GAYNELLE WALKER

Gaynelle Z. (Shirley) Walker was born on September 24, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., to the union of Richmond R. Walker and Velma Louise (Williams) Walker. She was one of seven children born to this union. Her parents, four brothers, and two sisters preceded her in death.

She received her primary education from the Kansas City, Mo., School district where she attended R. T. Cole.

She was united in holy matrimony to Robert Hicks and to this union they had two children, Ralph A. Hicks, and Verlaine L. (Hicks) Westbrook, both who preceded her in death. This union was eventually dissolved. She later united in holy matrimony to James Henry Shirley Jr., on June 16, 1951. To this union there were three children.

Early in her life, Gaynelle dedicated her life to the Lord. As a good and faithful servant, she served on many levels. She was a founding member of the St. James African Methodist Episcopal church, helping to build it to a flourishing pillar in the community. She went on to dedicate over 50 years as a long-standing member of the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal church. She was also a member of the National United Church Ushers Association of America Inc., and was inducted into the National Alumni Department in 2001. In the same year, she was awarded a National Diploma from the George T. Grier School of Church Ushering.

Given these accomplishments, she was known as a strong servant leader at Ebenezer helping to lead and grow the Usher Board for many years.

Her first love was her grands, greatgrands, great-great grands, and greatgreat-great grands. If you walk in her living room and bedroom, pictures across the generations line her walls in every direction.

To cherish her memory, she leaves her son, Donald Maurice Shirley of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Yvonne Louise Dancer (Louis) of Copperas Cove, Texas, and Mary Frances Burns (Jerome) of Shawnee, Kas.; six grandchildren, Keith D. Rogers of Kansas City, Mo., Kimberly D. Johnson (Robert) of Killeen, Texas, Louis D. Dancer (Donyell) of San Antonio, Texas, Lynette D. Stevens of Chandler, Ariz., DeAngela J. Burns-Wallace of Shawnee, Kas., and Jason J. Burns of Washington, D.C.; seven great-grandchildren, 12 greatgreat grandchildren; two great-great-great grandchildren; sisterin-law, Paula Walker of Leesburg, Va.; longtime close friend, James Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends not mentioned but never forgotten.

Services for Ms. Walker will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the Ebenezer AME church, 3808 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m.

Interment, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at the Longview cemetery, 12700 Raytown Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Saundra Jefferson, 77, died on May 12, 2022. She was born on May 22, 1944, to Mildred Bradley-Hudspeth and Carl N. Hudspeth. She attended Manuel Career Tech center, later on getting her GED in Topeka, Kas.

She went on to work at Hallmark Cards Inc., having moves and milestones; she began her career as a handwork assembler in handwork. She also worked as a film assembler, Purchasing Clerk, Production Release Analyst, Press Molding Operator, and retiring after 40 years plus as an Electroforming Processor.

She loved participating in church activities. She was a charter member, giving her time on Mondays, Thursdays, first member, singing in the choir, directing the choir, council members, and volunteering whenever the chance was presented.

In her spare time she enjoyed reading, collecting African art, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren and family.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Mildred BradleyHudspeth; father, Carl Hudspeth Sr.; sisters, Maureen Robinson, Gail Hudspeth, and Frances Young; brother, Carl Hudspeth Jr.; nieces, Tracey Hudspeth, and Tonya Robinson; and nephew, Steven Hudspeth.

She leaves to cherish her memories her sons, Derrick Hudspeth and Jeffrey Hudspeth; her two eldest grandchildren, Mauria Hudspeth and Ja’Brya Partee; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorial service for Ms. Jefferson will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 5 p.m., at the Serenity Funeral home, 1101 E. Bannister Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Private Disposition.

NOTICES:

will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 2 p.m., at the Serenity Funeral home, 1101 E. Bannister Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m.

Private Disposition.

Services for LINDA MCNEELY will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 12 p.m., at the Swope Parkway Church of Christ, 5620 Swope Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Interment, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 12:30 p.m., at Forest Hill cemetery, Kansas City, MoO.

Stella Brooks. To this union, three children were born, Tony Jay Taylor, Troy Jay Taylor, and Tyrone Gerard Taylor.

Taylor Jr., enjoyed watching CNN, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. He also loved fishing in his spare time and hoped to enjoy it again one day soon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Sr. and Arnette Taylor; and brother, Leroy Taylor Sr.

He leaves to cherish his memory his four children, Tony (Faye), Troy (Crystal), Tyrone (Melanie), and Renate Teufel of Germany; seven grandchildren, Jessica Teufel, LaTerra Taylor, Troy Taylor Jr., Tyrone Taylor Jr., Mason Taylor, Mina Taylor, and Maura Taylor; two greatgrandchildren, Tatyana Taylor and Maliyah Taylor; seven siblings, Dorothy Frazier (Robert), Linda Campbell (Ronald), Johnny Taylor (Marla), Anita Taylor, Dale Taylor (Michelle), Ina Lynch (Oscar), Curtis Taylor; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

A public viewing will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Willis Chapel A. M. E. church, 5332 Benton Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. Funeral services will begin promptly at 11 a.m.

Interment, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 10 a.m., at the Leavenworth National cemetery, 150 Muncie Road, Leavenworth, Kas., with full honors.

Arrangements by the Golden Gate Funeral & Cremation Services, LLC.