Obituary

Jojo Jr. was born to Andrea Bumatay-Jefferson and the late Joseph Michael Jefferson Sr. here in Lhaqtemish Territories, Bellingham WA on September 9, 1998. He is the maternal grandson of the late Priscilla Gladstone and Andres Bumatay and the paternal grandson of the late Dora Jefferson and Raymond “Bobo” Pierre. Joseph was a man of the river and sea. The Nooksack and Stol:o rivers and the Salish Sound were his lifeline.

He grew up between the Lummi, Shxwha:y and Nooksack Reservations. Up and down the i5, Jojo had a home wherever he went. He was a proud Salish Hawaiian Indipino. Reppin’ his roots wherever he went. Jojo was a spirit of the Salish Sea. Fishing was fabricated into his DNA, a part of his blood memory, passed on from the generations before him.

The water was his solace and a source of power. Joseph is preceded in death by his father: Joseph “Jojo” Jefferson Sr., paternal grandparents: Dora Jefferson and Raymond “Bobo” Pierre, maternal grandparents: Priscilla Gladstone and Andres Bumatay, brother-in-law: Brandon Dennis Sr. Joseph is survived by his mother: Andrea Bumatay-Jefferson (Jimmy), siblings: Ariel Phillips, Joshua Phillips, Samson Bumatay Sr. (Teresa Ray), Mariah Bumatay-Jefferson, Noelani Auguston (Richard), Kaleiolani Jefferson (Earl) and Andrew Jefferson (Raven), nephews and nieces: Keri Ann Phillips, Samson Bumatay Jr., Isaiah Dodson, Kawika Rabang, Mai’ani Dennis, Honi Dennis, Sanko Gorman, Jeffrey Bumatay, Brandon Dennis Jr., Andreas Bumatay, Loana Dennis, Liyem Auguston, Briella Bumatay and Mikah Johnson.

Prayer service Sunday August 11, 2024, 6pm

Funeral service Monday, August 12, 2024, 10am

Both services are at the Wexliem.