Jacques V. Joseph

Jacques Vernes Joseph was born on November 26, 1943 in Milot, Haïti, son of Elie Joseph and Sancionne Melana Moïse (both deceased). He pursued his academic journey at “École Rurale de Grand-Pré,” and he worked as a farmer following his father’s footstep. He relocated to Nassau Bahamas by boat in 1979 where he worked for a couple of years.  He migrated to USA in 1981 to open the floodgate of blessing. He resided in Miami for a short time, then relocated to Belle Glade, Florida for 13yrs until he made Tampa, FL his home for 29 yrs (since 1994) alongside his faithful wife who also risked her life entering the USA via boat in the era of boat people under the category of la migration indésirable in the hope of a better life. He and his wife, Cilia Antoinette Joseph, petitioned for their four children and successfully brought them to the USA in May of 1991. He worked as a farmer in Belle Glade, and in the food industry in Tampa. In fact, he worked for IHOP until the rigor of dialysis retired him from employment in 2012. 

Jacques spent 60yrs with his wife (7yrs dating & 53yrs married). He was a husband par excellence; a generous, loving, protective father; an affable, playful, adaptable and gentle grandfather; a philanthropist, and a political enthusiast. In fact, he used to have lengthy conversations with his deceased brother Chenet Joseph about his distant cousin, l’honorable Senateur Jean-Charles Moïse, one of Haïti’s 2015 presidential candidates, like a crown of pride for the Moïse-Joseph genealogy.

Adding to the many ER visits to Tampa General Hospital, his potassium level was out of whack, so his son transported him to TGH on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Despite the most aggressive treatments by numerous medical experts for multi-systems failures, he was pronounced dead on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 8:13PM EST surrounding by all his children and some of his grandchildren. He was 79, only one year short of being an octogenarian.

Jacques was the last living person of his family of origin. He lost both of his parents and 6 brothers. In fact, he recently lost his youngest brother Zercesse on December 3, 2022 (8 months ago) and his older brother Chenet on February 21, 2021. 

Jacques left a multitude of loved-ones to mourn his departure and to celebrate a life well lived: His wife, Cilia Antoinette Joseph; his four children, Dadie Semexant, Dasmain Joseph, Dounia Joseph, and Lyrlande Milhomme;his mother in law, Philomena Joseph; his son-in law;
daughter in law, Willio Milhomme and  Crisanie Joseph; his grandchildren, Bony, Bonix, Ramielle Semexant (and their. Father Bonicias Semexant SR); Dasnie Joseph; Selah & Seriah Merilan (and their father Olnick Merilan); Rinnah, Yeshua & Hodaya Milhomme; brothers and sisters-in law Jeannine Joseph, Antoine Mondésir, Wally & Lucienne Volmy, Jean Pierre & Lucie Magny; Apolon &Gabrielle St. Juste; his many nieces and nephews, Altida, Dieunet, Julien Morency, Walker, Xercelot, Marckda Lena, Claudel, Alisha & Maliyah Paul; Darline, Viona, Murielle, Andrice, Drice Joseph; Angelique Janvier, Anne Marie, Sanchez, Johnny, Ricardo, Wesly & Rodney Jacques; his cousins Eliente, Jacklyn, Yvon, Paulette, Kernizan, Saintilma Mompremier, Bernadette,Natalie Delcy, Anne, Tasha Lubin, l’honorable senateur Jean Charles Moïse, et; his many friends include Fritzner Compere, Price, Odena, Edliv, Dr. Altémé, Chilet, Smith  Désir, Ebenezer church family, and too many more to enumerate. 

Beloved, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21). Jacques is no longer with us, but we must perpetuate his legacy of generosity, love, forgiveness, and happiness.  Death reminds us of our own mortality and the meaning for our own existence. The perfect time to forgive, to repair broken relationships, to find healing for hatred, unfinished business is NOW before it is too late. Beloved, may “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). As for Jacques V. Joseph, he can now homologate apostle Paul’s valedictorian speech: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8). May his soul rest in eternal paradise!