Eddie Gage

On a hot summer day, August 23, 1918 a baby boy was born in Waller County in a small home between Brookshire and Sealy, Texas. His parents Dempsy and Idella Gage decided to call him Eddie Lee Gage. He was the third of six children, three brothers Freddie, Brady and Jerome and two sisters Iola and Margaret. All of his siblings preceded him in death. Mr. Gage was a great part of our history. During his early years, there were no public schools for blacks. He grew up and received an eighth grade education attending the school run by Missionaries and Freedom Bureau Workers in the AME Church. He worked for river Van Rice Mill for twenty-five years and later for Hughes Tools. As a young man, he pursued the love of his life Hattie Holmes. They were married on December 5, 1938. After ten years of marriage Eddie said to Hattie, "You know I like Mu-Dear better than Hattie, so I'll call you Mu-Dear and you'll call me Daddy-Dear." And for sixty-four more wonderful years they greeted each other as Mu-Dear and Daddy-Dear. The light of love was apparent to those surrounding them, during good and hard times for seventy-four years until the end. God blessed this union with three children, twin boys, Freddie Gage and Eddie Gage Jr., one daughter Wilma Carroll (deceased) and five grandchildren. Brother Gage had a quiet powerful faith. He joined St. Mark's Methodist Church under the leadership of Reverend Joseph Cox. He served as president and treasurer of the United Methodist Men and as a member of the men's choir. His favorite pastime was hunting wild game, fishing and talking to people about just about any subject. He always had words of wisdom when talking about God. In speaking of his mother's influence, he said that she taught him so many things about life and how to take care of himself. After his mother passed, he said of Mrs. Gage, "She is now my wife, my mother, my everything." Those left to cherish his precious memories are his loving devoted wife Hattie Holmes Gage, sons Eddie Jr. (Glenda) and Freddie. Five grandchildren Lamarcieaaron Gage, Lamarcie Gage, Alonzo Graham, Tanja McDaniels and John Woods, Jr., Godchild Chiquita Brooks, Sisters-in-law Justine Alexander, Esther Busby, Doris Williams, Ella Russell and Brother-in-law Freddie Holmes,a host of nieces, nephews, other family, friends and the St. Mark's Church Family.