Whether you knew him as Claude, Mitch Uncle or, I think you’ll all agree what a fantastic man he was.
Bom in the parish of St. Philip, Barbados on the 7th of September 1942 to Mamese and Clarence Harewood, his initial education started at Ebenezer Boys School. Claude Mitchinson Harewood, who was lovingly called Mitch, Uncle and Grandpa was the last of 10 brothers and sisters.
At the age of 18 he migrated to Birmingham, England to join his late brother Lionel and sister in-law Hilda. Upon his arrival in England he encountered snow for the first time. He'd always say of that experience “I was ready to turn on my heels and head straight back home!”
Not long afterwards his nephews Mark and Peter came along and, for the next 18 years he helped raise them, taking them to school, picking them up at lunchtime and after school daily.
Claude was a good cricketer. He played for Edgbaston Unity where he met Ken, David and Mike. Cricket was a huge part of their lives every summer. Mike introduced him to football, and this played a huge part in his life as they travelled up and down the country watching Aston Villa play, even though his team was Birmingham City.
A tradition of poker nights was started on his many visits back to England with his two nephews Mark and Peter, which sometimes lasted till the wee hours of the morning. One major rule was set right from the beginning, when we sat at the table, "we aren’t family!" The Winnings were left to the losers in England, but leaving the winnings gave him even more pleasure!
After reconnecting with a childhood friend Annette (Monica), they got married and he migrated to the USA in 1983 to start a new life with his wife and 3 step children Maggie, Denton and Kim Brathwaite. Looking out for his family meant everything to him. He had several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews who all have felt his generosity.
He left to mourn His wife Annette. His sister Ira, a host of Nieces and nephews, three step children, six grandchildren Jamal, Richard Anton, his "dependable Elijah especially who he so lovingly raised called "My little granddaughter and protector Kiara and his little diplomat Keilani” (He enjoyed his active role as grandfather to the younger Elijah, Kiara and Keilani)
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