Verdy Renois

On April 1, 1978, a light entered the world with the birth of Verdy Renois, the seventh of eight children born to Reyette Henri and the tenth of eleven children born to the late Firmley Renois. From his earliest years, Verdy carried within him a deep love for learning and an unshakable determination to rise above every obstacle. He was once a passionate football player but had to stop after an arm injury.

Although he did not begin school until the age of ten, this never held him back. His mind was sharp, his heart eager, and his spirit unstoppable. He walked the halls of École Saint François d’Assise in Pestel, then Lycée National de Pestel, and later completed his high school education at Lycée Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince. His journey was not easy. Far from home and with little support, Verdy worked as a teacher at Sorbonne High School in Carrefour to support himself while attending the Université Adventiste d’Haïti. His hunger for knowledge was stronger than any hardship. After earning his degree in Education, he began teaching History and Social Sciences at Lycée Anténor Firmin, Lycée Daniel Fignolé, Ensemble Scolaire Père Basile Moreau, and Collège Hibiscus de Pétion-Ville, all while keeping his post at Sorbonne High School.

It was during those years that he met the love of his life, Cherilise. Together they built a marriage rooted in faith, love, and resilience. In 2008, they united their lives in marriage, and God blessed them with two precious children: Chervens in 2009 and Reginie in 2012. His children were the pride of his life, and nothing made him happier than seeing them healthy, well-fed, and cared for.

Verdy’s energy was limitless. He was dynamic, fearless, and always ready to take on new challenges. He never settled for one role in life. He was an ébéniste (woodworker), a painter, a construction worker, a professor, a gardener, a plumber, and a driver. To his family and community, Verdy was the man you could call for anything. He always showed up.

His thirst for growth never ceased. He pursued a Master’s degree in Development Science at the Faculty of Ethnology. While in the program, he obtained a position as an undergraduate professor at the Centre d’Études Diplomatiques et Internationales (CEDI). He also completed a pastoral program, answering the call to serve God’s people. With his cousin Clarens Renois, he co-founded the political party UNIR and even ran in the 2015 elections, hoping to bring change and hope to Haiti. A true believer in education, he also started training programs for the youth in his hometown of Pestel, teaching them skills such as painting, education, and perfume-making.

In June 2021, realizing that his dreams for his children would not come true if he remained in Haiti, he made the painful decision to leave his family behind and immigrate to the United States to give them the life they deserved. Before leaving, he told his wife: “Se pou ou m pral travay, wi chérie.” (“I am going to work for you, my love”). He was a faithful husband and a devoted father. Even far from his family, in a new culture and with a language barrier, Verdy remained unstoppable. His dynamism could not go unnoticed. He became the church secretary at Église de Dieu Sanctifié de New Orleans and, despite not speaking English, was appointed supervisor at the Hilton Hotel.

But beyond his many roles and accomplishments, Verdy’s true legacy is the love he poured into his family. He often said his greatest fear was leaving his children alone in this world. Every decision he made, every sacrifice he offered, was for them. He worked tirelessly so they would have the life and opportunities he dreamed of for them.

Verdy lived with courage, strength, and compassion. He carried his family’s burdens as his own, managed every task with excellence, and gave of himself without hesitation. To know Verdy was to know a man of faith, love, and endless determination. As his family often said, “Verdy was just like Kirikou, small, but courageous.”

He leaves behind not just memories, but a legacy of perseverance, service, and deep devotion. His light will never fade from the hearts of those who loved him.