Bramwell Birmingham

Bramwell Birmingham was born In Banes, Oriente Cuba on August 9, 1923 to the late Mamor Albertha Shand and Joseph Birmingham both natives of Jamaica W.I. The record states that they were married in 1922, in Cuba, and by 1930 had four children. Namely, Bramwell, Doris, Lennel and Verona. Sadly, in that same year Mamor passed away when Bramwell was still seven years old and suddenly he and his three younger siblings were trying to understand the meaning of what had just happened to them. To say that this tragedy was a life altering experience for his father was an understatement. His father decided to return to Jamaica to have closure, grieve, and hopefully find “greener pastures”.

Unfortunately, it did not materialize for him or any of the three children he took with him. In fact, they frequently had to rely on other family members to provide food and comfort for them. For him and his sibling there was no grief counseling and certainly no surrogate for their mother. Nevertheless, Bramwell learned to survive and seriously took over the role of becoming a “big brother” for his siblings. He became quite adept at creating entrepreneurship opportunities which provided part-time income. He was also his father’s right hand when there was no one around to help.

By the age of fifteen, Bramwell had successfully completed his elementary and middle school education at the Bermaddy Primary Institute in St. Catherine, Jamaica. He was convinced it was now his time to help his family economically so shortly after graduation he applied to the Sandy Gully American Airbase as an apprentice cook and baker. He was confident he would be accepted. He remained there for approximately 5 years always honing his skills while economically helping to support his father and siblings until he decided to return to Cuba around 1943. For a short time he lived with his aunt and sister Verona in Banes, Cuba. The latter was only a baby and had remained with her maternal aunt when her dad returned to Jamaica. Nevertheless, Bramwell was able to rekindle his relationship with his aunt Cata while developing one with sister Verona; but since his objective was to gain employment on the US Naval Base. He had to move closer to his target. So he relocated to Caimanera a city less than ten miles from the naval base. After a little more than a year his strategy succeded. He was now gainfully employed on the US Guantanamo Naval Base. His first line of business was to bring his sister Doris and his brother back to Cuba. He did.

At first he was assigned many odd jobs on the base, such as mail delivery, gardening and bus driving but ultimately, he convinced his supervisors to place him in the kitchen of the Officers Club as a cook and a baker. He excelled. His quarterly reviews were usually so great that they were accompanied by Certificates of Excellence. As much as he enjoyed this position he soon realized that his ultimate goal was to travel to the United States, become a citizen and take advantage of all the opportunities that would avail themselves. So he convinced his commanding officer to transfer him into the stock division of the Supply Department as a typist. The intent was to acquire additional skills which might come in handy when looking for employment in the US. By the time he resigned from the naval base to travel to the states Bramwell had already acquired a rank of GS4 in the two years he had spent in that department. And yes, he had also acquired some entrepreneurial skills in Cuba by owning a grocery store and a bakery. These experience were to mold him into a self-assured individual ready to take advantage of all the opportunities that would present themselves.

Bramwell’s dad remarried when he returned to Jamaica and from that union four children were born. They are Myrtle, Clement, Noel and Carlton. Bramwell was as caring and loving to them as he was to Doris and Lennel and would later encourage, advise, and help them to emigrate to the United States. The love was reciprocated.

Finally, his dream came true, he had completed the necessary paper work to travel to the United States as a permanent resident of New York State.

Bramwell’s personal life had also brought him much joy and happiness for he had met Maria, a single parent at the time and they formed such a perfect union that they remained married for almost sixty years until Maria’s passing in 2017. Yes, they loved each other very much but in large part they attributed their success to their constant and continuous advise to each other as well as their complete support for each other in all their endeavors.

In 1955 Bramwell emigrated to New York City where he instantly found employment at Lincoln hospital as a nurses aide. Maria, and her niece, Onelia, followed him a year later. It was an incredible chain reaction , probably an epiphany. For in the blink of an eye we were all in New York City as if it were by magic. His sister Doris, his brother Lennel, his step-son, Cleve Jr, his nephew, Clinton, his sister in law, Ruby, his brother in law, Hartford and puff we were now all enjoying Bramwell’s vision and the fruits of his labor and his hospitality. In a few years countless others were to follow his advise and are now enjoying a new life style.

Professionally, Bramwell had a successful career during his thirty years at Lincoln Hospital. He started as a nurse’s aide and later went on to become a Certified Inhalation Therapist and supervisor of the department until his retirement in 1987. His wisdom and experience always seemed to transcended his formal education because by 1962 he and Maria were homeowners while they were still attending night high school. A year later he earned his High School Diploma from Morris High School in the Bronx.

In his professional life he knew to do the things that were not popular although they would later result in monumental benefits for the quality of life the participants would enjoy. For example, in the interest of job security and maintaining standard of living pay he became an advocate of the union membership program and supported it when it wasn’t popular. Needless to say it was later to become the backbone of the work force in New York. He also joined the pension program as soon as it was created and made available to all employees. He knew the less take home pay would pay off in the long run since social security would not be enough to live on after retirement. He would constantly advise all of his friends and co-workers to do the same. In later years they would all thank him for his sound advise.

Socially, Bramwell was “the life of the party”. In The Bronx, he was very out going and a lot of fun to be with. It was the same in La Belle, Florida. He enjoyed his family and friends to the fullest and they did him too. Maria would take care of the food and he would take care of the drinks and music. In The Bronx, he and others were instrumental in chartering the Cuban-American Club of which he was president for two years. The yearly parties during the Holidays were memorable. The picnics during the summer months were unforgettable and the trips and cruises abroad were singularly fascinating. Ditto for Florida.

La Belle was paradise for Bramwell. On the lot he bought in the seventies he would build his dream home in 1986 according to his specifications. It had all the components and amenities he longed for. And so did the town of La Belle. He owned enough acreage to grow his crops; he enjoyed the serenity and natural surroundings nature provided; safe and slow paced; and filled with people who were friendly, sharing, and that occasionally enjoyed a little getting-together to have a good time.

Bramwell was especially appreciative of Maria’s family in Miami. Collectively and independently their support was beyond words. Their contribution and words of encouragement were of immeasurable proportions. He always said had it not been for them he would not had been able to properly care for his loving wife, Maria. Their constant presence and hospitality made all the difference in his life as well as Maria’s. Their presence and hospitality was not only for a season but for as many seasons as was required. Their faith and energy were boundless and more importantly contagious. They made him see hope where he might have given up. They made him see life when he thought it might have ended. Yes, in those difficult years they were the wind beneath his wings and they made him fly higher than an eagle.

Bramwell passed away on September 26, 2019 with a smile on his face and softly saying that he was listening to the angels in the room singing songs and hymns. He has left to cherish his memory, live by his values, and to receive his heritage, his son, Cleveland, daughter in law, Lydia, his grandchildren, Cleveland III, and Alicia, his grandchildren, his sister, Verona, his sister Myrtle, his brothers, Clement, Noel, Carlton, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

May He Rest In Peace.