Obituary for Cecil Jerome "Jerry" Deas
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Meeting ID: 856 3081 2101
Passcode: Cecil
Cecil Jerome “Jerry” Deas was born on February 18, 1943, the eldest of three children to the late Lizzie Nelson Deas and Charlie Deas in Camden, South Carolina. On May 30th, 2022, our beloved Jerome, Daddy, Pop-Pop entered heaven’s gate at 79 years old.
Jerome’s early childhood years were spent in Camden, South Carolina with his paternal grandparents. It is here through the influence of his Pop that Jerome learned to tinker and repair almost everything that was put before him making him the handyman we all came to love.
Later his family moved to South Norwalk, Connecticut. He attended Norwalk High School, excelling in track & field, and football which led to a full athletic scholarship to Clark Atlanta University.
After college, Jerome returned to South Norwalk Connecticut. He worked briefly as a soda truck driver before being hired as the first black Telephone Installer for Southern New England Telephone Company. His first marriage resulted in two sons, Tyrone Deas and Charles Deas.
In 1969, while employed at Southern New England Telephone Company Jerome met and fell in love with his wife Connie (and bonus daughter LaVette). With job transfer in hand, together they relocated to Maryland in 1970 to build their lives and had their daughter, Camille Deas. Jerome was employed by C& P Telephone Company which later became Verizon until he retired as a Telephone Technician after 34 years of service.
Jerome, fondly called Jerry by some, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Always opinionated and outspoken but with a heart of gold there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for those he cared about. Jerome was always there to help relatives and friends with household projects or whatever else people needed from him. If you called, he answered, if he had it -you had it. If it was broken, he fixed it and in the rare times he couldn’t fix it – he had a guy! His resources were your resources and the only price most paid was his witty sarcastic dialogue- of which you always received large helpings.
Jerome enjoyed watching sports on television and oddly the weather channel. His hobbies included anything technical such as CB radios, computers or simply tinkering in his garage. To his core, he was a family man, a provider and protector. He was your toughest critic yet greatest supporter and was always present at his children (and grandchildren’s) sporting events and celebratory occasions. He was our family tax man, driving instructor AND mechanic, the neighborhood dad, and so much more to so many. Of all the hats he wore, and he wore many –nothing gave him more joy than being Pop-Pop to his grandchildren Marcus, Lauren, Jasmine, Janee and great grand-daughter Marleigh who he affectionately called “Boom-Boom”.
Jerome is welcomed into Heaven by his parents Charlie and Lizzie Deas, brother Melvin Deas, sister Patricia Deas Lawrence, and son Tyrone Deas.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife, Connie; son, Charles; two daughters, LaVette (Riziki), Camille; four grandchildren: Marcus (Wesley); Lauren, Jasmine, Janee; Great-grand-daughter, Marleigh and a host of other family and friends.
To join the service via Zoom , please click here at the time of service
OR
enter this ID and Passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 856 3081 2101
Passcode: Cecil
Cecil Jerome “Jerry” Deas was born on February 18, 1943, the eldest of three children to the late Lizzie Nelson Deas and Charlie Deas in Camden, South Carolina. On May 30th, 2022, our beloved Jerome, Daddy, Pop-Pop entered heaven’s gate at 79 years old.
Jerome’s early childhood years were spent in Camden, South Carolina with his paternal grandparents. It is here through the influence of his Pop that Jerome learned to tinker and repair almost everything that was put before him making him the handyman we all came to love.
Later his family moved to South Norwalk, Connecticut. He attended Norwalk High School, excelling in track & field, and football which led to a full athletic scholarship to Clark Atlanta University.
After college, Jerome returned to South Norwalk Connecticut. He worked briefly as a soda truck driver before being hired as the first black Telephone Installer for Southern New England Telephone Company. His first marriage resulted in two sons, Tyrone Deas and Charles Deas.
In 1969, while employed at Southern New England Telephone Company Jerome met and fell in love with his wife Connie (and bonus daughter LaVette). With job transfer in hand, together they relocated to Maryland in 1970 to build their lives and had their daughter, Camille Deas. Jerome was employed by C& P Telephone Company which later became Verizon until he retired as a Telephone Technician after 34 years of service.
Jerome, fondly called Jerry by some, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Always opinionated and outspoken but with a heart of gold there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for those he cared about. Jerome was always there to help relatives and friends with household projects or whatever else people needed from him. If you called, he answered, if he had it -you had it. If it was broken, he fixed it and in the rare times he couldn’t fix it – he had a guy! His resources were your resources and the only price most paid was his witty sarcastic dialogue- of which you always received large helpings.
Jerome enjoyed watching sports on television and oddly the weather channel. His hobbies included anything technical such as CB radios, computers or simply tinkering in his garage. To his core, he was a family man, a provider and protector. He was your toughest critic yet greatest supporter and was always present at his children (and grandchildren’s) sporting events and celebratory occasions. He was our family tax man, driving instructor AND mechanic, the neighborhood dad, and so much more to so many. Of all the hats he wore, and he wore many –nothing gave him more joy than being Pop-Pop to his grandchildren Marcus, Lauren, Jasmine, Janee and great grand-daughter Marleigh who he affectionately called “Boom-Boom”.
Jerome is welcomed into Heaven by his parents Charlie and Lizzie Deas, brother Melvin Deas, sister Patricia Deas Lawrence, and son Tyrone Deas.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife, Connie; son, Charles; two daughters, LaVette (Riziki), Camille; four grandchildren: Marcus (Wesley); Lauren, Jasmine, Janee; Great-grand-daughter, Marleigh and a host of other family and friends.