Kelvin Michael Abbott's Obituary
Kelvin Michael Abbott lost his battle with cystic fibrosis on July 5, 2015, in Gainesville, Florida. Kelvin was born in Savannah, Georgia on November 27, 1974, and later moved to Gainesville. He was born three months premature, weighing only three pounds. He overcame that rocky start and a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis at eight months of age, to become a strong, handsome young man. Kelvin attended J.J. Finley Elementary and Westwood Middle School and he completed high school at Gainesville High.
Family and friends appreciated Kelvin’s wicked sense of humor and his skills with his hands: fixing things, making things and gardening. While growing up, Kelvin developed a love for the ocean and for fishing. As an adult, Kelvin discovered aquariums, which became an important hobby. He ended up with five fresh-water aquariums, and enjoyed helping with his step-father’s salt-water aquariums. Until recently, when his health began to decline, Kelvin helped his parents with projects around their house, as well as doing home improvement projects and gardening at his house.
A very important person in Kelvin’s life was Samiyra Haughton, who blessed him with two children, Kadetra “K.C.” Austin and Khalief Gamble. Kelvin was thrilled when K.C. had her son, Robi, making Kelvin a very proud grandfather. Robi and Kelvin were blessed to be able to spend a lot of time together. Kelvin was also very proud of Khalief, who is in the army. He felt very blessed to have Khalief and K.C. in his life and was very proud of their achievements.
Another very important person in Kelvin’s life was his fiancée, Teneisha “TT” Smith. She blessed Kelvin with a relationship with her three children, Sierra, Bubba and Angelo. Kelvin loved TT very much, and his last words were to her.
Kelvin was very close to his mother, step-father, and his sister and brothers and their families. He said that he couldn’t leave out his dad, who he said gave him a happy childhood.
Kelvin wanted all his family and many close friends to know that he loved them very much, and that he was sorry to leave them. Kelvin also said, however, that he was not afraid and that he was ready to join his brother Josh, who predeceased him. In fact, Kelvin wrote most of this obituary.
Kelvin leaves to cherish his memory: fiancée, Teniesha “T.T.” Smith; mother and step-father, Karen and Dave Deeter; father, John B. Abbott, II; sister, Sarah Dyer; brothers, Tim (Dina Roberts) Abbott and Jon (Melinda Hughes) Abbott; step-brothers, Marcus Deeter and Stephen Deeter; daughter, Kadetra “K.C.” Austin; son, Khalief Gamble; grandson, Robi; nephew, Jack Roberts-Abbott and many aunts, uncles and cousins and other relatives.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 3:00 p.m., at Congregation B’nai Israel, 3830 NW 16th Boulevard, with Rabbi David Kaiman officiating. Interment will follow in B’nai Israel Cemetery, corner of East University Avenue and Waldo Road.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 7899 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, Congregation B’nai Israel, or the charity of your choice.
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