Cecil A Wyatt

Mr. Cecil Arden Wyatt, Jr., son of Cecil G. Wyatt, Sr. and Nellie H. Wyatt, was born on May 4, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York and passed away at Presbyterian Hospital, Huntersville, North Carolina on Saturday, December 8, 2012. Cecil (also known as Brother Wyatt) was baptized and received his name as one of "Jehovah's Witnesses" on April 27, 1938, when he was twelve years old. His spiritual values were developed, in part, by his spiritual heritage that included his dedicated and baptized Jehovah's Witness parents as well as his cousins who served as missionaries and special pioneers in the Caribbean and Africa. Brother Wyatt grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from the City of New York's School of Industrial Art on June 10, 1944. In high school he was not only known for his artistic ability but he was also known as a harmonica whiz and was a Duncan Yo-Yo tournament winner. After high school, Brother Wyatt served as a full-time pioneer preaching the good news of the kingdom. In May 1945, World War II was still raging and after serving as a full-time pioneer for only eleven months, Brother Wyatt and a number of other Jehovah's Witness young men, were incarcerated due to their Bible-based beliefs on neutrality in worldly conflicts and the prohibition to kill one's fellow man. Many of them recalled Jesus' words, such as: "These things I command you, that you love one another . . . You are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."John 15:17-19; 17:14, 16; 18:36. Hence, they refused to be inducted into the military to serve in either a combative or non-combative role. After faithful service to Jehovah during his incarceration, Brother Wyatt and many of his spiritual brothers received a Presidential Pardon on December 23, 1947 and were released. Brother Wyatt returned to the full-time preaching work for a short while until he obtained a full-time job as commercial artist with the Eveready Label Corp. On September 1, 1951, Brother Wyatt married Sister Mary Walker of Brooklyn, New York. They soon became proud parents of their three sons, David, Paul and John. Brother Wyatt and Mary were married for 50 years until she feel asleep in death on December 2, 2001. In the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses that Brother Wyatt was associated with, he is known for his encouraging heartfelt comments, his warm smile, life stories, and his chili and seafood salad recipes. His meeting bag would always contain his camera and family photos he was so proud of. And in his jacket or shirt pocket he always had his harmonica ready to play a kingdom melody for anyone who would listen. He was rarely missing from the congregation meetings and his presence will be missed. Brother Wyatt is preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Wyatt and his brother Walter Wyatt. Brother Wyatt is survived by his three sons: David Wyatt of Brooklyn, N.Y., Paul Wyatt, of Brooklyn, N.Y. and John Wyatt of Charlotte, N.C.; his grandsons Christopher Wyatt and Justin Wyatt; his daughter in-laws Stella Wyatt, Penelope Wyatt and Gennie Wyatt; and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and his caring spiritual brothers and sisters. Memorial services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Friday December 14, 2012 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness 8505 McIlwaine Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Service Huntersville, NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com