for many years to come. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 6:00PM to 7:00PM at Paradise Valley Community College KSC 1000 18401 N. 32nd Street in Phoenix.