Luce Roc Douyon

Luce Roc Douyon
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Luce Roc Douyon, 79, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11:30 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 2303 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS.
In the year 1928, God showered the heavens with rubies, and dropped on earth the best and rarest of them all. This dazzling gem was Luce Roc, who graced this earth for 79 years with the celestial attributes of beauty, grace, intelligence, sincerity, honesty, self-motivation, servitude, humility, tenacity, and God loving kindness….. All attributes of a "Virtuous Woman". Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
Born Luce Roc to Rodolphe and Yvonne Roc in the town of Jacmel, Haiti in the West Indies, Luce was the eldest of four siblings: Janin Roc (brother), Sonia Roc (sister), and Herve Roc (brother). In elementary, high school, and college she matriculated at the local catholic schools. There she mastered in-depth knowledge of world and local history, Haitian folklore, and a keen interest in linguistics. Additionally, she developed an interest in Physical Education, which she later taught for two years. Luce championed Women's Rights in Haiti by being the first woman to wear pants in the city of Jacmel.
In 1953 Luce Roc married Marcus Douyon, her soul mate. Their union produced six children: Margarette, Yanick, Liselle, Huguette, Chantal and Lionel. In 1956, Luce came to the United States with her spouse, Marcus, where they settled at Jackson State University, a historically black college. Her husband was a ceramics professor. There she settled into motherhood for a short stint before going back to school to learn English. Mrs. Douyon not only learned English but completed a bachelor's degree in Spanish and two master degrees: one in Modern Foreign Languages and the other in Linguistics. Additionally, she studied German for three years. She joined the faculty of Jackson State University in the 60's, where she taught French for over 30 years. She was twice awarded "Teacher of the Year".
Mrs. Douyon was a pioneer and at the forefront of advancing educational issues for African- Americans. She was among the first black students to integrate the University of Mississippi and the first black woman to get a master degree in French from there. She was passionate and relentless about education. She lived by her motto "education is the key to success". Mrs. Douyon always lectured young people about staying in school and never giving up.
A loving mother, she encouraged and guided her children to success. Often times she taught algebra and history to her children, who combated defiant and racist teachers during the turbulent times of desegregation in the 60's and 70's. Today, two of her children are physicians, one a chemist, one a chemistry teacher, one a computer scientist, and one an entrepreneur.
World Travelers, Mrs. Douyon and her husband were known at the University for their social outreach to foreign students. They were Godparents to many students of various backgrounds. Her home always welcomed students with fine dining, social and cultural exchange. She was affectionately called by all "CouCou". She and her husband were cultural ambassadors for the university and were often called upon by the state, city and university to interpret and to translate English/French.
Mrs. Douyon had many interests; among them were the Ladies Auxiliary Club of Christ the King Church, Francophones of Jackson, Mississippi, poetry, classical music, sewing, gardening, reading, and cooking.
On Monday, April 21, 2008, God realizing that his heavens were missing something, snatched back his rarest of gems, Luce Roc Douyon. He knew that her brilliance and energy had impacted generations and that her light would shine on all that she touched.
After a long hard fought battle with cancer, Luce Roc Douyon joined her husband in heaven with God. Now an angel……she looks and cares for her loved ones with celestial powers.
CouCou we miss and love you!
Mrs. Douyon is survived by her daughters, Margarette Douyon of Rochester, New York, Yanick Douyon Dwyer (Cornelius) of Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Liselle Douyon Teixiera (Robert) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Huguette Douyon Cole (Melvin) of Mobile, Alabama, and Chantal Douyon of Ann Arbor, Michigan; son, Lionel Douyon of Jackson, Mississippi; grandsons, Robert Marcus Teixeira, Adrien Cole, Fabrice Jean, Julien Cole, Mario Teixeira, Elijah Dent, Nicolas Teixeira, Mauricio Cole, Alexander Teixeira, and Jaylon Douyon; granddaughters, Britney Lorthridge, Manon Jean, Giselle Cole, and Alexia Cole; sister, Sonia Roc; brothers-in-law, Colonel Yovanne Douyon (Marion), Dr. Chavannes Douyon (Lucienne), Dr. Emerson Douyon, and Rev. Dr. Eddie Bazin; sisters-in-law, Mme., Lucrece St. Pierre, Mme., Yvette Remy Douyon, Mme., Gizette Chemaly Douyon, Mme., and Lucienne Glemaud Douyon; cousins, Raymond Thebaud (Marlene), Maryse Fougere (Luc), Janine Cadet, Adeline Cadet, Dr. Keller Roc, Palma Martelly, Serge Roc, Dr. Luc-Marie Fougere, Yanick Thebaud, Reginald Thebaud, Joel Thebaud, Ryan Thebaud, Rolande Lazzard, Clarita Arboite, Odille Laguerre, and Jeanette Genty; nieces, Marjorie Roc, Margaret Ilvert (Jean), Shina Roc (Jeff), Annouka Roc, Miriam Pierre Antoine (Phillip), Evelyn Roc, Lulu Kargbo, Margaret Kargbo, and Lovette Kargbo; nephew, Jean-Baptiste Roc ; family members, Ingenieur Fritz and Gisele Michel, Annette and Philip Garcia, Douyon family nieces, and nephews; The Oswald Wynter family, The Dr. George Currie family, the Dr. Quinton Kargbo family, The Lewanika family, The Lamenais Simeon family, The Dr. Francis Chigbo family, The Karl Griffin family, The Dr. John Uzodinma family, The Homer Tillman family, The Rose Robinson family, The Mac Henry Porter family, The John Higgins family, The Lawrence Jones family, The Dr. Joseph Pierre family, The Dr. Stephen Uche family, Jody and Jamie Linn, The Dr. Roger Mourad family, Herb Graves, and the Jackson State University Modern Foreign Language
Department faculty and staff.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eglise Ste. Marie-Madeline, located in Haiti, a charitable foundation established by the Douyon family. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Eglise Ste. Marie-Madeline, attention: Margarette Douyon, 92 Edinburgh St., Rochester, NY 14608.