Isaac Daphnis

A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD

Isaac “Daphy” Daphnis was born in Trod du Nord, Haiti to the parents of George and Idaman Daphnis. The family migrated to Nassau, Bahamas in 1957. As a child, Isaac’s interest was to serve the Lord and to work in the church.  He even contemplated on becoming a pastor, but that dream did not materialize. Nevertheless, at an early age, he dedicated his life to a lifelong commitment to God’s work.

While residing in Nassau, Isaac attended Bahamas Academy. He was quite the athlete who played softball, volleyball and soccer. Isaac represented his church well by participating in various tournaments. He was the first Seventh-day Adventist to represent his school at Bahamas Academy in a National Soccer Tournament. Later, he represented Bahamas Academy playing with the All Star Team. This afforded Isaac the opportunity to travel with the National Team to Trinidad and Tobago, Kingston, Jamaica, Venezuela, South America and Puerto Rico.

Isaac served in many positions at the Grants Town Seventh-day Adventist Church.  As Sabbath School Secretary, he not only recorded the events, but he also embraced the membership which was a skill he utilized in his leadership. Additionally, Isaac worked with the Youth Department as a Pathfinder Counselor and Youth Choir Director.

In 1970, Isaac left Nassau and relocated to Brooklyn, New York.  While there, he attended the East New York Seventh-day Adventist Church where he was; ordained as a deacon in 1972 by Pastor T.X. Perry; ordained as an elder in 1979 by Pastor William McNeil; met the love of his life, Jessie Mae Britt, while singing in the choir together. Their union commenced on September 12, 1973. In 1979, Elder Daphnis and his family decided to relocate to Miami, Florida. There he found stable employment as a Service Technician working for (7-Eleven) Southland Corporation for over 15 years.

Elder Daphnis later found a church home at the one and only Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Miami, Florida. He loved his church, and was a faithful member for over thirty-six years.  He served as an elder under the leadership of Pastors Roy. R. Brown and Willie L. Taylor, and he served as First Elder for sixteen years under the leadership of Pastors Milton M. Young, Theus Young, Malcolm White, David McCalla and Thomas A. McNealy. During the interim of several pastors, Elder Daphnis also served as lay pastor until a new pastor was assigned.

During the thirty-six years as a member of Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church, Elder Daphnis willingly and faithfully served in the following positions; Stewardship Director, AYS Assistant Leader, Pathfinder Counselor, School Board Member for Miami Union Academy, Finance Committee Chairman, AYS Sponsor, Sports Director, Building Committee Member, Prison Ministry Leader and Chairman of the Anniversary Committee. He also served on the Southeastern Conference Building Committee and the Constitution and By-Laws Committee.

Elder Daphnis loved young people, and he treated them with much respect. He was always seen at conference youth events, including federations and basketball games. He was also a strong supporter of Adventist Christian education. He believed that our children should be taught in our schools, and therefore encouraged many parents to support and many young people to attend.  As an end result, many young people graduated from Adventist schools, including his three sons.

Before cellphones and GPS systems were common place, the computer, as Elder Daphnis was called by the members of Northside, had the gift to recall everyone’s phone number by memory, and he knew the directions to get you anywhere you wanted to go. He loved to socialize around the dominoes table. He was known for staying up with his church friends up till 12 o’clock in the morning playing dominoes. Elder Daphnis loved singing, and was in many groups, chorales and choirs. He sang tenor, and even recorded with a quartet at East New York SDA Church. One of his past time enjoyments was listening to Southern Gospel music. He was an avid collector of Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Series.

Elder Daphnis loved life, and he lived it to the fullest. If there was “talking, singing, preaching and good eating,” Elder Daphnis was there! However, in his later years, health challenges caused him to slow down but he never complained - he simply took it in stride as a good soldier of the Cross would do. He experienced many losses but he remained faithful to the Lord to the very end. The value of a life is not how much you have acquired while living but how many lives you touched in the process. We are so grateful that “Daphy” was our husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, and for so many, a faithful friend with a listening ear.

We long for that day when Jesus shall return, “and the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Elder Isaac Daphnis leaves to cherish his memories; his wife of 41 years, Jessie Daphnis; three sons - Rodney, Ivan (Anita) and Ricardo (Marsha) Daphnis; two brothers - Joel (Susan) and Gerard (Maxine) Daphnis; two sisters - Joceline (Jean) Daniel and Marlene (Lanord) Cherisol; two brothers-in-law, nine sisters-in-law and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents - George & Idaman Daphnis and his sister, Georgette Florvil. We thank God for a life well lived – may he rest in peace!

Services are entrusted to WALDON Professional Funeral & Cremation Services which is located at 710 Lexington Green Lane in Sanford, Florida 32771. Kristy Waldon, Funeral Director

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