LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Reverend Dr. Honore Augus-
tin Jacques Sr., distinguished citizen and devoted member of his commu-
nity

WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Reverend Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques Sr.,
noting the significance of his purposeful life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Honore Jacques was born on May 5, 1936 in Gonaives, Haiti,
and died on April 28, 2011; raised amongst five siblings in a religious
home, on February 14, 1955, at the age of 19, he heard God's voice
urging him to surrender his life to Christ; and
WHEREAS, Honore Jacques traveled to many areas in Haiti ministering to
many; during his spiritual walk, he served as a Sunday school teacher, a
church Boy Scouts leader, a youth director and founded the Pioneers for
Christ; one evening at a church service his eyes fell upon the love of
his life, Solange Elourdes Labossiere; and
WHEREAS, They were married on June 25, 1960, at the Seminary of Bour-
don, and they had ten children, 31 grandchildren and five great-grand-
children; and
WHEREAS, As students at the Seminary of Bourdon, Drs. Honore and
Solange ministered to countless souls in the community and were asked by
the seminary's President to pastor a church under the supervision of
Pastor Samuel Peterson; upon completion in 1965, they excelled academ-
ically and received a scholarship to attend the School of Theology in
Cleveland, Tennessee, by the late Reverend Vessie Hargrave; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Jacques and Solange obtained a permanent visa to the
United States where he later pursued his studies in the gospel and
earned his doctorate in Theology and Divinity from Logos Christian
College and Graduate School; on September 24, 1967, he and the Church of
God officially organized the First Haitian Church of God in America,
which experienced phenomenal growth and became the mother of all Haitian
Churches; and
WHEREAS, This church was formerly known as Church of God of Vander-
bilt, then Church of God of Seventh Avenue and is currently the Church
of God of Cortelyou Road; from this one church, grew over forty churches
and Reverend Honore Jacques trained ministers in Rockland County, the
five boroughs of New York, New Jersey, Canada, Boston, Florida, Pennsyl-
vania and Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, The news of the overwhelming growth of the Haitian churches
in the United States spread throughout the world; Dr. Jacques trained
future district overseers, and established four more districts in New
Jersey, Manhattan, Queens and Rockland County; and
WHEREAS, This action brought forth a significant amount of Haitian
churches formed under his leadership which continue to develop and main-
tain fellowship by rallies and other social activities; in 1990, Bishop
Honore Jacques had a vision of all Haitian churches gathering in one
accord annually to fellowship and give God praise; and
WHEREAS, This vision was brought into fruition in 1991 when Bishop
Jacques founded the Haitian National Convention; since that time, the
Lord has approved and blessed this movement immensely; just before his
passing, Dr. Jacques and board members planned for the continued success
of the 2011, 20th annual Haitian National Convention; and
WHEREAS, To many, Dr. Honore Jacques was a beloved Pastor and Bishop
known as a man of faith, a man of valor, and a preacher of righteous-
ness; to many others, he was a spiritual mentor; and

WHEREAS, To his community, Dr. Honore Jacques was a vessel of honor, a
humble philanthropist that kept the doors to the church open to all; he
watched, nurtured and cared for his congregation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques Sr.'s commitment to excellence,
and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Solange, Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques
Sr. is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-granchildren,
as well as numerous other family members; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques Sr. leaves behind a legacy which
will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting
memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques Sr., distinguished citi-
zen and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Honore Augustin Jacques Sr.