Jacob Hyslop Downs was born on the picturesque island of Corn Island, Nicaragua on December 5, 1928 to Horacio and Elizabeth Downs. He was the fifth of eight children. Jacob had an idyllic childhood, surrounded by his loving family. He was blessed with many nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. Jacob was truly a gentle person. He mentored and was a surrogate parent to many of his younger relatives.
In that rural community, Jacob learned early to till the soil and very much enjoyed watching things grow and reaping the product of his labors. He grew into an industrious young man who worked on a ship as an oiler. He worked diligently, lived frugally and saved his earnings. When his days on the ship were over, Jacob invested in a neighborhood grocery store which served the needs of his community.
Jacob had many friends on his island home. One of those precious friends was Hildean Tatum who left her home to pursue her studies in nursing at the Hospital Adventista in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. After graduation, Hildean served as a nurse in La Ceiba, Honduras. She later emigrated to the United States where she continued her nursing career. Distance was not a barrier to Jacob and Hildean’s friendship. It blossomed into courtship and marriage. On September 27, 1970 Jacob and Hildean promised each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part”. Jacob took those vows very seriously and remained committed until his last breath on November 23, 2018.
After their marriage, Jacob emigrated to the United States where he saw a niche he could fill as a quality painter. He was also very involved in his faith community and served as a deacon in the East Los Angeles SDA Church, the Rialto SDA Church, and his last home church, the Ontario SDA church.
Jacob became a citizen of the United States of America. He was truly a dual citizen who dearly loved this country, as well as his homeland of Corn Island, Nicaragua. Hildean and Jacob built a home in Corn Island and faithfully visited each year until their final trip in 2015. After which, ill health prevented them from future travel. His last thoughts were not far from his beloved Corn Island. A few days ago he said “I want to go home”. His wife asked if he meant their home in Montclair, California to which he responded very emphatically, “No! I want to go to Corn Island!!”
Jacob died as he lived, quietly and peacefully. He was predeceased by his seven siblings. Jacob leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his life, his wife of 48 years, Hildean Downs, two sisters-in-law, Lelita Tatum and Louella Tatum, a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces and great grandnephews, as well as many cousins and caring friends.
