Garth Anthony Bryce Sr.

Garth Anthony Bryce, Sr. was born in Cave Valley in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica, West Indies on May 6, 1961. He was the 5th child of Hugh Harold and Sybil Gloria Bryce.  He attended Cave Valley Primary School.  He and his younger brother later moved to Mandeville, Jamaica to stay with his cousins, Elsa & Orville Dyer, when his parents migrated to the Bronx, New York.   Shortly thereafter, in 1971, Garth & his siblings joined their parents on Barker Avenue in the Bronx.  As soon as the Garth appeared on the “block”, he instantly made lifelong friends.

He finished his education in the New York City school system. Along the way, he picked up the nickname “Boogie” because of his dance moves as a B-Boy dancer during the early beginnings of Hip Hop.  His love of music and dance was beyond compare.  At the sound of reggae, R&B, old school hip hop and gospel, he instantly transformed and became Boogie again.  His spirit was contagious and infectious.  You just always wanted to be around him.  He had the greatest sense of humor but he also let you know where he stood. He was the ultimate man and embodied everything a man should be.  He was caring and always willing to give a helping hand.  Everyone was considered a friend.  When people spoke of him, they held him in the highest regards.  When first meeting him you really wanted to know more about him.

One of his lifelong friends became his wife.  Cynthia and her “Boo” Garth have been together for almost 40 years and were inseparable.  After the birth of Garth Jr (Anthony) in 1993, he wanted to give his family a better life. Hence the move from New York to Virginia. Together they have raised their two children, Jamel & Anthony as well as several nieces and nephews. Garth loved kids and truly showed that.  They made him smile.  Once his grandchildren, Caleb and Justin entered his life, he was so overjoyed. They brought him immense happiness. His life as a husband, father and grandfather had come full circle. True personification of a family man. 

Prior to moving to Virginia, he worked at Billboard Magazine.  While there he met a lot of music artists and enjoyed talking with them about their craft. His work family at Sprinkle Masonry Inc. in Virginia, created balance and stability which allowed him to grow, learn and teach. During his 24 years of service, his work ethic helped him to complete projects with pride and a sense of fulfillment.  Every time he passed a building he helped construct, he would always say, “There goes my building!”

After a long battle with cancer, he did it his way and decided to “Let it Go” (one of his favorite sayings).  Garth leaves to cherish his memory his devoted and loving wife, Cynthia; his children, Jamel and Anthony; grandchildren, Caleb & Justin; his parents, Hugh and Sybil of Sarasota, FL; siblings, Hugh Jr. (Veronica) of Deltona, FL, Pamela of Sarasota, FL, Courtney of Edgewood, MD, Roderick of Defuniak Springs, FL and Peter (Paulette) of Bronx, NY; the Barker Avenue Family; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends, whether they were blood related or not.