Marie Gladys Jean-Baptiste

Marie Gladys was born on February 3rd, 1944, to Clemence Sejour and Ovide Jean-Baptiste. Those that loved and knew her best referred to her as Gladys. Have you ever met someone, like a prickly pear, which is tough and thorny on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside? Initially, they seem somewhat unapproachable and cold, but as you get to know them, you discover they have a warm side too. Their protective shell serves to project strength and, at times, intimidation. In some instances, their confidence can be mistaken for arrogance. This is how some that never got a chance to make a genuine connection with Gladys may have perceived her. However, those who took the time to get to know her would have realized she had a heart of gold. She was a warm and caring soul who took it upon herself to create a brighter future for her children.

As a proud mother of six, she had the foresight to recognize the limitations future generations would endure. Therefore, she chartered a pathway for her children to access opportunities within the United States. Armed solely with her mental toughness, she had the fortitude to overcome unspeakable odds of being a black Haitian-woman in 1980 to leave the country on a business visa to conduct business throughout the Caribbean. Then on a tourist visit to the United States, she seized that opportunity to stay. She gained her citizenship in the US in a male-dominated society where racial tensions ran high. Subsequently, she managed to send for each of her children to secure a future of endless opportunities for them. Her ingenuity enabled her to launch multiple businesses that financially supported the family. Recently retired from her clothing store business, we witnessed her long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship, which benefited us in more ways than one. She secured advantages for us that would be stepping stones onto our desired platforms. She instilled in each of us a demand for better as she fervently pursued and maintained her independence until the very end.

Marie-Gladys was a devout Christian prepared to proclaim her love for the Lord at every turn. Any and every opportunity was an excellent opportunity for her! Her legacy will live on through the accomplishments of her lineage because it stems from her sacrifice, ambition, and perseverance. Marie Gladys is survived by her six children, Marie-Frantz, Stanley, Patrick, Marie-Michelle, Romann, and Leonard; her brother Jacques Jean-Baptiste; her nephews Shultz Pierre-Louis; Guy Junior Jean, Ricardo Pierre-Louis, her grand-children and great grand-children.

A visitation for Marie Gladys will be held Friday, April 14, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317.

Funeral Service will on Saturday, April 15th, 2023 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317.

Repast will be held at Casa De Amore 7111 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac, FL 33319 immediately following the Funeral Service.

Burial will be on Thursday, April 20th, 2023 at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central 499 NW 27th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Jean-Baptiste family.