Theresa Flossie Gayles

Theresa “Flossie” Gayles was born on December 24, 1934 in Itta Bena, Mississippi. She was born in the heart America's greatest recession, the Great Depression. She was the firstborn of the late Willie Hall and Penola Dallas Hall. This was a time of struggle. Families during this period all had this in common.

Theresa played big sister to the blossoming Hall children, which grew to ten. She developed aspirations to be a nurse. This was during a time where the custom saw more and more women leaving the home to pursue careers of their own. Theresa set her sights on the medical profession. Her career as a registered nurse kept her busy working at nursing homes in one burrough of NY during the day and at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan, NY during the overnight shifts. Her hard work and ambition I'm sure, was an inspiration to the younger Hall children. She retired after 24 years of service.

Theresa lived a full life. She enjoyed a robust family life during her growing years and grew her own family. She was significant to each of her family members and played a vital role in all of their lives. She leaves behind no grudges and always encourages all to come together and make memories that we can smile upon when we look back through the years. Her last two years were a demonstration of that. Theresa departed this earth on November 10, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida where she resided.

Theresa was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, her loving husband James Gayles Sr, her daughter Peggy Williams, son Ronald Williams, granddaughter Shavonne Williams, her first great granddaughter Laquasha Williams, her great grandson Dominic L. Whitfield, great grandson Darnell “DJ” Williams Jr, her sister Josalie Hall and brother Nathan Hall.

Theresa leaves to mourn in her passing her son James Gayles Jr, her grandchildren Sharei Williams, Robert Williams, James Friday, Nitteya Friday, Sharnelle Williams, Darnell Williams, Shaleia Williams, her great grandchildren Laneja Brown, Sharard Brown, Jhaziyah Friday, Jaelynn Friday, Jordyn Friday, Jayvonne Williams, Miyah Williams, Serenity Brown, Dasiya Williams, Tatiana Cobbs, Kyreef Cobbs Jr, her great great grandchildren Khloe Edward, Kayleigh Kasha Brown, Kysiem Brown, and siblings John Hall, Catherine Jackson, Rose Ratteray, Charles “Jessie” Hall, and Geneva Wilson.

Theresa's life was one of struggle and of overcoming. She was born during the Great Depression, saw two World Wars, had a successful career, witnessed the struggle of her race, lived through the terms of the first black president, struggled with diabetes but diabetes did not restrict or stop her life in any way, grew a successful family of her own, diagnosed with cancer, beat cancer, endured widowhood, endured the incarceration of her beloved son, and celebrated last year at that sons wedding.

She lived through the worst but she lived. Not everybody can say that. Many people who live through these conditions don't want to continue on with life. She continued. Even in death. Theresa Gayles continues.