Edwin Noel Toppin

Our father, Edwin Noel Toppin was born on January 10, 1933 to May Toppin and Edwin Whitehead in the town of St. John on the beautiful island of Barbados. Daddy was the eldest of seven siblings, as a child he loved to play cricket, ride his bike, playing dominoes, hang with friends and swim in the beautiful beach waters in Barbados. Daddy loved to read and was a great resource on many topics; he could speak on or have an intellectual conversation on most subjects, keeping up with current affairs, historical facts, science, religion, politics and many more. He was an ordained Minister with the Methodist church which led him to the captivating island of Grenada where he would meet and marry the love of his life, Sally-Ann Murray Byer. They were married on February 18, 1960 and began their wonderful journey together which would include giving birth to four amazing children, Sandra, Michele, Jonathan and Stephen. In 1965 they took a leap of faith by moving to the United States in pursuit of the American dream. Mommy and Daddy always put family first, he was a loving husband who adored his beautiful wife and had a special love for each of his children, nieces and nephews and his fatherly love spilled over to many of our closes friends. Always a seeker of knowledge he had a passion for teaching and in 1972 he joined the New York State Board of Education as a counselor for disturbed children, he worked at the Board of Education until he retired in 2001. After retiring and making sure their children were off on their own Mommy and Daddy decided it was time to take another leap by building a retirement home in Florida and in 2005 they moved to Spring Hill, Florida and began their second honeymoon. Our dad was a lion, a man that stood proud and tall with a calm demeanor. He was a pillar of strength in our home and community. He openly shared his wisdom to all and was very well respected and admired by everyone who knew him. One of his greatest joys in life was his nine (soon to be ten) grandchildren; Richard, Antonio, Ashley, Jay, Jordan, Tyla, Simone, Caleb, Kyle and soon to be determined and from his grandchildren came six great grandchildren; Jaylen, Avery, Autumn, Kailanna, Elijah and Jay Jr. To know him, then to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren you will see that his fingerprints has influenced us all. He was a religious man who enjoyed reading the bible and studying other religions. He found peace in gardening and spending time in his pool. He enjoyed watching wrestling, game shows, the news and kung-fu movies. He loved his wife with everything he had. We witnessed this love throughout the years with simple jesters of making her coffee every morning at 6:30AM in bed or packing up and moving her to Florida in 2005 so she wouldn’t have to watch our kids every day. I believe we all have taken pieces of their love and devotion and incorporated it into our own lives.

Our father was loved by so many people including everyone who is attending this service and he passed his legacy on to all of us in his own special way. Daddy, you have always been and always will be an inspiration to us, our children and our children’s children. We know that you are happy and at peace in the hands of the greatest father of all but we still miss you, we love you and this is what has brought us all here today; to honor you and say goodbye to the shell but never the spirit as you will continue to live through us all. So to Daddy, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Edwin, Eddie, M. Toppin, Mr. T, Brother, Rev, Reverend Toppin, Poppa, Mr. Topinsky, Uncle E, or just Toppin or Boss, you will be missed, never be forgotten and know that we love you so. Edwin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally-Ann Toppin, daughters, Sandra Pinder and Michele Toppin, sons, Jonathan Toppin and Stephen Toppin, grandchildren, Richard Lindsay, Antonio Pinder, Ashley Oliver, Jay Toppin, Jordan-Michele Franklin, Tyla Toppin, Simone Toppin, Caleb Toppin and Kyle Toppin, great grandchildren, Jaylen Lindsay, Avery Lindsay, Autumn Oliver, Kailanna-Michele Franklin, Elijah Oliver and Jay Toppin Jr., sister, Mavis Bishop, cousin Ian Charles, son-in-laws Roberto Pinder and Michael Franklin and many nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones. Visitation will be Saturday, June 11, 2016 from 1:30pm to 2:00pm, followed by a Celebration of Life, all located at First United Methodist Church 9344 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, FL 34608. Pastor Gregory Frezze will be officiating the celebration. Memorial contribution may be made to First United Methodist Church or to the American Heart Association in memory of Edwin Noel Toppin.