Marie Florence Vilmenay, 88 years of age, passed away peacefully Monday night, April 14, 2025 at the Hospice House in Sun City Center, Florida with her favorite Kingdom melodies playing in the background.

Florence, Fofo or Manmi Fofo, as she was more widely and affectionately called, was born on December 21, 1936 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to the late Jeaninne Cadet-Vilmenay and Rene Vilmenay, Sr. Sadly, her twin sibling passed away during childbirth. Florence was the 4th of 6 children. The elder siblings, Andre, Gislene and Rene, Jr. preceded her in death. Florence attended school at the Esterna De La Providence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti before she completed finishing school at the L’Ecole Normale de Port-au-Prince, where she was certified as a Child Life Specialist.

At a very early age, Fofo has expressed a strong desire to learn about God and to serve Him. Her love for God and thirst for knowing the truth about Him, motivated her to attend religious retreats, namely the Légionnaire de Marie, with the objective to pursue the nunery. Unable to find what she was truly searching for, Fofo pursued other life goals, including raising a family. Prior to her marriage, at only 22 years of age, Fofo became a second mother to her newborn niece Magalie – whom she affectionately called "Magoule" – who was the daughter of her eldest sister. Due to the political situation that existed in Haiti back then, Magalie’s father (aka, Papi Lolo) went into hiding, and her mother (aka, Nainenne) fled to the United States alone. Magalie became so close to Florence that she came to believe she was her birth mother, and consequently was the first to start calling her Manmi Fofo. Magalie was so attached to Manmi Fofo that she accompanied her and new husband to their honeymoon. Throughout the rest of her life, Manmi Fofo has always considered "Magoule" as one of her own children.

Florence married her first and only sweetheart, Yves Lazarre, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and remained faithful to him for 35 years before they divorced. She gave birth to 4 children, however, only two survived.

In 1970, Fofo migrated to the United States with her husband and baby boy, Jerry, whom she lovingly called Nono. Shortly after, she gave birth to a baby girl, Joanne, whom she lovingly called Jojo. Manmi Fofo loved and cherished her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed every moment that was spent with them. They learned many valuable lessons from her, especially her wise and persistent exhortations to love Jehovah and to serve him faithfully.

In 1972, Fofo began to study the Bible with her oldest sister, Gislenne, who taught her that God has a name, and in the Bible He is called Jehovah. At last, she found the truth. This knowledge and many other truths about God, was exactly what she was looking for. In 1974, Florence dedicated her life to Jehovah God and was baptised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on July 20th of that same year. She always reminissed about her faith strengthening experiences that she gained from the Atlantic French Congregation, in Brooklyn, NY which was the first congregation she associated with, and was one of just a few congregations responsible for the French ministry and preaching work in the United States Branch territory at that time.

Fofo knew and understood that everything she accomplished was due to Jehovah’s help and guidance. She has alway placed her trust and faith in Jehovah. She was a good example and inspiration of faith, dedication, endurance and fidelity to God, family and friends. Fofo was someone who appreciated the value of hard work. She was serious, responsible and dependable. In the mid 1970’s, Manmi Fofo started her own daycare business, and dedicated the majority of her secular work experience to the care and education of children. This was not just work for Manmi Fofo, it gave her a sense of responsibility and fulfilment that she enjoyed; because she was able to provide a safe, warm, friendly and

educational environment for the children that she loved and cared for. Many of these kids were children of family members, of friends in the congregation and of those in the East Flatbush community in Brooklyn, where she lived. In fact, one of these parent’s gave the following moving testimony about Manmi Fofo shortly after her passing: “Hi..., this is Marielle A. in Orlando Florida. Just wanted to give you and your family our condolences. Your mom was the only person [that has] babysat my 18 month old daughter. So, I trusted her because of the caliber of a Christian woman she was. I have lost my mother, one like yours, a mother that loves her children, second after Jehovah’s love. I can say honestly that I know what a wonderful mother and a sister you have lost. But remember, she just went faster to paradise and left us behind. She is now in the safest place. In the universe of Jehovah’s memory. She has conquered the world. Nothing negative can affect her anymore. We will see her soon in the best version of herself. Until then, let’s do our best to be there when Jehovah and Jesus lets us see her again.”

When she retired from Day Care in the early 1990’s, Manmi Fofo continued to work with children as a school bus attendant for disabled elementary school kids. Her love for children never waivered.

Fofo enjoyed sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom and helped many individuals study the Bible and further dedicate their lives to Jehovah and become baptised. She made many dear friends and gained many spiritual children. She was a generous, hospitable and caring person. She freely opened her home to traveling overseers, bethelites, visiting speakers and out-of-state convention attendees. Her home was a haven of joy for one and all, where she often prepared and shared unforgettable delicious meals for family and friends alike. Manmi Fofo had a great sense of humor and was not shy about taking center stage to sing solo at gatherings, to dance alone with fanciful moves anytime she felt the mood, or to share poetic renditions that she prepared herself at special events. She enjoyed having a good time, especially with family and fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Taking cruises was one of her favorite vacation pastimes.

Manmi Fofo was a mother, grandmother and great grandmother that her children loved immensely. She was someone that took care of others, not only her family, but her fellow Christian brothers and sisters, friends and strangers as well. Also, she served the community by volunteering her time as a regular full-time pioneer for over 33 years, associating with the Atlantic, Bergen, Albany, Canarsie, Mill Basin and Flatbush congregations. She was regularly seen doing public witnessing while walking up and down busy public streets such as Church Avenue, Utica Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Nostrand Avenue and other locations she was assigned to in Brooklyn, New York. The ministry was her life. Every year she would preach about the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom and would dedicate 1,000 hours or more per year, every year until her strength and mobility were diminished due to age and poor health.

As her health continued to deteriorate, Fofo relocated to Florida. It was there that she associated with the Orlando South, Winterhaven and Brandon congregations. She enjoyed making new spiritual friends, being reacquainted with long unseen ones, and gaining new spiritual children.

Manmi Fofo leaves to cherish her memory, her precious daughter Joanne; her dear to the heart son Jerry & his spouse Carline; and her darling Maggie. She also leaves behind 2 younger siblings Gladys (affectionately known as Dadou) & Frantz (affectionately known as “Ti Roulou”). Her absence will also affect her 6 grandchildren that include Jeremy & his spouse Tiera; Priscilla & her spouse Andre; Joshua, Cierra, Jacob and Ethan. Her 2 great grandchildren Jordyn and Andre, Jr. were also fortunate to know her. Among others that she leaves behind are countless nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, friends and spiritual sisters & brothers.

Fofo left a positive mark with everyone she met because of her sincere love, enthusiasm, spirituality and warmth. One of her favorite Bible Scripture was Romans 8:38, 39 which says: “38For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers 39 nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to seperate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Manmi Fofo encouraged many with those inspired verses. Her absence will affect many people that knew her. For now, she is in Jehovah’s memory, peacefully sleeping in death. Our hearts are filled with pain because of her absence. However, we celebrate her life that was filled with joy, laughter, dance, self-sacrifice, dedication to Jehovah, family & friends. She left a lasting spiritual heritage for all of her children and a good model for us all to imitate.