Everlena Gatewood-Thompson

Everlena Gatewood-Thompson, known by family and friends as "Black Beauty", was born October 11, 1954, in Memphis Tennessee, to her proud parents, Julia Mae Gatewood and Robert Gatewood. Everlena was the sixth child of 14 children. She had 7 sisters, Margaret Rita, Judy "Ann", Brenda, Janie, Stella, Shirley, and Kindra, and 6 brothers, Robert, Jr., Leon, Glenn, Harold, Frank, and James Calvin. She was 8 years of age when they discovered that she had a heart condition that would follow her for the rest of her life. But this would not stop Everlena as she was very determined to live a normal and fruitful life. She knew how to rejoice in what she had and what she was given in spite what it may have looked like. She graduated from Manassas High School in Memphis Tennessee in 1973. She also attended Metropolitan State University of Denver. Everlena -bore her one and only child, Garrett Gatewood on August 16, 1972 and soon found that she would need a pacemaker to continue her life. In 1975, Everlena moved to Denver, Colorado to reunite with her mother and siblings. There she married her high school sweetheart, Larry Exum, as she always remembered and cherished him as her husband. After her divorce from Larry, Everlena met her second husband, George Thompson at the Denver Health Medical Center. Everlena was afraid of cats because her mom would let them in to eat the rats in the childhood home they lived in. Her best friends were Beverly Garrett, Charlie Payne and all the neighbors wherever she lived. She would get her exercise by vacuuming and dancing even though she would tire out quickly. Her favorite dances were the dougie and da dab and will always be Garrett's dance partner as he will do it in tribute to her always. Garrett's Memories Going to family reunion playing dominoes, cards and seeing who would cook the best. Before we eat together saying our grace, God is grateful God is good. Lord I thank you for our food. Here it is I lay my bread, and here it is I will be fed. In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost "Amen." When I told my Mom, I found a job in my freshman year of high school at good ole McDonalds I told her that I wanted to be taken off welfare. Her Professional Walk and her passion in life was her one and only son, her pacemaker and her faith in GOD. She would always say I am married to GOD, GOD is my man. She would do anything to help family even though she couldn't work. Maybe she would talk to you with choice words to make you feel better then you were before or even having you laughing because of what she said and how she worded it. As you walk as an angel you are to meet your man, you are free of pain that you suffered every day. Walk without pain, walk without worrying. Walk in peace of mind you are in HEAVEN. Neverland no more appointments and no more operations. Mom was born with red hair wonder why my favorite color is red. She has an amazing smile not dentures. She was very sab be and feisty and when need be she would pull a knife and cut you in a second. She made sure she got what was due to her because of her disability, she asks for a 2 bedroom and she got 3 bedrooms and lived there for 7 years. She will tell me no matter how bad things get or got you can make it better, GOD doesn't fault you for trying son he praises you. The way my mom would cook especially when it came to meat, she would ask did you clean the meat before you cooked it. Even though she couldn't work the way he took care of her household leaving no debts at all that's a QUEEN BEE, QUEEN PIN WOW, love you so much mom I miss you. Memories of Everlena Everlena's siblings remember her as a fighter and a protector as she would pull a knife on you in a second. Her sister's memories - Margaret Rita remembers her as very shy and very quiet; however, her sister Brenda remembers having to fight with her before going to school every morning and that she was very strong minded and hard headed as they sometimes had to go and find her in the late midnight hours, Brenda also remembers that their mother would always dress the girls like twins in big dresses and panted leather shoes that they hated. Shirley remembers her always beating her up. But when it came to fighting outside of the family they all had each other's back. Stella got a chance to speak with Beauty before she went into her last operation and she wanted to get her family together again as the brokenness of the family was very painful. Her brother's memories- Harold remembers her as being very smart as she would always get all the neighbor kids together and act like a teacher and teach, he also remembers that when she learned to do nails she would do his manicure. Her nieces Cecilia, Diema, Zanda, and Senella remember her playing last card and telling them to go to 7 eleven to get more nutty butter cookies as for the kitty in the game. She is awarded the Queen Bee, Queen Pin award by her dear son Garrett Gatewood as she ensured he lived a great life and taught him everything he knows to pay what he owes as she left no debt behind as an example for him to follow. She will forever be remembered for her way of the bible and being the greatest human being as she set the standard even being disabled. She is our "Black Beauty" Everlena was preceded in death by her parents, Julia Mae Owens-Gatewood and Robert Gatewood, her sister's Janie Gatewood, and Judy "Ann" Gatewood Everlena Gatewood- Thompson was called home to Glory, Friday, July 29, 2016. Left to cherish her legacy are her son Garrett Gatewood of Denver Colorado, her sisters Margaret Rita of Omaha Nebraska, Brenda, Stella, Shirley, and Kindra all of Denver Colorado, her brothers Robert Jr. of Memphis Tennessee, Leon of Denver Colorado, Glenn of Columbus Georgia, Harold of Reno Nevada, and James Calvin of Denver Colorado. Granddaughter Naytasha, grandson Sir, 1 great grandchild and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 8/5/2016 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 8/6/2016 at 12:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 3370 Ivy Street, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 8/6/2016 - Following the service. Pipkin Braswell Reception Center - 2428 Ogden Street, Denver, CO