Jacob Florestal

Jacob Florestal passed away on March 19, 2025 in Orange Park, FL. He was born on June 4, 1944 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to the late Méréjuste Florestal and Louisane Pierre Louis.

Jacob was a college graduate in Haiti, earning a degree in Mathematics in the early 1960s. In the United States, he received his GED in 1982 and AAS Degree in Engineering Science in 1992. He was a Professor and Dean from 1966 to 1976 at the Ecole Primaire Etzer Vilaire a Fontamara in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He worked for Material Research Corporation in Orangeburg, NY from 1978 to 1992 and All City Limo in New York City from 1994 to 2005.

Jacob was a member and choir director of the French Speaking Baptist Church of Spring Valley, NY (1976 – 2006), Golgotha Evangelical Church and First Haitian Baptist Church, both of Jacksonville, FL, until his passing. He enjoyed music, piano, watching movies, and was a true New York sports fan, being a fan of the New York Knicks, New York Mets, and New York Giants.

Family members preceding Jacob in death were his parents; sisters, Germaine (Florestal) Andral and Jacqueline (Florestal) Toussaint, and nephew, Hivel W. Pierre.

Jacob is survived by his loving wife, Alourdes (Cadet) Florestal; sons, Burwick Florestal, Kerby Florestal and Jeffrey Florestal (daughter-in-law Vanessa (Leger) Florestal); grandchildren, Unique Florestal, Uriah Florestal and Julia Florestal; sister, Therese (Florestal) Pierre; nephews, Pierre Martin, Arlande Andral, Emmanuel Andral and Jean Elie Andral; nieces, Emmelyne Andral-Desrosiers, Mirlande Andral-Figaro and Sherly Frederique; cousin, Louis Gersaine; special friends, Octave Borgelin, Joseph Felix, Frantz Celestin and Luke Mathurin and a host of other family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073, (904) 264-1233. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 135 Brickyard Road, Middleburg, Florida 32068. Interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, 1040 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073.

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