Neville S. Modeste

The youngest of five children, Neville was born on Nov. 29, 1931, in Grenada, West Indies, to LaTisha and Joseph Modeste. He attended Constantine Methodist School and completed his education in London. Neville studied architecture and enjoyed drawing the plans and designs for the construction of buildings. He spent hours at his desk drawing.

At age 10, his father died and his three elder brothers migrated to Trinidad, West Indies. Neville was left to help his mother and sister with the lands and gardening. Before and after school, he collected the firewood and helped with other chores.

When he was 17, Neville left school and migrated to Trinidad, joining his brothers. He worked as a mason, using his skills to build his own home with one other helper. On Dec. 30, 1956, he married the love of his life, Mary Maritta. Theirs were the first nuptials to take place at the Beaulieu Roman Catholic Church, followed by the celebratory reception at Grand Anse Resort. Neville sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to his new bride. For 61 years he kept that promise as they built their legacy. Four children were born from their union: Leo, Wayne, Wendy, and Hazel. Later, Andy and Tracey joined the family.

In 1961, the family moved back to Grenada, while Neville migrated to England, seeking to improve the lives of his wife and children. There he worked as a British Railroad ticket collector. In 1975, Neville returned to Trinidad and was joined there by his family.

In 1968, he had the opportunity to travel to the United States, and Mary and the children moved back to Grenada. The following year, Mary joined her husband in America, and the children were left in the care of Mary’s mother and sisters.

Neville worked at Interfaith Hospital (St. John’s) in Flatbush, Brooklyn, as a kitchen aide. He was promoted to security guard and then security supervisor, a job he held until his retirement in 1996. Neville and Mary wanted to live in a warmer climate, so they moved to Kissimmee. He worked at Discovery Cove Amusement park in Orange County for five years as a security officer.

God was the center of Neville’s life. A man of unwavering faith, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior while kneeling at his bedside. His landlord had a Bible that he started reading. One night as he was praying, his body began shaking and there was a tremor and the bed began to shake. This continued every time he knelt to pray. Neville had no idea what it meant. But he continued reading the Bible and praying. He began fasting with prayer. He fasted for five straight days, an absolute fast, and Jesus appeared to him twelve times. His life was not the same after that.

One day he attended a revival service in Brooklyn and received a button that said, “Good morning, Jesus.” He wore the button on his uniform to work, and one of the ambulance drivers saw the button and said, “Praise the Lord! You believe in that, too?” He responded, “Praise the Lord! Yes, I do.” At this time, Neville didn’t understand this religious language. The driver invited him to his church, Bethel Gospel Tabernacle in Jamaica, Queens, under the pastoral care of Bishop Roderick Caesar Sr. He attended the Thursday night service for the first time. At Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Neville attended Bethel Bible Institute and received three certificates in Evangelism, Bible Doctrines and Homiletic. He was ordained a Deacon and had a powerful prayer ministry. He remained a faithful member until his retirement and relocation to Kissimmee. He was a faithful member of Faith Harvest Ministries in Kissimmee under the pastoral leadership of Rev. William Kenna until his passing on January 1, 2018.

Neville had the gift of healing. He prayed for many people who experienced miracle healing from all forms of sicknesses and diseases. He was a unique man of God with an anointing in his hands and in his life.

Neville was predeceased by his parents and siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Maritta; six children: Leo (wife Beverley), Wayne (wife Donna), Wendy, Hazel, Andy and Tracey; fourteen grandchildren: Alisa, Brianne, Leo Jr., Kristina, Clifford, Dariana, Erica, Cristal, Damon, Deanna, Antoinette, Rahmel, Patricia and Precious; one great grandson: Taylor; several nieces and nephews, including Marva, Uyronia, Walgenia, Esther and a host of other family, loved ones and friends.

Lovingly submitted by,

--The family

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A TRIBUTE TO DEACON NEVILLE SCOTT MODESTE

TO THE FAMILY OF OUR PRECIOUS, DEVOTED, SERVANT OF GOD….

THE HONORABLE DEACON NEVILLE S. MODESTE….

AND WE KNOW IT IS SO!!!

This fervent prayer warrior and intercessor, was so used by God, to minister to so many of God’s children. God prepared him and anointed him to serve in such a faithful dedicated manner.

I am the Health Director at his Jamaica New York church….The Bethel Gospel Tabernacle. Deacon Modeste was the deacon all prayer requests from all people in need were referred to. He faithfully served in this role, 20 years on a 24/7 basis. After he relocated to Kissimmee, Florida, he has faithfully served 18 years more!!! 38 years of prayer to the throne of God on our behalf. I consistently called him, gave him the person’s telephone number, and he never failed to call and minister in prayer to the person!

Precious Deacon Modeste adopted my family to pray for! He so faithfully ministered to my beloved husband, Dr. James Parris, leading him to rededicate his life to Jesus Christ when he was diagnosed with cancer. He spoke of this meeting at the home going service of Dr. Parris.

This precious man of God kept my family before God. He would call and pray with me. If I was not at home, he would leave a prayer on my answering machine! He was a servant of prayer to our God! GOD USED HIM TO HOLD US UP!

I remember when I was ill about 14 years ago. Deacon called and when I answered the phone, he was into praying, “God you told me to call this number but you didn’t tell me what to pray”….then he starting praying, “God, don’t let it happen! God, don’t let it happen. We need her!” I was taken to the hospital. When I was released from the hospital, Deacon called and let me know that the devil meant to kill me but God said, “Not so”. Holy Spirit had canceled the devil’s plan to take me out. He had prayed, “God don’t let it happen.”

Behold this serious man of God! God used Deacon Modeste for God’s glory…no doubt about it.

I am so blessed to have been so very close in spirit with this mighty warrior! He witnessed the power of God in his life so, so, so, many times. He shared with me many, many miracles that God had performed in answer to his fervent prayers. I only wish that he had written a book for each testimony of God’s wonderful acts in his life.

Deacon told me that God told him, “If you continue giving the glory to me {God}, I will continue working miracles in your life.”

I promised Deacon that I would help, by telling people of God’s acts in his life, and I have continued doing so. I remember writing a note to one of our pastors when an altar call was made. The note explained how Deacon Modeste had prayed for the removal of a tumor from his wife. She was in the operating room area. The surgeon, ready for operation, asked that a repeated X-ray be made of the area. They had asked Deacon to take her clothes home. He told them, “No, I will leave her clothes here”. In a little while, after the repeated X-ray, the doctor came and said, “Give the lady her clothes. There is no tumor!” Of course God had removed the tumor!!!

What time of praise to God in Bethel Gospel Tabernacle that Sunday!!!

God worked in many, many cases in Deacon’s life. God knew that this servant never lifted himself up! He blessed God and God continued proving himself!

I am a professional Christian Nurse. I have written papers about how God has used this ‘Holy Man of God’.

I could write on and on about how our God used Deacon. I am blessed to have worked with him 38 years. He was so gifted in taking our burdens to the Lord over and over!!! I am sure he was a “Friend of God”. He was in steady communion with God. God answered his prayers!!!

I shall forever thank God for his loving care to us through this ‘Mighty Man of God’, Beloved Deacon Neville Modeste.

He is forever planted in our hearts and we can say, “Look what the Lord has done….And we are witnesses!!!”

To God is God’s glory forever Amen and Amen!

I am so sorry, due to health challenges, I am unable to be with you.

From the heart of a sister….in the presence of Our God!!!

Rosie Sheard Parris,

R.N., B.S., M.S; Health Educator, Health Director,

Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Jamaica, New York

Arrangements under the direction of Grissom Funeral Home and Crematory, Kissimmee, FL.