Jeannine Gibbs Augustin

A Celebration of the Life of Jeannine Gibbs Augustin

Jeannine Gibbs Augustin was born on March 6, 1938 in Petit-Goave, Haiti. The fourth of six children from Albert Gibbs and Anna Lemeine.  She grew up to be a loving, caring and charming young lady. She was an intelligent and meticulous student, to whom books were considered friends. The family labeled her "the encyclopedia" because of her sharp memory and her seeming ability to have all the answers.

After completing her academic education in Petit-Goave and scoring the highest marks in the country on the national exam (which earned her quite a bit of celebrity in her town), Jeannine moved to Port-au-Prince to a boarding facility to complete her last year of high school at the Lycee des Jeunes Filles. Although an attentive and brilliant student, she of course made time to develop friendships that have endured a lifetime.  Her peers have described her as a sincere and true friend, well loved by all. Even the supervisor of her boarding school wanted everyone to look up to her as a model of fortitude, correctness and grace.

From there she pursued her career in Pharmacy at the State University of Haiti, School of Medicine.  Her charm and beauty were irresistible to many seekers, but it was Dr. Cesar Augustin who courted her and became the love of her life.  Cesar left Jeannine in Haiti for a short period to start his medical residency in the US. They remained engaged through love letters and poetry. Cesar then returned for a quick weekend to marry Jeannine in the morning of December, 18th 1960 and board a Pan American Airlines flight back to the United States the same evening.  They settled in St Louis, MO where Jeanine and her husband helped birth and nurture a Haitian community with whom she would remain bonded to for the rest of her life.

After their first born child Patrick arrived in 1961, the couple dreamed of making a home and practicing medicine in Haiti. Due to political uncertainty Dr. Augustin left his family in Haiti and went to Monrovia, Liberia to work for Physicians without Borders.  Jeannine traveled to Africa to join her beloved husband shortly after the birth of their second son, Cesar Jr.  After 2 years the couple returned to the United States and made St. Louis, Missouri their permanent home where they would welcome their youngest son Stanley.

Jeannine worked in medical technology until she opted to be a full time homemaker and prioritized raising her children and caring for her husband. She gave her children the utmost encouragement and support in all their endeavors. Meanwhile  in her spare time she enjoyed reading french, english, studying spanish and hand writing analysis. She applied her analytical prowess to her culinary skills as well.  Everyone agreed she was an extraordinary cook with impeccable hospitality to everyone who crossed her threshold.  

Jeannine was very proud of her Haitian heritage and donated to a variety of organizations to support her home country. She also participated in the social activities of  the Association of Haitian Physicians abroad.  Her care and love for her community, friends and relatives was beyond the norm.  Jeannine visited her siblings often and was always ready for any family gathering joyful or sad.

After her children went to college, Jeannine enrolled into the University of Missouri at St. Louis to earn a Master of Science degree in Biology.  She then worked for Monsanto for several years in various research capacities.

Jeannine’s 82 years of life are difficult to illuminate in one page. Those who knew Jeannine appreciated her elegance and grace. However, take her kindness for weakness at their own risk. Her faith in God helped her endure what could have been described as the darkest moment of her life when her first son, Patrick, died at the age of 31. Jeannine and her husband lived the remainder of their lives with dignty and love, even finding room to house their first grandchild, Kelsie, as she attended high school in St. Louis. Jeannine lived her final years in Ohio, after the passing of her husband of 57 years, to be in the care of her son, Cesar Jr., his wife, Kellie, and her caretaker, Melba.

To Jeannine, Grand-ma, Ma Jeannine, Ja, Jaja, Lajaja, Aunt Jeannine, Madame Jeannine, Madame Augustin: We sons, daughters in laws, grand- children, brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews left, and dear friends, we give homage to you for your utmost love and kindness.  You will be in our hearts forever.

Jeannine leaves behind the following:  her two sons: Dr. Cesar Augustin Jr and wife Kellie Kirksey Augustin, Ph.D,  Dr. Stanley Augustin and wife Maggie Augustin, her grandchildren: Kelsie, Jazmin, Dominic, John, Gabrielle and Lauren.  Her sisters and brothers:  Raymonde Gibbs Thelemaque, William Gibbs, Yves Gibbs, Edda Francois (who is a cousin/sister), Sonny Gibbs, Josseline Gibbs Josue, Wotchild Gibbs, Mireille Gibbs, Micheline Gibbs Steven, Marie Alberte Gibbs, Albert Gibbs, Enid Gibbs Joseph, Romel Gibbs, Gerard Gibbs, and the late Weber Gibbs, Irma Gibbs Loiseau, and Gibson Gibbs.

 Jeannine is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who she loved dearly and kept close to her heart.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the condolences, prayers and many kind expressions of sympathy.  Your support means a great deal to us during this time of transition. 

Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday March 5, 2021 at the Fox Funeral Home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday March 6, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Church 1420 Oak Hill Ave. Youngstown, Ohio 44507, celebrated by Rev. Kevin Peters.

Interment will at Bellerive Gardens Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations in Jeannine Gibbs Augustin name to:

The J.A. Clermont Foundation Inc. (Haitian Orphanage Fund) 

P.O. Box 1304 Columbia, Maryland 21044

Due to our current health crisis COVID-19 we are asking anyone that is  attending calling hours or the funeral mass please wear a face mask and to maintain all social-distancing guidelines mandated by the State of Ohio (6-foot apart and not to linger) Thank you. 

 Expansive Love
There is a hesitancy in saying goodbye.
There is profound sadness, that the foundation of life has forever
shifted.
There is a deep grieving in the finality of the physical vessel that
houses our soul.
How can life be the same without seeing the light in your eyes?
….or beholding the warmth of your smile?
or hearing your joyful laugh
or receiving your wise counsel?
How can we go forward without your elegance, class, kindness,
affection and unwavering faith?
Our grief feels as deep as the ocean,
Because our love for you is as vast as the Universe.
Therefore my dear one,
We shall see you beyond the form you have departed.
We will feel your encouragement in the warmth of the sunshine
We will hear your laughter in the gentle spring breeze.
We will see your smile in the boldness of the summer flowers.
We will see your resilience in the rainbow after the storm.
We will not deny the tears that flow
and we will rejoice that we have known you.
We will not deny the empty space in our hearts,
And we will stay forever connected through sweet memories.
We will not deny the disbelief that we will never feel your warm
embrace,
And we will savor the sacred moments we shared.
We will feel your expansive love in every sunrise and sunset.
We will reach for the joy and radiance you so wondrously
modeled for us all.
We will embrace your lessons of courage and strength as we
extend gratitude for the precious time you graced our life and
enriched our journey.
We will nurture the love you so freely gave us,
and finally,
we shall remind ourselves frequently how very lucky we have
been to have had each other.
You have blessed us and are forever in our hearts.
We love you dearly!
The Family

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