Thomas Henry Darrell

Thomas Henry "Jackie, Dyner" Darrell Age 68 Quarry Mission Road and formerly 
of Claridge Road, exchange life for eternity at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday, June 21, 2018.

He was born at Nassau, New Providence, the Bahamas on Friday, July 15 1949. 
He started his early education at the Eastern Junior School before moving on in 
his teenage years to the Eastern Senior School.  Jackie went on later to complete 
his High School Education at the Jordan Prince William High School.

The Darrells lived on the corner of Claridge Road. Mr. Darrell owned and 
operated a restaurant and club called 'Miriam Delores' which was the home 
of the Bahamas Pool Association.

As a teenager Jackie developed a love for music and dancing. He would frequent 
the local night clubs such as the Banana Boat, The Buccaneer Lounge, the Palace 
and Pastiche, on Paradise Island. Jackie was a great dancer and his love for 
Diana Ross songs earned him the nick name of "D' Ross" or "Diana Ross".

Jackie loved fashion and could always be seen in the latest denim suits purchased 
from the likes of Bonneville Bones or Jean Junction. He topped his cool, smooth 
look off with dark shades and a freshly shaven face. Jackie loved people and he 
loved to look good.  He had friends everywhere and from all walks of life.

Jackie's two older brothers were pioneer members of the world-famous Valley 
Boys Junkanoo Group. He loved his Valley Boys and made it his mission to rush 
each year in at least one of the parades. He spent most of the preparation time 
in the Valley Boys Shack.

Jackie loved sports. He was a regular spectator at local Softball and Baseball Games.

Under the tutelage of his brother Kenneth, affectionately known as 'Bert,' Jackie 
developed the skill of installing gas ranges, gas tanks and repairing ovens. His early 
years of employment was at TropiGas where he worked as a Gas Range Installation 
Technician along with his brother Bert.

In 1976, the Honourable Perry Christie took Jackie, Ronald 'Doc' Smith, 
Barry 'Brother Barry' Tinker, with him to Kemp's Bay, South Andros, to complete 
finish work on the South Andros Senior High School. It was there where he met the 
love of his life Gail Strachan, a teacher at the High School. This developed into a 
budding relationship which lead to their marriage on Friday, June 24, 1977. 
This marriage produced a son, DiMaggio Darrell. 

From 1976 to 1980 Jackie was employed at the Bahamas Agriculture and Fisheries 
Supplies Unit at the Potter's Cay Dock. In the period 1981 to 1983, Jackie worked at 
Eleuthera Properties in Rock Sound Eleuthera, while living with his father-in-law, 
Senior Immigration Officer Fred Strachan.

Jackie's health started to decline about four years ago. He was frequently admitted to 
the Princess Margaret Hospital for one ailment or the other. His hospital stays became 
more often as his health declined 2 years ago after he was hit by a car resulting in him 
having hip surgery. This did not cause him to slow down or remain away from his friends, 
as he still visited his friends at Cleso and McQuay Street. He loved Junkanoo so much that 
he rallied up just in time for Christmas and New Year's Junkanoo.

As hard as he tried to overcome his health challenges, his health continued to decline, and 
on Thursday, June 20, 2018, during the late afternoon, while sitting and conversing in the 
yard with his Quarry Mission friends, Jackie fell asleep, and peacefully slipped into eternity.

The Radiance of this "Ruby of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of his:
Son: DiMaggio Darrell (Tehranique);
Four Grandsons: Dante Darrell, Zhyon Thomas and T'khai Miller;
Three Granddaughters: Santina, Jamia and Kallisto Darrell;
Eight Nephews: Sean, Shane, Mario (Monique), Kenneth (Vee), Gerard and Alex Darrell, 
Lavon and Rico Sands (Claudia) and Garth Moncur;
Three Nieces: Janell Rolle (Romeo), Gizelle Darrell-Fisher (Eugene) and Micheala Smith (Chuck);
Brother-in-law: Lance Sands;
Sister-in-law: Barbara Darrell;
Nineteen Grandnephews: Seantio, Shannon, Sean Jr., Shaquile, Micah, Mario Jr., 
Alex Jr., Kenneth Jr. and Kayle Darrell, Romell Rolle, Juan Fisher, Lavon Jr., Justin, 
Kanye, Karie, Delano, Deangelo and Lance Sands III and Andrew Smith; 
Nineteen Grandnieces: Romania, Janay, Giavanna Rolle, Aniska McKinney (Kendrick), 
Lechan Swain (Alvin), Brittany Whyte (Dayne), Ariel McDonald, Maranique, Shania, Shyanne, 
Shayna and Kenya Darrell, Lavonia, Lanisha, Kovie, Kyell and Lanice Sands, Shandeara and 
Chuckovia Smith;
Six Great Grand Nephews: Raymond Bastian Jr. Kjuan, Sabastian McKinney, Alsharonn Swain, 
Lavon III and Laquan Sands;
Great Grandnieces: Raynell Bastian, Alvinique Swain and Alvanae Stubbs;
Cousins: Sylvia Mackey, Dorothea Farrington, Philip and Mrs. Angie Tynes, Brenda, Colin, 
Clement and Sean Newton, Evangeline, Sharron, Maurice, Troy, and Garvin Lightbourne, 
Anthony and Greg Bartlett, Eugene, Marie, Charlene, Denise, Dr. Susan and Sharlene Newbold, 
Nathlie Pelletier, Joan Rolle, Freda and Jeffrey Darrell, Erica Fox, Wade Beckford Sr., 
Patricia Beneby, Suzanna Valesquez, Kevin Ferguson, Shirley Armbrister, Fenton Strachan, 
Patrice Chea, Ingrid Kerr, Camille Miller and their families and Family of the late Keith Ferguson;
Other Loving Relatives Family and Friends Including: Gail Strachan-Darrell, Joyce, Gregory, 
Janet, Moya and Hugh Strachan, Herbert Styles, Terry and Melvern Miller, Dwaling Dean, Darrell Smith, 
Sandra Brown, Victor Darville, Clint McCartney, Thomas "Froggy" Woodside, Dr. Manny Francis, 
Howard Mackey, Emile and Trevor Siefert, Thelma Adderley and their families. The Valley Boys 
Junkanoo Group, Friends of McQuay Street, Quarry Mission Road, Cleso, Warren Street, Darville's, 
the Claridge Road Families, especially, the Hepburns, Bains, Deans, Johnsons and Sieferts, 
Rhodes Memorial Church Community.
Special Thanks To: the physicians and nurses of the Accident and Emergency Department of 
PMH and the EMS Drivers.