Louis Garfield Dawkins

With profound love and admiration, we celebrate the life of Louis Garfield Dawkins, a man whose presence filled every space with warmth, joy, and unwavering devotion to his family and friends.

Born in Portland, Jamaica—Shirley Castle—to Frederick and Florence Dawkins, Louis was the twelfth of sixteen children, growing up surrounded by ten sisters and five brothers. Louis and Maxine were married on May 29, 1968, in the parish of Saint Andrew, Jamaica. He later moved from Jamaica to Brooklyn, NY, where he joined his wife, Maxine, who had already begun paving the way for their family’s future. Together, they raised their children—Lance, Sheldon, Renee, and Nicole—and through hard work and determination, Louis built a life anchored in love and perseverance.

As a skilled mechanic who worked at Potamkin Cadillac , Louis and Maxine saved to purchase their cherished home in the Bronx, where they lived for over 30 years. Their home became a vibrant hub of laughter, camaraderie, and tradition filled with cousins and friends. Saturdays were marked by domino games in the basement, tinkering with cars in the driveway, Reggae vibes flowing through the air, and Louis enjoying his signature white rum and milk. Summers meant Sunday beach trips to Sherwood Island with family and friends, creating joyful memories that would last a lifetime.

But more than just a house, Louis and Maxine built a home—a place where love lived, and everyone was welcome, no matter what. Nieces and Nephews often visited, filling the space with warmth and laughter, and their doors remained open to family and friends alike. It was a home shaped by togetherness, by tradition, and by Louis’s unwavering belief that family was at the heart of everything. Despite his love for his new home, Louis’s heart remained forever tied to Jamaica. Over the years, he often returned to Shirley Castle to visit his dearly departed sister, Joyce, and to tend to his parents’ land, where he took great pride in harvesting Blue Mountain coffee. There, he found peace, walking the land, surrounded by nature, reconnecting with the place that shaped him.

Later in life, Louis and Maxine moved to Fort Lauderdale, keeping their Bronx home as an investment property, joining additional family members for close to a decade. Following the loss of his beloved son Sheldon, Louis made the profound decision to dedicate his life to Christ. His faith became a pillar of his strength, guiding him through his grief and offering him solace. Together with his wife, Maxine, he embraced his journey as a believer, often covering his family in prayer. As a devoted member of Free Chapel church, his faith flourished until his health prevented him from attending in person—but his spiritual connection remained unwavering. Though he was diagnosed with heart disease in his later years, Louis faced it with remarkable strength, never losing his spirit or sense of joy. Throughout his battle, his daughter Renee sprung into action, overseeing his care with unwavering dedication. From doctor visits to medications, meals, and daily support, she ran his care like a drill sergeant, ensuring that he had the strength and resilience to keep fighting. Thanks to her devotion with the support from his caregiver Miss Shirley, Nicole, Ray and Janae along with the daily prayers from his loving wife Maxine and additional family and friends, Louis was able to hold on for as long as he did, still finding the energy for a little dance when the music played and responding with his signature phrase, “Meh alright, Mon,” when asked how he was feeling.

Louis took his last breath on May 5th, with his beloved daughter Renee holding his hand. He is survived by his loving wife, Maxine, his children—Lance, Renee, and Nicole, son in law Ray, daughter in law Keely and his cherished grandchildren, Asahni, Crystal, Janae, Amir, Amaya, Sheldon, Christian, Chase and his great-grandchild Tamia along with his siblings, Rinty, Paula, Cherry, Ronnie, Elane and a host of loving family and friends.

Louis fought with extraordinary strength, always maintaining his positive outlook and unwavering love for those around him. He will forever be remembered as a praying father, the life of the party, a man who embraced every moment with laughter and resilience. His legacy lives on in the memories we hold, the lessons he taught, and the love he so freely gave.

Today and always, we celebrate you King Louis. We love you now and forever.