Mr. Jephthe Chery was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on November 27, 1985 to his beloved parents Jean Mario Chery and Rose Relise Chery. Growing up in Haiti, Jephthe attended Lenomalien School where he completed his primary and part of his secondary education. In 1999, at the age of 13 years, his mother and his two younger siblings Jean E. and Merveline Chery migrated to the United States to join their father.

Jephthe developed a strong work ethic from watching his parents, which he maintained throughout his life.  He never shied away from his responsibilities even at a young age. As proof, when he turned 16 after his father lost his job a few months earlier, Jephthe secured his first job at Burger King to help contribute and alleviate some of his parents’ financial burden.

During his high school years, he was a devoted student and enjoyed playing football.  He also participated in the Upward Bound Program which played a huge role in his academic development. As part of the program, he committed 6 weeks every summer at UMass Boston from 2000 to 2003 where he completed college courses in order to prepare himself for higher education.  Throughout high school he was an Honor Roll student and received his diploma from Dorchester High School in 2004.

Jephthe was a dedicated employee.  He took tremendous joy and pride in his everyday responsibilities. His consistency, discipline and integrity advanced him to his career with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad. Unafraid of hard work, after completing his Associates Degree with a Business Concentration at Bunker Hill College in 2008, he accepted an entry level position in 2009 as a coach cleaner with the hope that his determination would propel his career forward. During that time he returned to school, striving toward a Bachelor’s at UMass Boston and was promoted to assistant conductor. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in May 2014, he was yet again promoted to conductor.  As a conductor, he worked an average of 60 to 70 hours a week, to assure he had enough money saved to support his family. Always focused on being successful in his career, he planned to take his career and education to the next level by becoming a locomotive engineer.

Jephthe enjoyed travelling, always planning another trip soon after he would come back from a vacation.  In his leisure time, he enjoyed making new and maintaining relationships with friends. When he was not scheduled to work on Sundays, he always prioritized going to church at St. Angela’s, where he had been a member for the past 17 years. Jephthe touched the lives of not only family but everyone around him with his smile, generosity and maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end.

Jephthe is survived by his father Mario, mother Rose, brother Andy, sister Merveline, and niece Samiayah.

All are invited to celebrate Jepthe’s life at a visitation Friday December 4 in Saint Angela Church, 1548 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan Square from 6-9 PM and a Mass of Christian Burial in the church Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park.