Cyril Doherty

Cyril Abisodune Doherty, 78, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, 2025 in

El Paso, Texas.

Cyril was born the 2nd of eight children on December 9, 1946 to Prince Abisodune

Doherty and Sabina Bafor Cole in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. After

graduating from Grammar High School, he worked at his first job at The Sierra Leone

Diamond Mine. He met Betsy Fanny Campbell and his first child, Elfreda (Hileen)

Doherty, was born in Freetown in 1970. He awaits his once-in-a-lifetime chance to come

to America in pursuit of opportunity and a better life. He got that chance in 1971.

After coming to America, he sent for Betsy to join him in America in 1972; both making

the difficult decision to leave Hileen behind with her grandmother. His first job was at

Burlington Hotel and Guest Quarters Hotel as bellman while Betsy worked at guest

services. Deep inside he knew there was more and he was driven to work hard and

achieve it. His mentors encouraged him to apply for college. In 1972, he started his first

day of class at George Washington University in Washington, DC in the School of

Engineering in pursuit of a degree in Civil Engineering, while Betsy attended Patricia

Stevens Secretarial School.

Finally, reunited with Hileen in 1973. Cyril and Betsy wed on June 15, 1974 in

Washington, DC., and soon after, the twins, Beresford and Ransford were born in 1975.

After graduating in 1978, he landed small engineering positions for consulting firms in

Northern Virginia before his big break with Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Nebraska.

After seven cold years in Nebraska, he and the family returned to Woodbridge, Virginia,

while Hileen went off to Howard University and then the military. Soon after, the boys

graduated, went to college - one pursuing a military career and the other following

Hollywood dreams while Cyril and Betsy settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the next

phase of their lives as empty nesters. Cyril worked for Pennsylvania Department of

Transportation and Betsy for Lehigh Valley Hospital until both retired in 2009. He

volunteered for many years with the American Red Cross and was a deacon at church.

Over the years, paths led from Pennsylvania to Georgia to finally resting in the dust bowl

of El Paso, Texas.

As his grandson Alloysius Lloyd wrote: He was an Engineer, an immigrant who came to

America with a deep understanding of determination. A very imperfect man, full of rage

about the systems that be and his place in them. We felt it through him for better and

worse. The complexity of never fully knowing one’s legacy and what it will entail. The

trust in one’s progeny to carry on. The agony of never really knowing where do we go

from here.

He is survived by his wife, Betsy Doherty, and three children: Hileen Elfreda Jewell (husband Jerod Jewell), Beresford Doherty (wife Anitra Doherty) and Ransford Doherty;

Five Grandchildren: Alloysius Javier Lloyd (31), Faith Monet Hudson (26) and Ebbin

Janai Mallory (18), Anisia Doherty (23) and Sepria Doherty (18)

Survived by Brothers: Baba-Tunde (Peterson) Doherty (wife Josephine), Olufumi (Percy) Doherty (wife Bamidele)

Sisters: Abioseh (Patricia) Doherty and Iyamedi (Princess) Clarke

Survived by Nieces: Beatrice (Enitor), Francess, Rita, Princess, Anita, and Percylia.

Nephews: Moses, Desmond, Victor, Hans, Belford, Adel, Manif, Sahid, Osaine, Patrick, Josephus, Winston, Ayodele, Percy, Cyril, Willie, Donaldson and Prince Jr. (Bolajeh).

In-Laws: Osseh Renner, Josephine Doherty, Bamidele Doherty, Rebecca (Olabie) Doherty (deceased), Mr. Frank Campbell (father-in-law (deceased), Hagar Campbell (mother-in-law (deceased), Mr. and Mrs. Julius Campbell (children: Valerie and Joyce Campbell), Victoria Thomas (husband Bassey Thomas (deceased), Felicia Mcrae (deceased), Mr. Frank Campbell (brother-in-law (deceased)

Family, Friends in Africa, London, France and United States.

Cyril is preceded in death by his parents Prince Abisodune Doherty and Sabina Bafor

Doherty. Brothers: O’Duntorla, Ilara and Prince Ayodele Doherty.

Airport: El Paso International Airport

Funeral Services

Viewing

Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025

Time: 9 am – 10:30 am

Location: Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest West

5054 Doniphan Drive

El Paso, TX 79932

(915) 587-0202

www.hillcrestfhwest.com

Funeral Prayer Service

Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025

Time: 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Location: Traditional Chapel

Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest West

5054 Doniphan Drive

El Paso, TX 79932

(915) 587-0202

www.hillcrestfhwest.com

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Interment (Burial)

Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025

Time: 11 am – 11:30 am

(2) Limo for (7) family members each for transport to site via police escort

Location: Memorial Pines Cemetary

3071 Memorial Pines Lane

Sunland Park, NM 88063

(575) 589-3133

Repass - Catered Event (Community, Support, Remembrance and

Celebration)

Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025

Time: 11:45 am – 1:45 pm

Location: Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest West

5054 Doniphan Drive

El Paso, TX 79932

(915) 587-0202

www.hillcrestfhwest.com

Post-Repass Gathering (2:45 pm – until)

Home of Jerod and Hileen Jewell

5401 Rockwood Road

El Paso, TX 79745

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Cyril and the Doherty Family!