Faye Gerdine

Faye Elizabeth Wyatt Gerdine was born on August 16, 1918, in Fort Worth, Texas, to the loving and proud parents of Ed "Eddie" Wyatt, a railroad employee of The Texas Zephyr, and Louanna Keys, an intelligent, faithful Christian woman, who dedicated her entire life to her beloved daughter, Faye. Faye was the only child born to the loving couple. Faye, loving the fellowship and kinship of family was extremely close to her mother, whom she lovingly called "Mother Dear," and her cousins, who were a part of the very large Keys Family, and loved her like a sister with lots and lots of affection. She was a very vivacious and feisty, highly spirited personality who could talk and talk and never get tired from talking with friends and loved ones. She was an extraordinarily kind and giving lady who gave everything that she had to God, her family, and even to people whom she did not even know. She was truly a Child of God. Outspoken and truthful, she always tried to speak with kindness while at the same time being on solid ground when she said anything. Always saying what she meant and meaning what she said, you always knew what she meant. Accepting Jesus as her personal Saviour, she was baptized in the creek, in McGregor, Texas, where she grew up to be a delightful young lady. Her mother, Louanna, an industrious woman who strongly believed in Education, wanted her to be a foreign missionary for the Lord. A young Faye said, "I believe in keeping faith and trusting in the Lord and doing good." She lived this life all of her life. As a young lady, Miss Faye finished high school in Shawnee, Oklahoma, at Dunbar High School, near Ada, Oklahoma. Her mother then sent her to Mary Holmes College in West Point, Mississippi, where she earned her Associate Degree in Elementary Education. She pursued her career as an elementary school teacher in West Point, Mississippi. She excelled as a teacher. Later, after she and her husband and family moved to Denver, she held positions in the health area, where she served at several of Denver's anchor hospitals. She received her training in the 1950's as a Licensed Nursing Assistant at Denver General Hospital. She worked for the newly-opened Veterans Hospital in Denver and as one of the first employees of the then newly opened Rose Memorial Hospital during that same time period. After working for 25 years for Presbyterian Hospital in Denver, she retired with appreciation from the hospital, with their stating that she "spoiled" her patients, and no one else could provide nursing to the patients like she could. She even would go over to patients' homes and give nursing to them free of charge because she wanted them to be well again. While, as an employee of Presbyterian Hospital, she organized and provided clothes and food for poor families and delivered the food and clothes, herself, to those families. Caring about her community and doing what she could do to bring about equality of opportunity for all people, she joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in Shawnee, Oklahoma, at the age of fifteen(15). She had a lifetime membership for 82 years. She belonged to the women's social and civic organization called "The Camelia Mothers." She was also a Delta Mother of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. While in West Point, on May 4, 1941, she was married by the Reverend G. W. Lucas to Frank Wendell Gerdine, Principal of Mary Holmes College. He would become a Tuskegee man in the Army-Air Force where he served as a Master Sergeant, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and an Honorary Certificate of Appreciation for War Services. Citizen Faye did her part to help the nation during World War II. She worked for Remington, at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal where ammunition was made for the military. She talked about how happy people were when they were told that the war was over. The plant was immediately closed down and all the employees were sent home. Mrs. Faye and Mr. Frank Gerdine moved to Denver, Colorado, where seven beautiful children were born, Frank Ed, Wilma Jean, Louanna Faye, Wendell Delano, Kenneth Lowell, Sara Elizabeth, and Phillip Howard. Two of her children, Frank Ed and Wendell Delano, preceded her in death. Faye, along with Frank and her children, all joined New Hope Baptist Church, where they were centered in the church for nineteen (19) years. They then continued their service to Christ at Zion Baptist Church. She was a loyal and active member of Zion for 56 years. She lovingly and joyously served the Lord in several missions of the church which included her being President of the Deaconess Board, a member and teacher in the Missionary Society, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Choir, and continual contributions in several other missions of service in the church over the years. Sister Faye especially loved to welcome the visitors to Zion in her own unique way as no one else could, which included musical accompaniment from the church's organ. As President of the Deaconesses, she, herself, bought new baptism robes, when the church, at the time, did not have funds for the robes. The robes were eventually given to the choir. Also, while President of the Deaconesses, she would go and buy the wine and bread for communion at a Bible store, and pay for it herself. She did not do this for any type of glory, but just for serving the Lord. Sister Faye was, for several years, until she was not able to carry on due to physical illness, a delegate to the National Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, where she enjoyed traveling to several states across the country, either by plane, through motoring, or riding on Brother Keesee's bus with members from several other churches in Denver. A truly caring person, who was indeed a Good Samaritan, once noticed, as she was driving on busy Broadway Street in Denver, during a life threatening traffic jam, that a young lady was trapped in the traffic. She got out of her car in the middle of the traffic, endangering her own life, and helped the young lady to get across the street safely. She would often open up the doors of her home and take in people who did not have a place to stay. They did not have any money, and she did not want any. She took them in anyway, although they were strangers. She took them in out of the goodness of her heart. She believed throughout her life that a good mother should never forsake her children. She, above all, took her children to church all the time. She nurtured her children. She encouraged her children. She taught her children to do right. Any time you would see her, she always had a child with her. She gave all of her children music lessons. She tutored her children, especially Wilma, in public speaking. She entered Wilma into essay contests and extemporaneous speaking contests. She taught her how to speak effectively to the public. She also loved her "son" Wellington, whom she supported over the years, not only as a "son" but also as mayor and an elected official. She encouraged Louanna to excel in Music and in Nursing, and Louanna did. She also supported her "son" Charles as a man of the clergy where he ministers in Michigan. She encouraged Frank Ed, and Kenneth to play musical instruments and they did. She enlisted them in the Jr. Police Band and the High Lander Boys. She encouraged Sara to sing and to learn the Bible which helped her in the ministry. She also encouraged her "son" Ronald to push on up in the ministry. And, she encouraged Phillip to play the drums. Wendell, a very loving and gentle man, was encouraged to continue his dreams as a gymnastics athlete. She gave the same full potion of love and encouragement to all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She also loved her neighbors and friends everywhere. She fought a valiant and good fight during the twilight years of her life as her health began to fail. She never lost her faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Saviour. She kept God first in her life, then her church, her family, and her friends. She always spoke of wanting to go to Heaven where the streets were paved with gold, where she wanted to see the Pearly Gates, and where God had prepared a mansion for her. Above everything else, she loved the Lord. Surely, she is now dwelling in the House of the Lord. Deaconess Faye Elizabeth Wyatt Gerdine went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 7, 2016. She passed peacefully with her family at her bedside. She leaves to cherish her memory: her loving children Wilma J. Webb and her husband Wellington E. Webb, Luanna F. Slay and her husband, Reverend Charles B.T. Slay, Kenneth L. Gerdine, Sara E. Dickerson and her husband, Bishop Ronald Dickerson, and Phillip H. Gerdine, thirty-two grandchildren, Frank E. Gerdine, Jr., Katia L. Gerdine, Loree E Gerdine., Janel Martin, Lovell Gerdine, Shanica Gerdine, Germaine I.Gerdine, Shirley Jane Gerdine,. LaShawne Gerdine, Carlos R. Gerdine, Dionne Hobley, Amber Johnson, Wendell (Donnie) Gerdine , Tanisia and Tiana Gerdine, Kenneth L. Gerdine Jr., and Wendell D.Gerdine, Jr., Keith A. Thomas (deceased), and Stephanie Y. O'Malley, Allen W. Webb and Anthony W. Webb, Cheryl D. Taylor, Kevin L. Slay, Sean W. Slay, and Charles B. Slay, Jr., Dominique Dickerson, Ansherea James, Lonnell King, Yolanda and Nickie Collins, and Kendrick G. Ward; 69 great grand children, a host of great great grandchildren, one niece, Gracine Gerdine, six nephews, Jason Mayo, Milton, Nathaniel D., Jamie Mark, Clint A., and Milton Thomas Robert Gerdine (deceased), many beloved first cousins including beloved cousins, Sterling Keys, II, Clarice Anderson, Melba Chappell, and Barbara Chappell, Doye Jimmerson, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by two sons, Frank E. Gerdine and Wendell D. Gerdine, and one grandson, Keith A. Thomas. Sister Faye Elizabeth Wyatt Gerdine will be missed by all who knew her, but God loved her best. Now she is present with the Lord.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 1/15/2016 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 1/16/2016 at 11:00 AM - Zion Baptist Church - 933 East 24th Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 1/16/2016 - Following the Service Fairmount Cemetery - 430 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 1/16/2016 - Following Interment Pipkin Braswell Reception Center - 2428 Ogden Street, Denver, CO