Tribute from Beverly Bell

Dear Friends, 
For those who haven’t received word, Marie Marcelle Buteau Racine left behind her failed body and mind yesterday, July 23. It is my hope that she flew her beautiful self away to a place where exist the principles, love, and dignity that she worked so hard for on this planet.

I don’t need to tell anyone who knew Marie how kind, selfless, committed, integrity-filled, impassioned, indefatigable, and spiritually evolved she was. It has been my humble honor and joy to have known her since 1984, where we met at a demonstration in Washington against the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier. I knew her as co-founder of the University of the District of Columbia, which opened in 1977. Marie dedicated herself to co-creating and co-leading the only public institution of higher learning in DC, a historically Black university, because she was committed to African Americans having equal access to education. I knew her as director of the linguistics department, linguistics professor, and dean of students at UDC; summertime teacher to peasant children in the mountains in Haiti; assistant to President Aristide during the coup d’état of his first, hopeful term; board member of the Lambi Fund, Center for Economic Justice, and so many other organizations; co-author (with Kathy Ogle) of the beautiful book, Like the Dew that Waters the Grass: Words of Haitian Women. I knew her as someone deeply troubled by the injustices of the world, causing her and her beloved husband to flee into exile with their family in 1966, because they couldn’t bear to raise their young children under the moral corruption and inhumanity of the François Duvalier regime, and causing her to work endlessly on behalf of a more just, equitable, and humane homeland and world. I knew Marie as the mother and best friend of DC’s Attorney General, Karl, who is shaking Trumpland up in brilliant and innovative ways. I knew Marie as “pa ka pa la,” cannot not be there, someone who always showed up to help and support, or simply to lend the strength and solidarity of her presence. I knew her as connoisseur and collector of Haitian and other African diaspora art; exquisite orator and singer; divine dancer who moved with the fluidity of water; lover of peoples and cultures. You, gentle reader, may have known her in other of her extraordinary capacities.

We shared many things: deep friendship, trust, love, and respect; passion for a transmuted world; long collaboration in a number of progressive non-profits and political initiatives; travels all around the US, as well as to Haiti, Mexico, Cuba, and – if long-term memory serves – Mali and Brazil; elation, rage, and devastation as Haiti, its people, and dreams for its transformation rose and fell; adoration of Rev. Antoine Adrien, Haiti’s preeminent liberation theology leader and spiritual rock of the popular movement, who was also her uncle and my greatest mentor… I could go on for a long time about our shared existence and experiences. I learned much from Marie, and am very grateful to her for so many things. 

To Marie’s son, daughter, three grandchildren, and sister, all of whom she adored: my extremely deep condolences. To Marie: Byen fèt, cheri. Chapo ba pou tout sa ou te bay, tout sa ou te fè, pou moun ou te ye a.

I attach below a photo of Marie with our friend Berta Cáceres, Honduran indigenous and territory rights leader who was slain in 2016. We were in a Zapatista village in Chiapas in 2000, where Berta, other comrades, and I co-led the first international gathering of the Convergence of Movements of Peoples of the Americas (COMPA); Marie joined and participated enthusiastically. Berta’s daughters found the photo in their mother’s home after her murder. 


Very much love to all,

Bev

Tribute from Pere William Smarth

Maye cheri,

Maye, vwyayaj  la pa t kout, men nou ta renmen l pi long.  Maye, si mwen te gen tan,  anvan mwen vin jwenn ou, fò mwen ta ekri yon liv sou ou. Non ! Ann kite sa, paske fò mwen ta fè twòp rechèh, nan twòp branch aktivite  lavi a : ou touche anpil anpil ladan yo. Men, jodi a, an n fè yon ti koze tou kout, menmsi avè w koze pa janm  kab kout. 

Maye, nou pa dwe  pran lapenn pou ou. Se pou nou,  n ap  pran lapenn, paske sanble ou pa avè nou ankò.  Nan pwen pran lapenn pou ou, ou rive kote ki bon pou ou  a: nan piyay lavi, nan piyay kè kontan total Bondye w la,  sa ou ta renmen tout moun kòmanse jwenn sou tè a. Epi, mwen gen dwa di devan tout moun : pou ou, se te vòl dirèk  nan pye Papa Bondye,  anba je Manman Mari. Ti kòlè avèk Frans, avèk Mika,  sa pa ekri nan Liv Gran Mèt la : kè sansib Jezikri gen tan efase tout, poutèt jan ou te renmen tout bon, jan ou te sèvi tout bon, jan ou te ede tout bon, san ipokrizi, san fè wè, fason gran frè n Jezi mande n fè sa. 

Maye, ou konn sa mwen te pi renmen avè w ? Se kouman, pandan ou nan tout kalite reyinyon, nan tout kalite manifestasyon,  ou nan Lanbi Fund, ou nan Bibliyotèk  Sen Masyal, ou nan Inivèsite Hopkins, , ou nan Akademi kreyòl… ou pa janm separe yon ti moman ak fanmi ou. Ou te tèlman gen kapasite, kè w te si tèlman laj, ou te fè plizyè bagay an menm tan.  Nan pwen yon jou pou m kontre avè w, pou nan yon kout batje, ou pa gen tan ban m nouvèl Etzer, France, Kaki, Mika, Karlo, Chouk, Gemmika, Chucky, Khaï,  epi  pou w pa gen tan mande m nouvèl fanmi  pa m. Ou estwòdinè ! Kalite lespri sa a, kalite renmen sa a pa fouti fini, pa fouti disparèt. 

Maye, mèsi anpil, anpil. Bondye te ba w anpil anpil kalite, anpil kouray, e ou te fè yo rapòte anpil. Ou fè pi plis pase sa ou te oblije fè. Se sa Bondye ta renmen jwenn nan men nou tout. Ou te kòmanse jwenn rekonpans lan nan jan Mika ap fè jefò pou fanm li mache byen, nan jan Karlo ap defann dwa moun ak anpil kouray, ak anpil konpetans. Mèsi Bondye ou lavi Maye !

Maye,  nan lyedverite w, kote ou ye a, pran Etzer, Antwán, Janie, Gaby, Jan-Mari Vensan TiJan Pyèlwi : al devan Bondye Gran Mèt la, mande l benediksyon espesyal pou France, ti sè cheri sa a ki pote chay lavia avè w, mande l benyen  fanmi nou yo ak benediksyon l. sitou jèn yo ak timoun yo. Mande l tou,  voye llmyè Lespri Sen a ban nou, pou nou rive bati yon lòt Ayiti san enjistis, san moun anwo ak moun anba,  yon Ayiti san volè, yon Etazini, yon sosyete,  san krim, san rayisans, san rasis. Yon sosyete kote nou tout  n a tounen frè ak sè tout bonvre. 

Maye cheri, mwen mete ansanm ak France, ak Mika, ak Kalo, aktout fanmi ou, ak Josette ak tout manm Lanbi Fund, ansanm ak tout manm Akademi Kreyòl,  pou m di: Chapo ba, Manman! Ou rete konn sa yo rele viv ak moun. Ou rete konn sa yo rele travay, ou konn sa  yo rele renmen. Maye, mèsi anpil . Maye cheri, mwen renmen w anpil.      William

Tribute from Burton Wides, Esquire

Marie Racine became a treasured friend soon after we met in the early 90’s. For a decade, I was a D.C. attorney representing the constitutional government of Haiti’s President Aristide, both here in Washington and in Port-au Prince. Marie was a wonderful guide and obviously a talented teacher. She patiently tutored me, as I came to appreciate the Haitian people, their thirst for freedom from domestic or U.S. oppression, their wry sense of humor, and the incredible creativity of their beautiful culture, I trusted her insights when I was puzzled by arcane relationships and new developments; and I admired her dedication to liberty for all Haitians.

I also learned why this was not surprising. Her uncle, Father Antoine Adrien, was, in a real sense, the father of democracy in Haiti and Aristide’s mentor. Despite his fierce advocacy, he was widely respected by many across the political spectrum. This was vividly clear when I flew from Miami to Port-au-Prince. My seat mates —  Haitian “grand dames” from Petionville, and wealthy businessmen — might scornfully dismiss Aristide and leaders in his government; but when Adrien came up, their reply often changed to one of respect and admiration, especially from those who remembered him as an educator. During fraught negotiations on Governor’s Island and at the U.N., President Bush’s minions made fatal mistakes when they tried to denigrate his views, which was met by embarrassing silence,  even from the illegal Junta’s representatives! He became one of my heroes.  During his first serious illness in the mid-90’s, I visited him at Marie’s.Each time I was struck by her devotion, as she tenderly, but firmly, nursed him. 

The Racine family values clearly devolve well. After 50 years immersion in government and politics, I am cynically suspicious of campaign promises and announced “reforms.” Marie’s son Karl, was still young on my visits to her home on Nebraska Avenue. But it has not surprised me to watch him easily transfer from corporate law practice into a public champion of civil rights, civil liberties, and consumer protection. I remember Marie’s great pride when we chatted at his fundraiser.

Two memories of my privilege to know Marie stand out. Louise and I made the mistake — not completely in our control  — of having both our children’s weddings within six weeks. At their small joint engagement party in our backyard, I thoroughly enjoyed introducing Marie to my family and friends, and introducing them to her.

The second time, was a lengthy lunch at a cafe patio on 14th Street, after she and some other former close allies of Aristide had become disenchanted with aspects of his presidential tenure. We differed in our understanding of these developments and our interpretations of their implication for Haiti’s future. Still, as always, Marie indulged a novice from New Jersey “mansplaining” Haiti to her, with her inveterate patience, kindness and warmth.

I was deeply saddened by Marie’s long illness. I will miss her.

Burton Wides, Esquire

Washington, DC

WORDS OF COMFORT from the Committee for the Advancement of the Creole Language (KOMALAK)

I am very grateful and blessed for the privilege of havingcrossed path with Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine.  A gentle human being whose demeanor inspired peace, calmness and admiration.  She embodied a sense of care and respect for others exceeding common standards, with a remarkable and empowering trait of humility that helped her establish a healthy connection, and rapport with people in general and her students in particular.  Dr.Racine will be remembered as a peacemaker whose actions in life reflected a constant quest for harmony. As such, she perfectly translated in her everyday life the view of Nelson Mandela about people of influence when he uttered these words:“Great peacemaker are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility”.

A devoted and passionate educator, Dr. Marie Racine, a professor emeritus of French and Linguistics at the University of the District of Columbia has instilled in her students the values and qualities that have characterized her life as an authentic and respectable human being. She made a world of difference in her students’ life, impacting everything from their classroom learning to their long term success.

A member of the Haitian Creole Academy, Dr. Racine brought meaningful and significant contributions to the work of this organization in her efforts to promote and advance the Creole Language. For many years, she taught Haitian Creole at the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, DC. She also devoted time and efforts in the work of the Committee for the Advancement of the Creole Language (KOMALAK), in the Washington area.

As a faithful and diligent servant, Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine is departing this earth with a sense of mission well accomplished.  Her legacy will endure for years to come.

On behalf of the members of KOMALAK, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine.


Fred Williams, Ph.D.Executive Coordinator of KOMALAK(Committee for the Advancement of the Creole Language)Silver Spring, Md. 

Tribute from John Kozyn

I first met Marie Racine while working at the Washington Office on Haiti under Fritz Longchamp in January 1990 and soon learned that she happened to be the niece of the Haitian priest and educator, Rev Antoine Adrien, co-founder of WOH along with his confrère Rev. Jim Healy and both of them priests in the Spiritan congregation.

Later that year it was Marie that gave me and several others our first lessons in Kreyòl, which of course aided me immeasurably as I continued my work for Haiti. Subsequently – after the coup d’état against Titid in 1991 – my work shifted to the Haitian Embassy; first with Foreign Ministers Jean-Robert Sabalat and Claudette Werleigh.

Marie, who was a regular presence at the Embassy’s social and diplomatic events, also served in the capacity of informal adviser to the Haiti’s diplomats. While I never knew her as well as did many others in the Haitian community, I do remember her indefatigable and unflappable nature, never appearing to be stressed during urgent political situations (tout bagay se urjans!) and all the while maintaining the ability to still have a ready smile for all.

Marie Racine was a lovely woman who exemplified the finest traits of what it means to be a good human being!

John Kozyn, Arlington, Va. –  Former  Consultant with:

Former Minister (late) Jean-Robert Sabalat, Former Ambassadors Jean Casimir, Louis Harold Joseph

Former Prime Minister, Mrs. Claudette Werleigh

Tribute from Marcelle Chery

A public servant peacefully passed away after a long battle with LIFE. Dr.  Marie Marcelle Racine will be missed by those who came to know her during her involvement in service to the Haitian Community at Our Lady Queen Of Peace, in Arlington, Virginia; at KOFAPA, an organization Dr Racine had founded to give Haitian Women a platform at the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995.  My most memorable recollection was our collaboration at launching themagazine dedicated to the bicentennial Celebration of “Vertières”, at the Haitian Embassy in Washington D C. (November 2003).  Marie, as I used to call her, was the bridge to cross when to find the best idiom for the version Kreyol to appear in the magazine.   Naturaly Professor Racine was one of the founding members of Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen.  

The soft-spoken Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine was this lovable figure who could lighten up a room with her classy, humble character and her joyful smile.  She was a writer, a mother, a tireless activist, with unwavering commitment to her native country, Haiti. An inspiring young woman who did not spend her time passing blames; she brought in solutions whenever the occasion presented itself. 

I have been especially blessed with the opportunity to have known this beautiful woman. She made a positive difference in shaping the future of many people, from all walk of LIFE   May her Soul Rest in Peace after a mission well accomplished. 

My sympathy to the family and friends who have known and admired this Icon, Dr Marie Marcelle Racine.

Sincerely,

Marcelle Chery

CEO Ellecram Productions Corp.

2004 Classic Gold Medal Award Winner 

Plantation, Florida

A Giant of a Figure Departs

There is a word in Haitian creole to describe some towering figures; the word is: Mapou.  Much like the African Baobab, the Mapou is an imposing tree which lives for a long time. It is a central element in Haitian society  and has come to typify strength and resilience. This is the description that fits Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine who departed this past July 23, peacefully, surrounded by her family, after a long and fulfilling life. 

​Maye, as she was affectionately known, was a gentle soul with a steely determination to accomplish a goal: to make sure her students benefitted from the knowledge she acquired herself. She was an exemplary teacher. Her students are unanimous in acknowledging her teaching skills. She had a unique ability to connect with people. Maye never failed to ask me about my daughter’s progress in school and she was so pleased to know that she was doing well. I do not ever remember her getting mad at someone. That was Maye. On the contrary, she was always concerned about others’ wellbeing. ​

I had the privilege not only of calling Professor Racine my friend, but also of being her colleague at the Haitian Creole Academy which, along with the late linguist Yves Déjean and other Haitian linguists, she helped set up. She passionately believed in promoting Haitian Kreyòl as a tool of Haitian identity and even in retirement, she was active in teaching creole everywhere she could: at the Haitian Embassy in Washington D.C., at the University of the District of Columbia etc. It is that same passion that led her to get involved in all activities having to do with Haiti, civil rights, respect for human rights everywhere. This is the kind of environment  in which Maye and her late husband, Etzer, raised their two children, Karl and Mikaele.​

Maye is no longer, but only her physical being is gone. Her spirit will be for ever present, her memory very much alive for her daughter Mikaele, her husband and children, her son, the Honorable Karl Racine, the Attorney General for Washington D.C., her sister France Buteau and a myriad of friends all over. 

​My family and myself address our most sincere condolences to the Racine family. These moments are never easy; but we all get comfort in knowing that she lived a full life, a fulfilling life. ​

I am grateful to have been able to call her, not Dr Racine, not even Professor Racine, but simply: Maye. May you rest in Peace, Maye! Safe passage…..

Serge Bellegarde

Translator for the Organization of American States (Ret.)

Member of the Haitian Creole Academy

Yon Lòt Mapou Tonbe

​Gen yon mo nan kreyòl ayisyen an yo itilize pou dekri yon seri gwo pèsonalite: mo sa a, se “ Mapou”.  Tankou pye bwa nan Lafrik yo rele Baobab, Mapou a, se yon kokenn pye bwa ki viv lontan.  Li se yon eleman kle nan sosyete Ayiti a, aloske ke li senbolize pisans ak rezistans. Se yon deskripsyon ki kadre byen ak lavi Dr. Marie Marcelle Racine ki travèse lòt bò nan dat 23 jiyè ki fèk pase a, nan lapè, aloske fanmi li te avèk li. ​

Maye, jan tout zanmi li te konn rele li, te yon moun ki pa fè kont ak pèsonn, men ki te aji ak detèminasyon e konviksyon pou li reyalize objektif li: asire etidyan li yo kapab rive aprann kòrèkteman sa li t ap anseye yo. Kòm pwofesè, pa te gen tankou li. Pa gen youn nan etidyan li yo ki pa te rekonèt Dr. Racine te yon pwofesè san parèy. Li te gen yon kapasite estwòdinè pou konekte ak   moun. 

Maye pa te janm manke mande mwen kouman pitit fi mwen t ap pwogrese lekòl, e li te tèlman kontan aprann li t ap travay byen san pwoblèm. Se konsa li t ap veye sou tout etidyan li yo. Mwen pa kwè mwen janm wè Maye move sou yon moun; okontrè, preyokipasyon li, se veye pou tout moun te byen. ​

Non sèlman mwen te kapab konsidere Pwofesè Racine kòm zanmi mwen, men, mwen te rive pataje tit kolèg avèk li nan Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen an, yon enstitisyon limenm ak defen lengwis ayisyen Yves Déjean te travay anpil pou mete kanpe.  Se tout nanm li li te mete nan aktivite pwomosyon lang kreyòl ayisyen an li te konsidere tankou yon eleman kle nan konsolidasyon  idantite ayisyen an. Menm apre li pran retrèt li, li bay tout tan li nan anseye kreyòl nan Inivèsite District of Columbia, nan Anbasad Ayiti nan Washington D.C., ak plizyè lòt kote. Se menm lespri angajman sa a ki fè li toujou prezan nan tout kalite aktivite  ki te gen pou wè ak Ayiti, osnon ki te konsène dwa sivil, respè dwa moun toupatou. Se nan anvironnman sa a Maye ak defen mari li, Etzer, te leve pitit yo, Karl ak Mikaele.

​Maye travèse, men nanm li ap toujou la avèk nou, ak pitit fi li, Mikaele, mari li ak pitit li yo, ak pitit gason li Karl, Avoka prensipal pou Washington D.C., sè li France Buteau e ak tout zanmi li yo.

​Mwenmenm ak fanmi mwen, n ap prezante kondoleyans nou bay fanmi Dr. Racine. Moman sa yo pa janm fasil, men omwens, nou konen Maye gen tan reyalize anpil bagay pandan pasaj li sou tè sa a.​

Se ak anpil emosyon m ap sonje kouman mwen te ka rele li, non pa Dr. Racine, osnon Pwofesè Racine, men sèlman Maye. Ale repoze nan lapè, Maye, ou byen travay!


Serge BellegardeTradiktè, Òganizasyon Eta Ameriken (Retrete) Manm Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen

Letter from Fonkoze USA

Dear Fonkoze Family, 

We are deeply saddened to report that on July 23, 2020, our long-time friend and supporter, Dr. Marie Marcelle B. Racine, passed away. She will be greatly missed by us all but never forgotten. Her lifelong advocacy for the underserved and disenfranchised will last forever.

“When it’s free, oh Haiti will be beautiful! … When that time comes, women will wear hibiscus in their hair.” — excerpt from a poem by Koralen (Jean-Claude Martineau).

This past week, this world lost a shining star, and I lost a dear friend and role model. Dr. Marie Marcelle B. Racine passed away after a long illness. There is so much to say about Marie, I scarcely know where to begin. I met her in the early 1990’s after I made my first, life-changing, visit to Haiti and then joined the staff of the Washington Office on Haiti. Our friendship, like so many people’s during that time, was forged in the fight for democracy in Haiti.

Scholar, teacher, activist, devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Marie lived a passionately engaged life. Marie was always “on the move.” She was a professor and Associate Dean of French and Linguistics at the University of the District of Columbia. She held a degree from the University of Lille (France), a Master’s degree in Romance Languages from Howard University and a Ph.D. in French and Linguistics from Georgetown University.

In addition to her hard work at UDC, Marie – who fled the dictatorship in Haiti with her husband and children in 1966 – dedicated herself to fighting injustice in Haiti and throughout this world. When we established Fonkoze USA in 1997, we, of course, recruited Marie for the founding Board of Directors. Fonkoze was just one of the organizations that benefited from her wise counsel and experience.

Tirelessly committed to the fight, Marie also served on the Boards of the Lambi Fund, Witness for Peace, Washington Office on Haiti, and other organizations working toward grassroots development and justice in Haiti and elsewhere. She particularly highlighted the struggles of women, writing a poignant book (along with co-author Kathy Ogle) entitled Like the Dew that Waters the Grass: Words from Haitian Women (1999, EPICA).

I will surely miss Marie. So many will. Her star will light my way and inspire me to continue the struggle of liberation and justice. I now picture Marie with hibiscus in her hair, dancing in the streets of heaven.

Written by Fonkoze USA’s founding Executive Director Leigh Carter

Letter from the HLN (Creole Version)

Chè sè HLN,

Nou pèdi yon sè nou te renmen anpil, yon manm tout moun te konnen epi respekte nan dyaspora nou an ak an Ayiti. Etidyan li te konnen l antanke Pwofesè Racine; li te anseye pandan  plizyè deseni nan Inivèsite Distri Columbia (UDC). Fanmi ak zanmi li te ba l ti non jwèt “Maye”. Pou pitit fi cheri li, Mikaele, ak pitit gason li, Onorab Karl A., Racine se te tou sempman “Manman”.

Madan Racine mouri pasifikman 23 Jiyè nan vil “Philadelphia” Ozetazini. Moun li te renmen te antoure l, menm jan yo te antoure l pandan tout moman maladi a.

Pandan plizyè ane, Pwofesè Racine te yon kokenchen pèsonalite, yon Mapou, non sèlman nan zòn Washington DC kote li te viv ak travay, men nan anpil lòt eta tankou New York, Florid ak lòt peyi patikilyèman an Ayiti ak Kanada.

Pwofesè Racine te yon aktivis ki te patisipe nan mach pou dwa sivil nan peyi Etazini; li te patisipe nan mach kont diktati Divalyeris ki te fèt Ozetazini; li te travay san pran souf pou dwa refijye alawonbadè epi patikilyèman pou dwa refijye ayisyen ak pou tout moun yo oprime.

Pwofesè Racine te ko-fondatè oswa prezide plizyè òganizasyon ki pa t pou pwofi, espesyalman oganizasyon Proje Refijye ayisyen an, Biwo Washington sou Ayiti, Zanmi Ayiti, Fonkoze, Fon Lambi an Ayiti ak, dènyèman, Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen.

Marie-Marcelle “Maye” te ekri yon liv sou fanm ayisyen ki te rele “Like the Dew that Waters the Grass: Words from Haitian Women” epi li te pibliye anpil atik sou diferan sijè. Pwofesè Racine te patisipe nan plizyè konferans nan plizyè peyi, li te fè pati divès klib literè ak kiltirèl; li te gen anpil pasyon pou li koleksyone liv ak tout kalite tablo ak atizana.

Moun ki te gen privilèj imans konnen Pwofesè Racine te admire entèlijans li, bon jan li ak respè li te bay tout moun, imilite li ak sans imanis li, volonte li nan ede tout jan li te kapab, kapasite eksepsyonèl li te genyen nan transmisyon konesans, enèji san limit li te genyen, kote sèl maladi teka fose li kite sa.

Pwofesè Racine mouri apre mari l, Etzer. Li kite yon pitit gason l Onorab Karl A. Racine, Pwokirè Jeneral DC, ansanm ak pitit fi li, Mikaele, ak mari l epi timoun yo, men tou sè l li te renmen anpil, France Buteau, ak yon lo zanmi ak alye.

Nou menm, nan HLN, nou salye MAPOU sa a nou te gen privilèj konnen. Tanpri, pote kole ansanm avè n pou nou salye memwa li. Ke w te konnen sè nou an oswa ou pa t gen chans konnen l, tanpri le ou li mesaj saa, obsève 30 segonn silans ak yon moman aplodisman apre sa pou remèsye Pwofesè Racine pou sèvis li bay fanmi l, pou peyi li, pou kominote a, pou tout elèv li yo ak zanmi li yo. Pou yo tout, manm HLN yo ap voye kondeleyans ki soti nan fon kè nou.

Jounen an fini Maye. Mèsi, mèsi anpil. Repoze nan lapè!

Nou pap Janm bliyew.

Otè a se Madanm Gladys Longchamp nan non komite Haitian Ladies Network
Ariel, Karen, Kysseline, Nadine, Nashley, Phara, Rachel, Syncia, Thamar, Theola