The Life of Cecil L. Adderley, Jr.
August 17, 1932 – May 28, 2026


Cecil L. Adderley, Jr. was born on August 17, 1932, the second child and first son, to the late
Cecil L. Adderley, Sr. and the late Lillian G. Adderley of Boynton Beach, FL. Raised with a strong
sense of pride in his Bahamian roots, he was grounded by the hard work of his parents and
their commitment to centering their lives around church, community, and their close-knit
family.  As the oldest of seven children, he and his siblings joined their parents throughout their
childhood working on various farms in Florida during the school year, and traveling to New
York, and New Jersey during the summer. They supported each other and created a legacy for
generations to come through the lives they lived and family traditions they initiated while
growing up under very challenging circumstances.

Cecil was educated in the Palm Beach County Public Schools and was a star athlete in both
football and track and field, winning the state football championship before graduating from
George Washington Carver High in 1950. He would continue his education at Johnson C. Smith
University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he would also play football, run track, and
become a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  After graduation, he served as a specialist
in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Korea as well as several domestic assignments during his
enlistment.  He was honorably discharged at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina and
began employment in Richland School District One where he taught Social Studies and later
held several administrative assignments at the high school level.

Cecil was married to the late Lillian N. Patterson, and had two sons from the union, Cecil III, and
Cedric.  While in South Carolina, he would later graduate from South Carolina State University
earning a master’s degree in education.  During that time, he also remained active with the
Alpha Psi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, served as an Elder in Ladson United Presbyterian
Church, and was a member of Columbia’s Save Our Community Club. Upon retirement from
Richland School District One, he would return to his hometown of Boynton Beach, Florida,
where he was supportive of his aging parents, and served in the Palm Beach County Schools as
a guidance counselor.

During his return to Boynton Beach, Florida, Cecil was intensely proud of his work with the
Presbyterian Church (USA), but most especially with First Presbyterian Church of Boynton
Beach where he served as an Elder.  He was even more proud to visit with his grandsons Adam
and Spencer, and to spend time with them during his final years.

Cecil lived a long and full life, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending time and sharing stories with
family and friends who he loved and who loved him. He is survived by his sons, Cecil L.
Adderley, III and Cedric L. Adderley; sisters, Beatrice Kelly and Harriet “Linda” Adderley;
brother, Ronald (Betty) Adderley, Sr., brother-in-law Casey Patrick, Jr.; grandsons, Adam
Adderley and Spencer Adderley; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded
in death by brothers, Jessie Lee Adderley, John Calvin Adderley, Sr., Enrico Adderley, and
Dwight Adderley; and sisters, Gladys Adderley, Blanche “Cookie” Hunter, and Lottie Patrick.