Gaye Freeman

Gaye Lynn Freeman, baptized in the Catholic Church, was born August 27, 1953 in Pass Christian, MS, to parents Dorothy and Oneal Dedeaux. Gaye shared her childhood with her older sister Nora Wells, and three younger siblings, Oneal, Jr., Joseph “JJ”, and Ellena Dedeaux. Gaye graduated from Harrison Central High School, Gulfport, MS in 1971.

In 1980, Gaye and her daughter, Lakeisha Benoit, moved to Oklahoma City, OK. In 1981, Gaye began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center where she met and later married Danny Freeman on August 31, 1985. Together they raised three beautiful daughters, Lakeisha, Daniell, and Wynter. Gaye attended and received college credits from Rose State College in Midwest City, OK. Gaye relocated with her family to several VA Medical Centers throughout the country, including Birmingham, AL and Cleveland, OH, finally settling in Denver, CO where she retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs on July 18, 2018, after 30 years of dedicated service.

Gaye was Chairperson of the Special Emphasis Program and Black Employee Program, coordinating activities for Black History Month and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She was an active member of the Federally Employed Women (FEW, Rocky Mountain Region) where she served as vice president, treasurer, logistics chair, and scholarship chair. She provided support to AFGE local chapter 2241 as Election Chairperson. She and her family attended Cure D’Ars Catholic Church in Denver. She was a proud grandmother who provided life lessons and support to her only grandchild, Derrion Summers.

Gaye took great pride in serving our country’s veterans. She took charge of the VA’s clothing room throughout her career, offering a helping hand to those in need. Gaye made many life-long friends throughout her time at the VA, always a source of great conversation, sassy quips, and compassionate advice to those who came to her. Gaye always dressed to impressed and was known for her stylish and colorful wardrobe and matching handbags. She was also known in her family for her wonderful cooking abilities, preparing lavish meals daily for her family to enjoy to express her love and dedication. Her favorite dishes to make stemmed from her upbringing in Southern Mississippi, including seafood gumbo, collard greens, and red beans and rice. Gaye’s family and friends will always remember her delicious food, wacky one-liners, lively laugh, comforting presence, and calm wisdom she brought to them.

On Friday, September 27, 2024, after enduring a lengthy illness, Gaye earned her heavenly wings and entered rest into the arms of her Holy Father. The following day her brother-in-law, Johnny Wells, joined her on her eternal journey.

She is preceded in death by both parents; father-in-law, Theodore Freeman; brothers, Joseph and Dewayne Dedeaux; sister, Ellena Dedeaux, and niece, Victoria Freeman.

Gaye is survived by her devoted husband, Danny Freeman; three daughters, Keisha Benoit-Summers (Ryan), Daniell Freeman, and Wynter Freeman; one grandson, Derrion Summers; godchildren, Rosalyn Wells (niece), Jerome Dedeaux (nephew), and Tova Marburger (Zack; niece); mother-in-law, Evelyn Freeman; one sister, Nora Wells; one brother, Oneal Dedeaux, Jr.; one sister-in-law, V. Gay McGahee, (Leon); two brothers-in-law, Randy Freeman and Christopher Freeman (Ruby); nieces, Storrey Wells, Bianca Dedeaux, Mylke Rogers, LaTasha Evans, LaGayla McGahee, Krystal Freeman, and Patrice Bell (Alsidneio); nephews, Jason Dedeaux, Wade Dedeaux, Eric Dedeaux (Amanda), Bradley Dedeaux, Christopher J. Freeman, and Freeman McGahee.