Julia Gayles

On August 31, 1945, God sent me to Denver Colorado, into the loving arms of Lula and Cleveland Mallard.  Upon my arrival, I discovered I had a big sister, Betty Lou.  Betty was curious about me and how I worked.   I remember her examining my fingers to see just how far they would move back!  We had so many fun adventures in our childhood; we were steadfast as children, disagreeable as pre-teens, supportive as adults and have become closer than ever in the winter of our lives. Daddy always encouraged us to take care of each other.  As it turned out we purchased a condo in Windsor Gardens in 2011, to live out our remaining years together.  It has been a blessing.

I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior and was baptized in 1961.  New Hope Baptist has been my church home and family since I was born.  I was active as a child and youth.  And as an adult, I served as President of the Majestic Praise Choir for over 15 years.  In 1998, I was appointed to the Board of Trustees and became 1st Vice Chair of the Trustee Board in 2010, and chair of the board in 2015.  The love and nurturing I received at New Hope has sustained me in everything that I have done.  Lifelong friends raised at New Hope are as close as family.  There is a danger in naming names but there are some people that not only have I known for a lifetime, but we have shared life’s journey, and gone through the fire together.  A few of those dear friends are Wilma Webb, Jennifer Ford Keel, Gretta Burroughs, Mary Gorham, Shirley Chapman, Roz and Wil Alston, Daryl J. Walker and LaTonya and Frenchie Lacy.  God is at the core of everything that I am and believe. The Love of Christ cannot be described but life is not worth living without it.

I was educated in the Denver Public School System, attending Columbine and Wyman Elementary, Cole Jr. High and am a proud graduate of the Manual High School Class of 1963.  Many of the friends that I made at Wyman have been an important part of my life journey.  My first-grade friend Marcia Montgomery Clinkscales and I have had a spiritual connection throughout our lives.  When we were in 2nd grade, we walked home from school together and then talked on the phone in the evening.  We read the Bible and I remember us trying to figure out some passages of scripture from Deuteronomy.  We have walked life's journey in fun and difficult places our entire life and I thank God for her spirit.  I attended Northeast Jr. College in Sterling, CO.  Several friends from Manual also matriculated to Sterling.  The two years there served as a cultural shock but was a growth experience in learning more about people from different backgrounds, social and spiritual values.  Sterling is where I got to know my best friend Alice Ross Turner.  We have shared a wonderful friendship since 1963.  In 2019, I reconnected with my old roommate Janet Gideon Bowlds as well as another college friend, Anita LaRue Sherburne.  As I get older, the value of friendship is more important than ever.  We have no time to put things off or do tomorrow what you can do today.  Tomorrow is not promised.

In early 1966, I ran into an old classmate of my sisters, Robert Gayles.  We started dating and were married on November 10, 1966.  To this union came a beautiful daughter, Christel Queen Elizabeth Gayles.  Although the marriage did not last, Robert and I remained friends until his death in 2018. The greatest blessing has been our daughter Christel.  She had a personality that was larger than life and I am very proud of the person she grew up to be. She was well loved in our community, and I thank everyone for your warm regard, love, and concern for both of us.  Unfortunately, Christel died on February 19, 2020.  Family is defined as a group of people living in a household together; descendants of a common ancestor; designed to be suitable for children and adults.  I was blessed to have a great family on both my mother and father’s side and then marrying into the Gayles family became another wonderful gift, which connected me to a close, loving, fun and loyal family.

My world of work began in retail, in 1968, at the Denver Dry Goods. I worked as a Sales Associate.  After repeated efforts to get into their management training program, I decided to pursue employment opportunities elsewhere.  I continued to work in retail part-time on and off at The Denver Dry Goods, May D&F, Foley's, and Macy's for over 35 years.

I began working at United Bank of Denver (now Wells Fargo) in 1972 - 1982.  After being laid off, I started working at Central Bank of Denver, (now U S Bank) in 1982 - 2002.  During my 30 years of banking, I had the opportunity to be one of 25 charter members that formed a non-profit organization of minority bankers in 1978.  The Mile High Bankers Consortium became affiliated with the National Association of Urban Bankers. The experience helped us to enhance our professional expertise as first-generation minority bankers in majority banks.  The organization allowed me to improve my management skills, network with peers across the country and stretch beyond what I thought I could do.

After being laid off from US Bank in 2002, I was asked by my friend, Wellington Webb to transition him out of office.  He was leaving the Mayor’s Office after three successful terms.  I inventoried all of his awards, plaques, pictures, and gifts and helped make his move as smooth and orderly as possible.  I then started working for the then newly elected City Councilman Michael B. Hancock representing District 11. I was his first hired employee as an elected official, and I have been with him through two terms in council and three terms as Mayor of Denver. My best job ever! I was blessed to retire from the Mayor’s Office on September 1, 2020, after 17 years of service with the City and County of Denver.

With every year of life, I value the experiences shared with my family and friends.  My mother used to say as she grew older and lost most of her friends, "No one knows what I know."  This statement is more profound to me with each passing day.  I feel so blessed to have friends that know what I know.  People who know what Grasshopper Hill meant to our neighborhood.  Friends that knew the fear of getting scrubbed as a new student of Cole Jr. High, who knew the pure pride of being a Manual Thunderbolt, and who can still feel the intimidation when Mrs. Henry’s name is mentioned.

The life that God has given to me has been a wonderful journey.  He blessed me with many gifts and talents.  From an early age, I had the gift of wise counsel.  Many of my classmates would tell me their secrets because they trusted me to keep them.  My parents taught me to love and be considerate of others.  We ARE our brother’s keeper.  If I identified a need that I could do something, I would take care of it as quietly as possible.  Love is action.  I considered myself to be a good cook--how about the fried (crack) chicken, cabbage, and baked salmon?  I learned to crochet when I was 13 years old.  My passion was making baby clothes.  I also loved to create beautiful, gift-wrapped packages.  I was a good organizer, writer and speaker and always loved to take pictures to record important life events.  This passion led to learning how to produce videos for various occasions.  To God be the glory for all that he has allowed me to do. It has been a gift to be His child.

I departed this world after a battle with Ovarian Cancer on Saturday, June 26, 2021, to reside for an eternity with my Heavenly Father in a mansion prepared just for me.  Preceding me in death are my parents Lula and Cleveland Mallard, my former spouse, Robert Gayles, my beloved daughter Christel Gayles. Loved ones that I have left behind to cherish my memory include, my beloved sister, Betty Slaughter; my bonus son, Christopher Hall, and a host of family, friends, godchildren, and other loved ones, too many to name.

Due to COVID restrictions, New Hope will be implementing designated seating and facial mask will be required for Julia's Celebration.