Timothy L. Forrest

Timothy (Tim) Lavern Forrest was born on August 20, 1956 at 6 months premature to Estella Cora (Forrest) Franklin and Henry Lamont Forrest , at Huntington Hospital in Monrovia, CA.  He was a busy little baby who liked to keep his mom on her toes.

At 6 years old Tim went Sacramento, CA to live with his foster parents the late Alfred L. and Ida Mays, whom he called mama & daddy.  At that time, he also gained a big sister, Jarilyn Theresa Newman.  Tim accepted the Lord as his personal savior at an early age and united with the Mt Calvary Baptist Church in Sacramento under the leadership of the late Reverend Sim Walton.

Tim grew up to be fun, sweet, caring, and respectful young man who was loved by everyone he came in contact with.  Tim remained in Sacramento until the age of 14 and then returned to Southern California to live with his biological family.

Tim moved back with his siblings in Pacoima, CA where he attended McClay Junior High and San

Fernando High School. While there Tim developed his passion for cooking and surprise his Mom on her birthday with a homemade cake. 

In 1972 before moving back to Sacramento to finish high school, Tim rededicated his life to Christ.

Timmy, as we affectionately called him, with the help of his cousin, Annie Davenport, began a career as a Dietician at Eskaton American River Hospital, now known as Mercy San Juan Hospital.  He remained employed there until he retired after 43 years of dedicated service.  While his role in the medical field was to nourish the patients with healthy meals, once at home he loved cooking his favorite foods, beef stew, and pork chops.  Nevertheless, the most requested dish from his family was his famous fried rice and his spaghetti.  In 2019 his cousin Leslie planned a surprise birthday party for him, and another cousin convinced him to make his spaghetti by telling him it was for an event at her church.  Timmy was quite surprised when she came to pick up the dish and suddenly other family members showed up at his door a few minutes later. 

Timmy was a free spirit person, and while he enjoyed his Pontiac Firebird in his 20’s, in later years he enjoyed riding bikes and walking.  He ultimately stopped driving and rode his bike to work every day or took the bus. Timmy loved to people watch and delighted in conversing with strangers. He took so much joy telling us about his bus ride adventures.

Timmy had a love affair with the Disco and 80s era, and he LOVED to dance. Some of his favorite artists were greats like Diana Ross, Phyllis Hyman, Barbara Streisand, and Donna Summer to name a few.  We can see him now bopping his head and snapping his loud fingers.  He enjoyed courtroom TV shows and loved the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.  After retirement, Timmy found himself buying    random stuff from late night infomercials.  He once mistakenly ordered 18 water hoses but later was successful in convincing the company to accept the return of the extras.

Timmy was caring and would give his last to anyone in need. Just before he became ill and went into the hospital, he stopped everything he was doing to help care for his cousin Annie Davenport until her death on May 21, 2021.  The two are probably laughing and cooking together now.

We will truly miss the holidays spent with Timmy, especially the 4th of July where we would gather every year at his house and have the best karaoke and family sing-a-longs.  Timmy loved hosting family get-togethers and to make sure the kids and everyone had the best time, he would set up the biggest bounce house in his backyard.

Tim was preceded in death by his bonus parents Alfred and Ida Mays, and brother Sherwood Bennett.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother and father; two siblings, Lamont Marquez Forrest, and sister Constance Maria (Forrest) Fisher; 3 nieces; 3 nephews, and 9 grand-nephew and nieces.

Timmy also leaves to cherish his memory, his huge bonus family who loved him not by chance, but by choice: a forever sister Jarilyn Newman, first cousins, Brenda Dixon, Lawrence & Vonzine Davenport, Henrietta Washington, Frieda & Johnny Ray Golden, Tyrone Miles, Wesley Adams, Jr., special cousins whom he helped nurture, Terri, Leslie and Tina Covington who are daughters of the late Annie Davenport and precious cousin Schusta Johnson

Tim was a proud Godfather and will be truly missed by his Godson Jaylin Marshall, Goddaughter, Willow Kelly, along with a host of countless Family and Friends, as well as his 2 canine companions Sheba and Big Boi.