J.E. Cusack Mortuary

There will be a viewing 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Greater Union First Baptist Church, 240 S. Clara Ave. in DeLand; followed by a wake 6-7 p.m. His life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16,  at The Sanctuary Church, 401 E. Taylor Road in DeLand. Charles Allen Cusack III, born in Daytona Beach, was the only son of James E. and Brenda B. Cusack of DeLand. At the early age of 6 months, Allen was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. Throughout his life, he became the trailblazer for research, treatments, information, methodology and family support. This includes, but was not restricted to school-attendance policies, blood-transfusion methodology, genetic and pharmacologic research, improvements in pain-management research and the support of Sickle-Cell testing on the blood-testing profile of newborns in the Florida; regardless of race, which was introduced and influenced by his aunt, former state legislator and current Volusia County Council Member Joyce Cusack, who is also a nurse.By age 10, he was the "Sickle Cell Poster Child” for Volusia County, the state of Florida, and was a national ambassador for its awareness campaigns. At the age of 11, he was made an honorary member of its national board after introducing the presentation: “I’m NOT Contagious: A Guide for Young Clients” at its national meeting in Dayton, Ohio. At age 12, he published that work as a guide to help combat social stigmas for children with blood-related illnesses through The Journal of Psycho-Social Awareness published by Duke University, in addition to lecturing at schools, colleges, career days and family support and community events.Allen was baptized at Emanuel Baptist Church in Jacksonville by his maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. S.L. Badger Jr. He was an honors graduate of DeLand High School, Cambridge University, the National Academy of Mortuary Science and Minnesota Graduate School of Theology at Brooklyn Park. He held degrees in business administration, f... (The West Volusia Beacon)

There will be a viewing 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Greater Union First Baptist Church, 240 S. Clara Ave. in DeLand; followed by a wake 6-7 p.m. His life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16,  at The Sanctuary Church, 401 E. Taylor Road in DeLand. Charles Allen Cusack III, born in Daytona Beach, was the only son of James E. and Brenda B. Cusack of DeLand. At the early age of 6 months, Allen was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. Throughout his life, he became the trailblazer for research, treatments, information, methodology and family support. This includes, but was not restricted to school-attendance policies, blood-transfusion methodology, genetic and pharmacologic research, improvements in pain-management research and the support of Sickle-Cell testing on the blood-testing profile of newborns in the Florida; regardless of race, which was introduced and influenced by his aunt, former state legislator and current Volusia County Council Member Joyce Cusack, who is also a nurse.By age 10, he was the "Sickle Cell Poster Child” for Volusia County, the state of Florida, and was a national ambassador for its awareness campaigns. At the age of 11, he was made an honorary member of its national board after introducing the presentation: “I’m NOT Contagious: A Guide for Young Clients” at its national meeting in Dayton, Ohio. At age 12, he published that work as a guide to help combat social stigmas for children with blood-related illnesses through The Journal of Psycho-Social Awareness published by Duke University, in addition to lecturing at schools, colleges, career days and family support and community events.Allen was baptized at Emanuel Baptist Church in Jacksonville by his maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. S.L. Badger Jr. He was an honors graduate of DeLand High School, Cambridge University, the National Academy of Mortuary Science and Minnesota Graduate School of Theology at Brooklyn Park. He held degrees in business administration, f... (The West Volusia Beacon)