Earl Washington Dunkley

On May 13, 1936 the late Clement and Rita Dunkley gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in Coleyville Manchester, Jamaica later to be named Earl Washington Dunkley. Earl was the second of five children.

Earl’s early education began at Bryce All Age School and onto Holmwood Technical School in Sedburg, Manchester. After graduation from Holmwood, he gained employment at Alcan Jamaica Limited where he worked for almost twenty years.

Earl’s passion and desire for politics allowed him to run for office where he became the Parish Councilor for the Walderston Division. Earl was loved by many and successfully served three terms. Earl was military trained in the National Reserve and advanced to the rank of sergeant while he was there.

It was a cool October afternoon as he was pushing his bicycle up Bryce Hill in 1958. There, he met the love of his life the beautiful Cordeline Barnes, who was walking in the opposite direction. They both stopped and talked for a little while as they already knew each other from Bryce School. Earl asked Cordeline what she was doing in town and she replied that she had moved back home. He ecstatically responded that he too was moving back home because he’d just received a job at Alcan Jamaica Limited. As Cordeline was walking away, Earl said to her, “I hope to see some more of you.”

This became the beginning of Earl and Cordeline’s beautiful life together – Mass Earl and Miss Cordie, as they were affectionately called. They soon became a couple and got married. From this union came five amazing children – Lensley (Junior), Ainsley (Dave), Roger (Chippy - deceased), Michelle (Andy), Dwight (Paul).

In 1979 Earl and his family emigrated to the United States of America where they resided in New York. They settled in Wheatley Heights and then onto Bayshore, New York. He began working for Entenmann’s Bakery as an industrial mechanic and remained there for twenty years. Earl started visiting Bethesda Seventh-day Adventist Church where his wife and children attended. He gave his heart to the Lord and got baptized in 1987. Earl was committed to God and loved the church. He often said to his wife, “Why did it take me so long to give my heart to Jesus?” Earl’s service in the church while he was at Bethesda included Personal Ministries Leader and deacon.

In August 1999, after becoming empty nesters, Earl and Cordie decided to relocate to DeBary, Florida and became members of Mars Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. While at Mars Hill, he was again Personal Ministries Leader and was ordained as an elder. In July of 2014, Earl and his wife were invited by their daughter, Michelle, to attend Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church and have been members ever since.

Earl was a pillar of strength as he faced many health challenges throughout the years. He displayed that strength even two days before his death by telling everyone who visited him to give their life to Jesus because He is coming soon.

Earl took his final breath at 4:15 p.m. on May 20, 2020 at his home surrounded by his wife, children, and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents Clement and Rita Dunkley, his brother Fritz, and his sisters Thelma and Pauline. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Cordeline, his children, Lensley (and wife Marva), Ainsley, Michelle (and husband Desmond Jr.), Dwight (and wife Suzette), his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his brother, Donald (and sister-in-law, Dorell), brother-in-law Roy, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Earl Washington Dunkley, rest in peace until Jesus comes to take you home.

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