Joseph Junot Bouloute

To many, he was known as “Frere Junot,” which attests to his role as a servant of the Lord, as the English translation would have it to be known as “brother.”

Joseph Junot Bouloute was born on January 19, 1936 to his father Wadgeston Bouloute and mother Anita Lamur. Junot was the third child among his siblings: the youngest, Annie Bouloute (living); the second youngest, late Reverend Jonas Bouloute; the second eldest, late Reverend Robert Alexander Bouloute, and the eldest, who is still living today, Reverend Emilien Bouloute. To name each of the nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews that Frere Junot had, would be an endless conversation; on the other hand, to put in perspective, he had over 55 relatives of the such (clearly, the brothers took the “building nations” part of the Bible literally).

When Monsieur Joseph Bouloute became an adult, he worked for the post office in Haiti; he also held various related government positions. As his determined spirit would have it, he soon became the director of the post office for his sector.

At the age of about 25, while going to meet with a friend, he encountered a beautiful young woman in his neighborhood by the name of Marie Renane Manuel. In that era when a man loved a woman, he knew that time waits for no man so he quickly swept young Marie into marriage when he was 26 and they had their first child, a son, the following year. Unfortunately, the child became ill and died shortly after, however, in September of 1965, a miracle struck and they had their second child, who had then taken the place of the eldest, and they named her after her mother, Marie Wesline Bouloute (“Liline”). Following Liline, Young Joseph and Marie had three additional daughters/children: Berthilde Bouloute (“Bebe”), now known as Berthilde Jean-Mary; Michelle Bouloute, now known as Michelle Franclin; and Rose Andre Bouloute.

In 1982, Frere Junot sought a grander vision for his family and wanted his children to have access to endless opportunity. As a result, he and his wife made the sacrifice to temporarily live a part so that her and their two eldest children could migrate from Haiti to settle in the United States. Following his wife and two eldest daughters, Frere Junot came to the United States in 1984 with his two youngest daughters; and the family unit was reunited.

Shortly after, just as September would have it, in 1988, he had his first grandchild, Alexandra Jean-Mary. Following Alexandra, came Sheina Bouloute, Beatrice Jean-Mary, then his first grandson, Brian Somun, and his final known grandchild, Max Desert. Last, but certainly not least, in May of 2016, Frere Junot had his first (and only known) great grandchild who was named after him, Shaine Joseph Bouloute.

Frere Junot did have a life where had he had some obstacles surrounding his health; however, the love and life that he had overpowered the adversities and his work as a faithful servant to the Lord, kept him strengthened for 85 fulfilled years.

To most, especially in the church, he was “Frere Junot;” to his siblings, he was “brother”; to his wife, he was “husband;” to his children, he was “Papa,” And finally, to his grandchildren and great grandchild, he was “Granpa,”

We all loved him and we will dearly miss him, but we will never forget him.

Au revoir, Frere Junot you are no longer suffering the trials of this earth. You are now at peace. Although you have departed from this life on October 12, 2021, you have gained a new, everlasting, joyful life with our Savior, Jesus Christ.