The Life of Marc Garnier Bonzil June 19th was a warm summer day in beautiful Marigot, Haiti. Marc Bonzil was born and was soon followed by his identical twin brother, Esaie. Their parents, Orphelia Jeremie and Garnier Bonzil were elated to see their double bundle of blessing.
From an early age, Marc’s life was marked by dedication, faith, and a deep commitment to his community. Marc began his education at The Boys School in Marigot, laying the foundation for a life of service and learning. He later moved to Port-au-Prince, where he attended The Center of Apprenticeship of St. Martin.
After four years of diligent study, he graduated in 1960 as a skilled craftsman specializing in footwear. Upon their arrival in Port-au-Prince, Marc and Esaie became active members of the Grand Temple Adventist Church. Their commitment to God, the church and its missionary work were remarkable, and their identical appearances made them well-known. Every Sabbath evening, the brothers would gather the church members on the lawn to sing the hymn “Abide with Me” before the evening prayer. This tradition earned them the affectionate moniker “The Heroes” for their boldness in calling God’s people to pray. Their dedication to missionary work did not go unnoticed.
Pastor Donald Von-Pole recognized their potential and introduced them to Pastor Roy Perin, the director of the Franco-Haitian Seminary. As lay evangelists, Marc and Esaie canvassed the city and used their God-given charisma to enroll individuals and families of all walks in Bible studies. The twins would also enroll officials from various government organizations to include the National Palace and Fort Dimanche prison. In 1971, Marc furthered his studies at the Seventh-Day Adventist Franco-Haitian Seminary at Diquini in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
His academic pursuits opened the door to new opportunities, including an invitation abroad to Canada to serve as a literature evangelist. Despite the promising prospects in this new world, Marc obeyed the call to return to Haiti and marry the love of his life, Yoly Pierre-Louis, on September 22, 1978. From their union, four dashing children would be born: two sons and two daughters. Marc’s professional journey led him to a fulfilling career as a general inspector for the Seventh-Day Adventist World Service (S.A.W.S) / Adventist Development and Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.), where he served with dedication for over a decade.
Marc and his burgeoning family frequented the United States to visit and finally decided to migrate in 1990, when the couple made the life-changing decision to rear their children in the US: They eventually settled in Central Florida. During his time in Orlando, Florida, Marc served at Mt. Sinai, Beracah, Guilgal, and Bethel Adventist churches. In his latter years, he became part of the team to establish the Adventist church plant in Mt. Dora, Florida. Marc Bonzil leaves behind a legacy of love and divine devotion.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Yoly, and their children: Dudley, Marlyn (Stanley Juste), Marjory, and Belschatsar (Medgine Picard Bonzil). His grandchildren: Rayden Bonzil, Ashade Altine, Nathan Juste, Zaire Juste, Izaac Amari Bonzil, Izrael Aali Bonzil, Elziyah Marc-Anthony Bonzil and Elizeh Marc-Angelo Bonzil, and his great-grandson, Ace Bonzil. He is also survived by his twin brother, Esaie and his Elder brother, Edvar. Along with a host of brothers and sister-in- laws, nieces and nephews, friends and church members affected by this loss.