Arvia CaSandra Gillespie-Emans, a woman of grace, elegance, and charm, was born in Jacksonville, Florida on December 6, 1946, to Nancy and Calvin LaVoid Gillespie, who preceded her in death, as well as her younger brother LaVoid Gillespie.
Arvia was a spunky young girl, full of fun and gumption and that same spunkiness carried into adulthood and through her last days. She was an amazing, loving, caring, encouraging, and sacrificial woman who loved her family and friends. She was a great example of a lady who carried herself with poise and dignity, and had a style of her own. She loved being decked out from head to toe in such coordinated fashion, believing accessories were mandatory including hats, whether casual or sheik, to complete her look—especially on Sundays for communal fellowship and worship of the Lord.
A woman of faith, Arvia was raised in church from a young age at Tabernacle Baptist Institutional Church under Pastor W. E. Young, where she learned to love and serve the Lord. She worked faithfully for the youth department under the directorship of Helen Moses Lawrence, and was a member of the youth choir.
Arvia received her early education in Jacksonville, Florida where she attended Oakland Elementary and Matthew William Gilbert Junior & Senior High School. While in High School, she was Editor in Chief of the school yearbook. Later she continued her higher education at West L.A. College in California and Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania. She had a life-long love for learning and was well versed in many subjects, with a particular pet peeve of speaking proper English to enunciate words clearly and correctly—just ask her granddaughters.
After high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Freddie Jenkins Jr., moved to California, and from this union had two daughters, Deanna & Antoinette (Tweety). Her daughters were her everything and she was committed to making sure they experienced the world by touch and sight. The beach was their place of peace and tranquility and, of course, fun in the sun (the best medicine) but ultimately it was the place Arvia re-energized her soul with the sky above, the sand below, and God’s peace within.
Arvia worked in the Pension Administration field for many years and after 20 years in California moved to Pennsylvania to continue in that career. After retiring in 2009, she returned to California to be closer with family and friends.
Upon settling into Palmdale, she joined United Christian Fellowship & Zoe Ministries, serving the church as a faithful member of the Usher Board. Arvia also became actively involved in the local community as a member of the Antelope Valley African American Chamber of Commerce (AVAACC), joining first as a member in 2013 and then the Executive Board in 2014, assuming the position of Board Secretary. In the capacity of Head Ambassador, Arvia often represented the AVAACC at monthly luncheons and by making appearances at Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings and various community events. Arvia was an active participant in Board meetings and with her previous experience as an Administrator stepped up to use her skills to create and organize one of the Chamber’s signature events, “Bowling for Scholarships”, which raised funds for the “Get On The Bus” annual College Expo in downtown Los Angeles. Arvia’s last position on the Board was as Parliamentarian. Yet, her legacy will live on and always be remembered by the Antelope Valley African American Chamber of Commerce as the member with an affectious sense of humor and natural affection for people, and for keeping things on track while pointing at her watch and saying, “Wrap it up”.
To know Arvia was to know she loved to socialize, dance, and have a good time. While getting her ‘two-step’ on (more likely the wobble and cupid shuffle) at the Lancaster VFW Post, she met Jerry Emans and began a courtship that would become a new beginning for them, pronounced husband and wife on May 17, 2014. During their marriage they shared wonderful times together, including bus trips to Laughlin and Vegas, joining a bowling league and the ‘The Newlyweds’ team, playing card games of Bid Whist & Tonk with family, and an annual trip to Jacksonville attending her grand reunion, just to name a few. They were great companions and enjoyed every opportunity they could with family and friends. Although no longer physically together, their love will be forever and as Jerry shares, he will miss his little ‘chocolate drop’ and ‘buttercup’, as he affectionately called her.
Make no mistake, a woman with poise and all; Arvia was a woman who LOVED her sports. The sports she was fanatic about were Football, Basketball, Tennis, and Bowling. If a game or match was on and she wasn’t watching, something was definitely wrong. She stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to watch her favorite tennis players. She had the opportunity a few years ago to attend the WTA Indian Wells Open in the Palm Springs area and spoke often of how much she enjoyed it. Her love of sports was shared with her son-in-law through loving rivalry banter, calling each other about their teams and favorite players. Of her favorite sports bowling is the one she actively participated in and loved to do. She even had her daughters in junior bowling leagues as children, sharing and passing her love of the sport on to them. As her health began to diminish she bowled as long as she could with oxygen in tow on the lanes. Until the very end, she believed in her heart she would get one last chance to roll that ball again.
On March 16, 2019, the Lord called his spunky angel home. We can imagine Arvia danced her way through the pearly white gates, as she enjoyed peaceful and painless breaths of life, and is petitioning the Lord for a heavenly bowling alley.
Arvia is survived by her husband Jerry Emans (and family), brother Joseph Johnson (Janice), brother “from another mother” LeRoy Hardeman, daughters Deanna Jenkins and Antoinette and son-in-law Leon Scott, grandchildren Kyeonna Mosley, Desiree Goree, Jalani Mosley, and Danielle Goree, great-grandchildren Tayonna, Te’Jon, Samariyah, and Jordan, and a host of extended family and friends who loved and cared for her.
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