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J EANNETTE OUTHEY
?—1980
The National Spiritual Assembly of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands on 21 May 1980 cabled to the Universal House of Jus 721
tice: WITH DEEP SORROW ANNOUNCE PASSING MADAME OUTHEY FIRST BELIEVER TERRITORIES ON 20 MAY . . .
Having learned of the Bahá’í Faith through Mariette Boltonl of Australia, Jeannette Outhey—thought to be the first Caledonian believer—declared her faith in Thio, New Caledonia, on 10 June 1961. She became a great friend of the untiring Australian pioneer, Margaret Rowling, who found the first Melanesian believers in that French—speaking territory. Jeannette took part actively in 1961 in the election of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Noumea and served on that body for nineteen consecutive years. Such was her enthusiasm that she even wanted to participate in the election of officers two weeks before her passing, although she was suffering painfully from an incurable disease. In 1971, when the seat of the National Spiritual Assembly of the South West Pacific Ocean was transferred from Honiara in the Solomon Islands to Noumea, Jeannette was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly which was composed of believers from New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. Re-elected in 1972. she was able to make the trip of her life by going to the Holy Land the following year to attend the third Bahá’í International Convention. On the return journey she was also able to visit the resting-place of Shoghi Effendi before resuming her activities in New Caledonia. When her mother, the senior Bahá’í of the Territories, passed away four years later, Jeannette became free to accept the position of custodian of the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Noumea, a sensitive function which she discharged with zeal, competence and love until her last days. She made of this blessed spot a fragrant garden where local believers and transient guests enjoyed the generosity of her services, the affability of her character and her unequalled hospitality.
After having served the Cause of God for twenty years With love, devotion and perseverance, and having proclaimed its ideals to people from all backgrounds and races, both in the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia, and even in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Jeannette Outhey left this world under physical suffering but with mental
‘ See ‘In Memoriam', The Bahá’í World, vol. XV, p. 435.
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Jeannette Outhey
serenity. On 21 May almost all members of the Bahá’í community of New Caledonia gathered at her grave to pay public tribute to her in the presence of her sorrowing family and friends. The memory of this great figure of the Faith in New Caledonia will for a long time remain engraved in the hearts of all those who had the joy of knowing her. May the Abhá Kingdom, where she has taken flight, offer her unrestricted happiness.
THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW CALEDONIA AND THE LOYALTY ISLANDS
