Joe Jaime

Joe Jaime was born on Christmas Eve in 1946 at the original Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, TX. As he would explain in his later years, his true life began 7 months prior to his birth as an embryo when his heart started beating on May 24, 1946. This was termed “Kick off day” and became a mission legacy of bringing awareness to the beginning of life as God sees everyone in their mother’s womb.

At the age of twelve, with the support of Sunday school teacher Mrs. Beeman, Joe attended Valley Baptist Academy in Harlingen formally known as Valley Baptist Hospital during his teenage years from 1960 until graduating in 1965, the same hospital he was born in. During that time, he received a license to preach from a local church. After enrolling at the University of Corpus Christi, he was called to serve as pastor of Mision Bautista in Woodsboro, Texas where he was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1967.

His life would take him from Woodsboro to Houston, San Benito, Harlingen, and surrounding valley cities as he served in pastoral ministries.

Chaplaincy as a career came as a sudden and unexpected opportunity for him. While pastoring a church in Houston, he received a call to be an assistant chaplain at Valley Baptist Hospital back in Harlingen. He accepted and became officially employed on January 15, 1973. Within a few months, the lead chaplain resigned and that position was filled by Earl Troglin who became not only a mentor to Joe, but his lifetime best friend. A few years later he obtained his chaplaincy certificate while attending Corpus Christi Memorial Medical Center. He continued his education by achieving his bachelor’s degree at Pan American University in Edinburg, TX.

Joe Jaime dedicated his heart, his entire service as chaplain with Valley Baptist for 50 years until he retired in 2023.

During his life he enjoyed writing heartfelt sentiments to his family and friends. He also played the piano and guitar which were self-taught at a very young age, both were instrumental in his role as Minister and Chaplain. He had a fond affection for his fellow Academy Alumni, his former colleagues at the hospital, many pastoral friends, and numerous Rio Grande Valley residents. He loved to help others, make people laugh, spend precious time with his family, and drive anywhere the road would take him. He loved road trips! Toward the end of his life, his passion became bringing awareness to the beginning of life, when the heart starts beating, and he would always refer to Psalm 139:16.

He is preceded in death by his son Joshua T. Jaime, and father Eleasar H. Jaime.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother Lily G. Jaime, and children Joe Jr. (Deena), Sulema (Roy), Jacob, and Miguel. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Joey, Kaylee (Nathan), Jacob Joshua (Gabriella), Jessayra (Julius), Jayren, Abigail (Brandon), Jordan, Emily, Jase, and his great grandchildren Genesis, Oliver, Olivia, Esme, Mila, and Madden.

He is also survived by his siblings Petra (Jose), Tony (Stella), Ben (Angie), Ram, Odie (David), Rosie (Ray), Edward (Sue), Blanca (Rick), Eleasar (Ruth), Linda, Arturo, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A memorial is pending at a future date as per the family.