Obituary of Almeda Elaine Burrell

Almeda Elaine Burrell was born on June 7th, 1948 in Cascade Hanover, Jamaica to Liney Maude Reid and Levi Smithson. Almeda received her early education at the Brownsville All Age Infant School in Cascade, Hanover, Jamaica. Her education ended early at Brownsville when a young Almeda decided to leave Cascade and move to Montego Bay. Once in Montego Bay, she worked as a Nanny, then eventually made her way to Kingston, Jamaica, where she would reside with her Mother's family between Chaves Avenue and Saunders Lane along Mountain View Avenue in Kingston, during the 1960's. By 1970, Almeda started cooking meals at multiple Theaters in the Downtown Kingston area before relocating to the Cross Roads area of Kingston with her good friend Mrs Clarke who assisted her and a colleague to start a Canteen Restaurant at the famous Carib 5 in Cross Roads until 1974. This is the time she developed her knack for cooking and the effects it had on peoples lives to enjoy a meal after work, out on a date, or with family and friends at a Theater. By November 1975 she would give birth to her first child, son Andrew Burrell. Due to having to care for her newborn child she would open her own business at a Bar on Johns Lane where she also sold cooked food to those in the community. This is where her fellow friends on the Lane started calling her "Smitty." This is also where she and Adassa Foster formed a life-long friendship, as they both grew their business and provided for their young families next door to each other. A few years later, Dianne Burrell would be born and Almeda started planning a new life for her young family. This was when she started the process of Migrating to the United States to reunite with her mother and provide new opportunities for her young children. Almeda migrated to the United States in October 1983 with her two children and joined her mother in Stamford Connecticut, also reuniting with her extended family, the Malcolms, Williams, and Barriers. Eager to begin her new life in the United States, she quickly found work at Homestead Nursing home as a Cook. She worked at Homestead Nursing Home and became the Lead Cook providing 24 hour meals and snacks for the elderly and staff at the complex for over 19 years until its closing in 2004. In 2005 Almeda decided to join her beloved daughter Dianne Burrell, in the state of Maryland. Once arriving in Maryland she continued her path of providing care to others as a Home Health Aide until her retirement in 2020. Almeda's dedication to her family, her hard work, and love for others made her an inspiration to those who came in contact with her. She will forever be loved and missed by those who's life she had touched. Survivors she leaves to cherish her memory is Husband, Wilbert Burrell, Son Andrew Burrell, Daughter Dianne Burrell, Grand-daughters Nandrea Burrell and OrynRae Wood. Almeda also left behind, many Siblings, Nieces, Nephews, friends, and other relatives.