Mother Constance Gayle - Celebration of Life

Programme Musical Interlude Processional (Sentences) Hymn …………………………...…….“Oh God Our Help in Ages Past.………….....…............……..Congregation Welcome & Invocation…………………………………………………......................………..Pastor John Boedeker

(Kendall Community Church of God)

First Scripture……………………………….Psalm 90………………..………………….Minister Oral Gayle(Son) Second Scripture………………….………..2 Timothy 4:1-8……………..........………..Taurean Jarrett(Grandson) Hymn……………………………….….…”Beulah Land”………………………………………….Combined Choir Tribute…………………………...………………………………………………………………..Ms. Georgia Smith Tribute………………………………………………………………………………First United Church (Apostolic) Solo…………………………………………………………………………………………Minister Dennis Duncan Family Reflections………………………………..............……………………….Melissa Grizzle (Grand daughter) Special Reading…………….….……..Psalm 23……………..........…………..Jhanae Gayle (great grand Daughter) Family Reflections………………………..…Mrs. Tiffany Jarrett-Wizzart & Kerri-Ann Jarrett (Grand Daughters) Video Presentation Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………….First United Church (Apostolic) Ministerial Tribute………………………………………………………………………Bishop Dafton C. W. James Poem……………………………………………………………....…………Mrs. Dorothy Gayle (Daughter-in-law) Home Going Medley………………………………………………………………………………Combined Choir Offertory………...........................…In aid of Sunday School Expansion Project of First United Church (Apostolic)

(Mother Gayle’s favorite church activity and project)

Obituary………………………………………………………………………………………..Frank A. Gayle (Son) Sermonic Selection…………………………………………………………………………………Combined Choir Eulogy…………………………………………………………………....………..Bishop Charles C. Mullings, Ph.D.

Pastor, First United Church, Miami

Prayer for Family Recessional………………………………………………………………………….......…“Death Hath No Terror…”

Congregational Hymn

1.

Oh God Our Help In Ages Past

Oh God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home!

2.

Under the shadow of Thy throne Still may we dwell secure; Sufficient in Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.

3.

Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.

An angel lived among us, A gift from God above.

She showered us with kindness And shared with us her love.

4.

A thousand ages in thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.

5.

O God our help in ages past.

Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guide while life shall last, And our eternal home!

An Angel

She cherished every moment With the man who was her life; Walking hand in hand together, Facing life with all its strife.

She loved her children dearly, Each one a different way, Nestled close within her heart.

Though, now, she’s far away.

She’s gone to live with Jesus.

But, she’s here with us, today, Smiling down on every one of us, And telling us she’s O.K..

Author Unknown.

Submitted Dorothy Gayle

Elegy to Mother Constance Gayle

You’ve graced us with your presence Now you are gone to your home in heaven Left us a legacy of absolute quintessence To esteem, emulate, and live as forgiven

The gospel was your abiding hope Of a life hereafter ethereal sought With vigor, tenacity, love, and scope You continued and energetically fought

How can we impart your manifestation But to take the staff and show the way The illustrious path of your illumination While you sojourned and won the day

To that realm of bliss you have arrived The pearly gates swung open wide As angles waved their wings and strived Gathered in ranks to accept the pride

Your journey was made exquisitely joyous By the multitude of kindnesses shown You did not hold back from the curious Nor shrink from calling them your own

Well done faithful servant, Constance Gayle Your life is a testimony unfurled You weathered every high and stormy gale Now at rest in Paradise unveiled.

Charles C. Mullings

Precious Memories

Precious Memories

M

Obituary

other Constance Eulalee Gayle, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Sugar Hill, Georgia where she resided with her daughter Hyacinth. She graced this earth with 93 years of wonderful living. For the past five years, Constance struggled with dementia which tried to consume her mind. However, she had never forgotten where she was born, when she was born, her husband, the names of her children and her need to pray.

Constance suffered a stroke earlier this February, and was unable to move about as she usually loved to do. Everyone knew this would not go well, and after only a few days in bed she told Hyacinth that “time is up”. She was not about to be held captive in bed.

Constance, the first of nine children, was born in Negril, Jamaica on October 2, 1921 to Athlene and Octavia Stone.

Beautiful Constance met and married David Nathaniel Gayle who became her husband, friend and the absolute love of her life. Together they raised their eleven children. Constance and David operated businesses in Savanna-la-mar where they lived until David died in 1979. Constance was an excellent business woman: purchaser, bookkeeper, accountant, and was so good at mental arithmetic that she could compute a list of numbers quicker than any calculator. Her approach to life was belief in God, love for her family, hardwork, getting a good education and respecting oneself and others.

Constance was a devout Christian and a stalwart member of the Holiness Born Again Church of Christ in Jamaica. When she moved to Miami she joined the First United COJC (Apostolic), where she remained an adored, respected member.

As she got older it was more difficult for her to sit through a sermon but she would never miss a Sunday and that in no way diminished her love for God or her daily prayers. Often she could be heard repeating the words of the song “Oh Lord our help in Ages past” or the 23rd Psalm.

Constance enjoyed spending time with family and friends and loved children, but when Walker Texas Ranger was on the television everyone had to be quiet. She loved the Texas Ranger, because he gave justice to the disadvantaged and he was not “violent”. Completing “Find-a-Word” puzzles, kept her mind very alert until she gave it up about two years ago. She was an avid reader who was always well informed on current events; she passed on that love for reading to her children.

You only had to meet Constance once to fall in love, because she had such an endearing personality. As a result she was affectionately referred to as Momma, mom, grandma, grandmamma, Sister Gayle, Mother Gayle, Ms. Constance, and

great grandma. Constance was very proud of her 11 children and frequently named them in order of birth: Lorna, Victor, Winsome, Hyacinth, Vincent, Linda, Paulette, Frank, Eddy, Marva and Oral. She fostered or just took care of many other children: Lloyd Black, Jennifer Foote, nieces, nephews and grand-children. She was also the benefactor of her neighborhood in Savana-la-mar where she ensured that all the children on her street had what was needed for school and received gifts at Christmas. Some of these neighbors still refer to her as their second mother. She had 21 grand-children and 20 great grand-children.

Constance was a soft spoken, quiet, peaceful person, who would never utter a bad word about anyone. However, if you can’t handle the truth don’t ask Constance. She would always speak the truth, whether you liked it or not, quietly and clearly. Constance was very proper, and would not hesitate to tell you if your outfit was inappropriate, especially if you were going to church.

Constance was the ultimate hat lady and she always looked so stately when she dressed for church with her hat to match her outfits. She would often shake her head in disbelief when any of the women in the family went to church without wearing a hat.

Constance never complained about anything, even if she is not well. Anytime one would enquire of her well-being she was sure to say “I am blest, I am not feeling any pain, I am not hungry and all her children are united and live in peace and harmony.”

A beautiful person with a heart of gold, a friend, a mother, a grand-mother, a great grand-mother, a phenomenal woman, that was Constance.

Constance was preceded in death by her siblings: Annie, Chester, Hosea and John and two of her children: Winsome and Vincent.

Constance is survived by 9 of her children: Lorna, Victor, Hyacinth, Linda, Paulette, Frank, Eddy, Marva and Oral; her siblings Maude, Eddy, Desmond and Marlene; grand-children and great-grand children Thanks to everyone who contributed to her care in the latter days. She was surrounded with love, and was comfortable and at peace.

Alan Grizzle

Ramone Gibbs Jobar Gibbs Jayon Johnson Danelle Gibbs Samantha Johnson Vickia Gibbs Jalea Gibbs Keiana Richards Kiara Richars Kevin Richards Jr.

Sherikah Hibbert

Kevin Richards Andrew Barrett

Horace Hibbert

Akeera Fredankle Aon Mitchell Jamilia John

Tonnia Thompson Michelle Thompson Ronald Thompson

Brianna Wright Jayden Brown Milan Brown Kraig Codner Jr.

Christian Wizzart

Tiffany Wizzart Kerri-Ann Jarrett Tauren Jarrett

Shawn Steel

Kereese Gayle Keenan Gayle

Oral Gayle Marva Jarrett

Edward Gayle

Frank Gayle

Paulette Box

Alden Brown Judene Codner

Linda Thompson

Vincent Gayle

Hyacinth Stanberry

Winsome Vernon

Michael Gibbs Donald Gibbs Donovan Gibbs Victor Gibbs Jr. Marie Gibbs

Victor Gibbs

Melissa Grizzle

Lorna

Contance Gayle nee Stone David Gayle

Family Tree

Acknowledgments The family of the late Constance Gayle, gratefully acknowledges the kind expressions of love and sympathy extended through cards, letters, email, phone calls, facebook and above all , prayers, during our time of bereavement. Special thanks to Dr. Charles Mullings and Sister Mullings, First United Church, all the ladies who planned and executed the repast, and Kendall Community Church of God. We love and appreciate you.

Pall Bearers

Victor Gibbs Frank Gayle Edward Gayle Oral Gayle Andrew Barrett Owen Box Darren Brown Dononvan Gibbs

Dr. Derrick Jarrett Jaurean Jarrett Kevin Richards Keenan Gayle Victor Gibbs, Jr. Donald Gibbs, Jr. Stanley Stanbury

Graveside Service (Songs) No Grave Shall Hold My Body Down God Shall Wipe Away All Tears When We All Get To Heaven When I Get There

Interment

Woodlawn South Cemetery

Professional Services Entrusted to: Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South 11655 S.W. 117th Avenue Miami, FL 33186

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