Page 3 - R.E.DEAN MEMORIAL BOOK

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OBITUARY

(Excepts taken from a speech he wrote of his testimony)

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Monday March 4 , 1929 Dr. Richard Dean was born to Christopher (Old man) & Diana Young
Dean. He would be the last son to be born of this union. He lived and was brought up in poor
surroundings at Arthurs Town, Cat Island with his 10 siblings. His mother, a devout Christian
passed away when he was 10 years of age, and shortly after his father passed away.

Dad mentioned that he remembered the sound of his mother’s voice praying while she was sick
asking God to provide for and take care of her children.

At an early age he spent a lot of time “playing church” and imitating the Pastor of the Local
Baptist church to such a degree that he was commonly called “Preacher” by the neighbors. He
and his second sister were very close and many days they would sing and pray the entire dis-
tance of three to four miles on their way to and from the farm. They would pray until tears came
down their cheeks.
Richard received his early education at Arthur’s Town Cat Island. Humble beginnings, difficult
and hard times did not deter him from aiming for the stars.

At the age of 14 years Dr. Dean was successful in the Local Certificate Examinations and was
promoted from the sixth grade to the positions of Monitor, Pupil Teacher and Assistant
Teacher respectively.

He continued to yearn for something better. He felt that something was missing, a void in his
young life and at the age of 17 gave his life to the Lord. He talked about the joy and peace that
Christ brought into his life.

A few years afterwards, he found himself slipping backward into moral complacency. He felt that
the lack of spiritual food and the saying “Don’t do what I do but what I say” were factors which
caused him to forsake the fountain of Living water. He continued in this state of being a decent
young man with good morals – never indulged in neither smoking nor drinking but he loved to
dance.
Once weekly, for two years, he travelled for four miles to teach Arts and Craft at the primary
school in Orange Creek and Dumfries. Richard was successful in the Cambridge Junior
Certificate Examinations in 1950 and shortly afterwards transferred to Nassau where he was
attached to K. Wright an Art Teacher. Life in Nassau was not easy but he attended continuation
classes at nights and was eventually successful in the Cambridge School Certificate
Examinations.

Dr. Dean attended the Bahamas Teacher Training College for two years and at the completion of
the course was appointed Principal of the All Age School at Mangrove Cay Andros in 1955.
Within two years, five Student Teachers who wrote the Bahamas Junior Certificate Examinations
were successful.
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In 1952 Richard met and fell in love with Iris Smith from Green Castle Eleuthera. In August 8 ,
1956 he finally got to marry the love of his life Iris Smith.

It was at a revival meeting in Mangrove Cay that he came face to face with reality. He had to
make a lasting decision to serve God or Satan. Whether to continue to be that good moral young
man still bowing in chains to the dictates of Satan or have the shackles removed and truly
proclaim Christ as Lord of his life.

In 1957, his chains fell off and he became unshackled. When the altar call was made the
conviction took its toll and he became glued to the bench on which he sat. Satan said to him

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