Desmond Wayne Smith Sr.

Desmond Wayne Smith Sr., endearingly called Patrick, Plumber, MacGyver, or Gyver, was in born on July 15,1963, in Spanish Town St. Catherine, Jamaica, to parents Linda Bernard, and Vernon Smith who are both deceased. Patrick is the 6th of 10 children of his immediate family but has multiple other siblings by his father. His early education started when he attended the St. Catherine Primary School in Spanish Town. At 12 years old, he completed the Common Entrance Exams and was promoted to St. Catherine High School. During his high school experience for the first three years, he showed promise in his skills and creativity; and he was taught plumbing by his father.

While growing up, Patrick was a very industrious child. His curiosity knew no bounds, and he was fearless. He also became a lover of music and collecting music. He was fascinated with how things worked and would make toys or gadgets of his own. It wouldn’t end there, he would dismantle every radio and TV that our parents had purchased, and in a few days, he would put them back together in working order. However, they would stop working shortly after. My father was adamant that he fixed the items he dismantled to get them working again because they were fine the way they were, but Patrick didn’t see it that way. 

Our father was a Plumber and believed all his sons should learn the plumbing trade. After Patrick left high school, he began to train with his father as an apprentice Plumber, which he excelled at. He started to take the challenge into his own projects and became an expert and trusted professional. In his spare time, he built a sound system and would play his favorite music and bought records to entertain family and friends. Patrick was the Jack of all trades and masters of lot of them. In addition to being a Plumber, Radio Technician and Disc Jockey (DJ). He was a Welder, HVAC Technician, Generator Technician, Car Mechanic, Roofer, Tiler, Dry Wall Man, Carpenter, Farmer (Engraft fruit trees here in Florida), Rear Goats, Chicken, Ducks and Pigs (back in Jamaica) to name a few or more than a few. You name it he can fix it. If he is unable to fix it, he knows someone who can fix it. Rest a sure whenever the person is carrying out the repairs, MacGyver is watching keenly and the next time something like that happen again, Patrick will not call him again, he will fix it himself. MacGyver sometimes just need to see it been fix just once or even if never see it fix you will figure it and fix it.

In 1985, he became a father with the birth of his son, Andreal. A few years after, Patrick decided to migrate to Cayman Islands and then to America in 1988. While doing so he found his beautiful wife Lilly and her daughter Yancika and got married in 1993; Out of their union, his second son Desmond Jr. was born in 1994. Then his son Andreal joined him from Jamaica.

Patrick was a jovial person; he would never let sadness get the best of him. Patrick was never afraid to express himself and was kind. He was often generous to friends and families. He is known to go beyond the call of duty the persons he cares about. Through music and plumbing, Patrick met people from all different walks of life, including radio personnel, and DJs, he had a sound system called turbo sonic, during that time it allowed him to meet a lot of the Reggae/Dance Hall artist from Jamaica and often get Dub Plate about his Turbo Sonic Sound System.

One of my fondest memories of him was before he migrated to America, he was a cast member of a play. I was surprised because I didn’t know he could act and was exceptionally well in his performance. Offstage, he was a great cook. There would be food for everyone, and no one would be left hungry. 

On March 30, 2024, we received the sad news that my brother slept peacefully away. He will be missed by wife Lilly, two Sons Andreal and Desmond Jr. and stepdaughter Yancika, Grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces. nephews, uncle, and aunts.

May his soul rest in peace.