Laura Lanette Topete of Corona, Ca passed away on September 4, 2021. She was born in Los Angeles, California on August 2, 1964, to Homer E. Gill and Effie J. Charles thus starting her journey on the road to life. At the age of 13, Laura accepted Christ as her personal Savior at Citizens of Zion Baptist Church located in Compton CA. She was baptized by Pastor B.T Newman, who was one of her favorite uncles. Laura was active at church singing in the youth and young adult choirs. She volunteered in her father’s ministry registering guests for his testimonial banquets and her mother’s ministry by teaching and preparing preschoolers to be successful in education. She taught three and four- year-old children. Parents requested Laura to be their child’s teacher because her students excelled beyond their years.
Laura attended Broadacres Elementary School, Curtis Middle School, Fleming Junior High and Narbonne High School. Laura went on to further her education at Los Angeles Harbor Community College, where she was a cheerleader and crowned Homecoming Queen. Laura’s love for music was born out of watching her father who was a musician, singer, song writer, and instrumentalist as saxophone was his instrument of choice.
As a young child she always spoke about having 12 children. A dream came true when she met and married Manuel Topete. Although she didn’t quite make it to 12, the Most High blessed them with 6 beautiful children. Laura always shared her love for music with her children. Laura discovered the true name of the Most High GOD, which Moses gave the children of Israel in Exodus 3:13-14, “I AM THAT I AM,” the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Laura was on a mission to seek truth and later joined her new church called the Gathering of Christ Church where she re-dedicated her life to Christ. Her brother, Bishop Ahzan, baptized Laura and gave her the name Bayan Gabarah in Hebrew which means Discerning Warrior in March of 2016.
Laura was loved by all, by her mother, Effie Gill, sister Lisa Gill, and two brothers, Philip Gill and sister-in-law Brandi and Michael Gill, and her six children, Kimberly Topete-Soto, son-in-law Lonnie Soto, daughters Taylor Topete and Cheyenne Topete and three sons David Topete, daughter- in-law Brianna Topete, Antonio Topete and William Topete; a host of grandchildren; niece Amber Gill, nephew Kyle Gill and great niece Saniyah and great nephew, Demarcus and aunt Patricia Wafer and a host of cousins.
