Gayola Duncan

DUNCAN, Mrs. Gayola - Age 81, passed away Monday, November 15, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 27, 2010 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 E. Kennelworth Ave., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11 a.m., Dr. Major A. Stewart officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Mrs. Duncan will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Friday. Mrs. Gayola Duncan was born September 3, 1929 in Rixey, Arkansas, the daughter of Floyd and Effie Haynes. She accepted Christ early on in life. Gayola married J.C. Duncan on January 10, 1953 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, then moved to Flint, Michigan in 1954. Mrs. Duncan joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the direction of the late Dr. Roy I. Greer, where she rededicated her life and stayed until her illness enabled her to attend. Gayola was a member of The Elms Vehicle City Motor Lodge No. 1036 and Genesee Temple No. 550 I.B.P.O.E. of W. and held the title of Queen of Genesee Temple in the early 80’s, where she served in the kitchen, Member of the Ways of Mean Committee and Chairperson of the Sweetheart Ball, Treasurer of the Stewart St. Block Club, Member of the Broome Center Community Group, Member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Deborah Circle. She was employed by Jackson’s Groceries Store after many years of being a full-time Homemaker and PTA mom. Her favorite saying, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say nothing at all” or “Be Careful how you treat people, because you never know where you will meet them again in life.” Mrs. Duncan attended Grady High School in Grady, Arkansas and attained her Diploma from Mott Adult High School. She leaves to cherish her memory: 3 daughters, Dorothy (Orlando) Robertson, Merry Duncan and Maxine Lever, all of Green Valley, AZ; 3 sons, John Smith, Lorenzo Duncan, both of Flint and C.L. (Gladys) Smith of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Tameka Duncan, Keiana Wilson, Cynthia Gillen, all of Flint, Jimmie (Kellie) Lever of Canton, OH, Garnet (Laureen) Lever of Mililani, Hawaii, Shatel Smith of Atlanta, GA, C.L. Smith, Jr. of Columbus, OH and Tamia (Larry) Norman of Henderson, NV; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces, Lisa and Karen; nephew, Otis Jr., all of California; goddaughter, Brenda Greene; special cousins, Geraldine Johnson of Flint, Mildred Johnsonof Phoenix, AZ and Dorothy Ward of Pine Bluff, AR; sister-in-law, Anna Jean Haynes; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Alga Wallace, Junior Collins, Jimmie Lever, Sr., Marva Connors, the Atkins, Vera and the Rison family. Mrs. Duncan was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Duncan; daughter, Deborah A. Duncan; parents, Floyd and Effie Haynes; sister, Emma Pierce; and 2 brothers, Otis Sr. and Louis Haynes. The family would like to express special thanks to the Johnson, Greene, Horne, Dunnom, Moore, Witherspoon and Lever families, Lif Fonoran Homes, Sahuarita, AZ, Rev. Seldon J. Williams, Jr. and the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church family, Dr. Major A. Stewart and the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church family.

Gayola Duncan

September 3, 1929 - November 15, 2010