Geneva James

On September 7, 1925, Mary Willie Wright gave birth to her third child, a baby girl, Geneva “Jennie Eva” Wright, in Indianapolis, Indiana. When Geneva was at a very early age, Mary and Dorl Wright moved their family to Cleveland, Ohio. Eventually, Geneva was the third child of a large family of eleven children.

She received her elementary, secondary, and high school education at Cleveland Public Schools and attended some Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State Extension College courses.

She started her walk with the Lord early in her life, under the pastorate of Reverend Henderson Germany, at Shiloh Baptist Church and, in later years, she attended Gethsemane Baptist Church and served as a Deaconess.

At a young age, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Glenford James. To this Union, one daughter was born, Anita Louise. This marriage ended in divorce and, at a more mature age, in 1974, she married Deacon Leonard Gibson and, after 21 years of marriage, Deacon Gibson preceded her in death, in August, 1995.

Geneva attended Practical Nursing school and worked for 30 years in Mental Health as a Mental Health Nursing Supervisor, a Technician, and a Buyer. She also served in private duty nursing for 10 years.

Her sisters and brothers who preceded her in death are Albert, Magnolia, Nathan, Roberta, Fred, Irma, Florence, O’dell, Dolores, and Thomas.

She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted daughter, Anita Louise Sanders (Lonnie), one grandson, Lonnie Sheldon Sanders; five special nieces, Jacqueline Dumas (Albert), Marion Lawrence (Marcus), Joan Moore, Zaletta “Cindy” Russell, and Valerie Hambrick; one special nephew, Steffen Wright; one special sister-in-law, Josephine Wright; four Goddaughters, Anita Alexander (James), Cecelia England (Millard), Florence Wood, and Marcia Johnson (Gregory); three Godsons, Bernard Baker (deceased), James Melvin Weaver, and Aubrey Stephenson; one special Assistant, Waneisha Slaughter; one special friend, Irma Howard (and her daughter Jefferica); and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

“After Darkness, the Light”

When darkness comes and shuts out the Light,

we must lean on faith to restore our sight,

For God will be there to show us the way

and Lead us to a brighter day.