Obituary
Michael “Mike” Keith Segre-Lewis peacefully passed away in his sleep on December 24, 2020 in Orlando, Florida due to complications following respiratory failure. He was 85 years old.
Mike was born on January 15, 1935 in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica to parents Ernest Hilton Segre-Lewis and Aileen Amabelle Polack. After attending Manning’s School in Savanna-la-Mar, Mike graduated from Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St. James with a Senior Cambridge Certificate.
Mike married Hilma Patricia “Pat” Hilton in 1969, and in 1978 he migrated to the United States with his wife & two (2) sons and settled in Apopka, Florida. Though it was very difficult for Mike to leave his beloved Jamaica, the generally warm climate and pervasive West Indian culture in Orlando suited him well and allowed him to maintain his passion for gardening. Each evening after work, Mike would head straight outside to tend to the abundant variety of plants, vegetables and fruit trees growing in the yard. Over the years, Mike was even known for his ability to cultivate tropical fruit trees such as “paupau”, despite the occasional frosts that impacted Central Florida during the winter season.
During the early part of his career in Jamaica, Mike worked in several capacities with Barclays Bank, during which time he enjoyed the distinction of being the first Jamaican to be sent overseas by Barclays to several countries including England, Kenya, and Guyana. After retiring from the Bank, Mike returned to Jamaica and joined his family’s business in Westmoreland, which comprised primarily of a 120 acre dairy farm named “Angelsea” in the village of Water Works near Savanna-la-Mar and a full-service supermarket located on Great George Street in downtown Savanna-la-Mar. For the remainder of his career in the United States, Mike worked in several capacities with BellSouth (n/k/a AT&T) in Orlando, and retired in 2001 after many years in the role of a senior account executive.
Mike was an avid sports fan, and during his younger days he enjoyed playing cricket, football (i.e. soccer), and tennis. Mike had a particular love for cricket, which he followed devotedly throughout his entire life. Mike was instrumental in forming the Central Florida Cricket Umpires Association in 1999, for which he held the position of Vice President for 21 years. He also served as a lead umpire, during which time he officiated hundreds of matches including international tours. When he wasn’t umpiring, Mike would regularly watch matches on TV & attend local matches. Mike had a voracious appetite for reading, which he endeavored to do on a regular basis; and was known for his “siestas”, which he took daily without exception.
Mike is survived by his eldest son, Brian Keith Segre-Lewis & his wife Tenelle of Charlotte, North Carolina; his youngest son, David Michael Segre-Lewis, of Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica; his four (4) brothers and sisters: June Elliott of Portsmouth, Virginia; Anthony Lewis & his wife Vivette of Upland, California; Cherry Urich of Orlando, Florida; and Ernest Robert Segre-Lewis & his wife Maureen of Nicholasville, Kentucky; his seven (7) grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Mike is preceded in death by his wife Pat and his sister Patricia (Patsy).
At Mike’s request, no services will be held to commemorate his passing. Tributes can be posted on the Funeral Home website (https://baldwincremation.com/obituaries/michaelsegrelewis/).
