The Obituary of Jackson Jean-Baptiste: The following obituary appeared in the Peoria Journal Star on Wednesday, January 25, 2006.

JACKSON JEAN-BAPTISTE
Goodfield - Jackson Jean - Baptiste, 21 years old, from La Boul, Haiti, formerly living with host parents in Goodfield, died at 12:30 AM on January 21, 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was born on August 1, 1984 in Petion-Ville, Haiti to Maxil and Rosette Jean-Baptiste.

He is survived by his mother, Rosette, and one sister, Nadia in Haiti. His father and 2 brothers preceded him in death.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday January 27, 2006 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, formerly St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, in Peoria. Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Thursday at Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Eureka. A grave side service will be held at 10 am on Saturday at the Goodfield-Congerville Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Congerville.

Jackson attended school in Haiti for 9 years that was interrupted frequently by heart problems caused by rheumatic heart disease. He was brought to the United States by Haitian Hearts in 2001 for heart surgery in Peoria. In May, 2005 Jackson was diagnosed with a recurrent heart problem and brought to Cleveland Clinic on December 27 where he was treated.

During his stay in central Illinois, he stayed with loving host families in the area and attended school at Eureka Middle School. Jackson was very intelligent and spoke French, English, and his native Haitian Creole.

During the last six months of his life, Jackson suffered tremendously due to his heart problems. He was a victim of poverty and greed that sustains and propagates the degrading conditions in which he and his family lived in Haiti. Jackson was very independent and strong and fought to keep himself alive and deserved much more dignity as a human being than he was given.
Jackson's mother has now lost her main source of strength. He will greatly be missed by his Haitian family and his host families in Illinois.

Online condolence will be received at ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com and will be forwarded to Jackson’s mother in Haiti.

Donations can be made to Rosette, his mother, through Haitian Hearts PO Box 2363 East Peoria, IL 61611.