Cecil John Kirkby

He married the love of his life, Zerline Pratt, in 1958 in Nassau, Bahamas. They had five children before moving to the United States, where they were blessed with three more children.

An entrepreneur at heart, Cecil opened his own business, Cecil’s Bike and Mower, in the early 70s. He possessed an incredible work ethic and worked at the shop selling and repairing bicycles and lawnmowers well into his 80s. He loved serving his customers and used his platform as a businessman to share Christ with his community.

Christ was always at the center of Cecil’s life. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal savior as a young man and became a vessel for the Lord, bringing many family members and friends to Christ over the years. He worshipped at Bethany Bible Chapel by the Sea in Satellite Beach, Florida, for many years. Scripture and songs of praise remained etched in his memory until the very end; he spent his last days singing and worshipping before passing away peacefully on January 13, 2026, at the age of 92 in Rockledge, Florida.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Ada Kirby; his devoted wife of 54 years, Zerline Kirkby; his children, Keith, Leslie, and Dencil; his grandson, D’Chaun Green; his brothers, Thomas H. Kirby and Leopold Kirby; and his sister, Lydia Kirby-Meeks.

He is survived by his children: Roy (Debra), Henley (Iraida), Colin (Shirley), Greg, Melody Rose Kirby, Della Smith (Joni), Olive Kirkby-Jean (Carlo), and Andrena Bennett-Brown (Timothy). He leaves behind a loving legacy through his granddaughters D’Andrea Jackson, Ivana Brown, Paijon Kirkby, Kaelin Kirkby, Christa Kirkby, Corin Kirkby, Brittany Bennett and Tenisha Devoe; and his grandsons Evan Kirby, Jr., Jeremy Kirby, Colin Kirkby Jr., Dylan Smiferguso, Devon Smiferguso, Derrin Chandler, Conor Kirkby and Khalil Brown.

Cecil is also survived by his sisters Kollis May Mueller, Ruby Meeks, and Delcher Jarman (Bernard), as well as several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a wide circle of family and friends.