BISHOP JOSEPH

ALEXANDER ZONICLE, J.P.

August 31, 1919 - February 4, 2022

Imet Joe in the summer of 1947, at my Aunty Ellen’s house while visiting from Hatchet Bay Eleuthera. I was accompanying my mother to Nassau to see the doctor. Joe used to come up to Aunty Ellen to study his architectural correspondence course. He was also learning carpentry from Aunty Ellen’s nephew Cody Ferguson.

I recall missing the mailboat travelling back to Hatchet Bay Eleuthera. After I missed the boat and went back to Auntie Ellen’s house I heard a band out on East Street. I ran toward it. Running after the band caused me to break the latch on one of my shoes. When I returned to my Aunt Ellen’s yard Joe was there and he asked me if he could fix my shoe. From that moment on I was drawn toward him. When I finally got on a boat back to Eleuthera I opened a paper bag that Joe had placed in my hand. When I found a box of chocolates in it, my affection for him grew.

Joe began to write to me regularly. At first I did not know how to write a letter, having had to leave school at an early age, because my mother was sick and being the oldest daughter of my parents I had to take care of her. Joe mailed me a book on how to write letters. A few months later he wrote to my Daddy asking him if he could get engaged to me. My Daddy gave his consent and Joe set a date and made all the wedding arrangements. All I had to do was come down on the mailboat with my suitcase. He had already purchased the property on Mt. Royal Avenue from all the money he had saved from working on “The Contract”.

Joe was a good provider. He took good care of me and the children. He never wanted me to work. For 73 years he was by my side and loved me more than he loved himself. His passing has left me with a great emptiness that I cannot express. But knowing that he is with our Lord and knowing that one day I will see him again, brings me some comfort.

The meek, God’s redeemed people are going to inherit the earth, after it’s purification when sin, Satan and all his followers are put in hell for eternity, all of God’s children are going to have equal access to a recreated earth forever and forever. So I want all of my children and all of my friends, my in laws and everybody I meet to be a part of that glorious eternal age. That’s the reason why I have to preach the gospel to everybody I meet everyday! That’s what the lord wills for us. Right now concerning this earth right now, the bible says we brought nothing into it and it’s certain we will take nothing out. So our hope should be pinned on eternity for all eternity.”

Bishop Joseph Alexander Zonicle, J.P.