Mother Geraldine Paige's Obituary
Mother Geraldine M. Paige, 85, of Fayette, MO, passed into eternity on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the University of Missouri Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church in Fayette. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the church on Saturday. Services will be live streamed at 12:00 PM through the HT May & Son Funeral Home Facebook page and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome.
On Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the University of Missouri Hospital, First Lady and Mother, Geraldine M. Paige quietly entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior .
On September 16, 1939, Thelma Moore and James Dowdell welcomed their daughter, Geraldine M. Dowdell into the world in Trinidad, Colorado. She graduated from Trinidad High School and obtained an Associates Degree from San Fernando Community College. She was employed with 3-M in Long Beach, CA and Columbia Power & Light Co. in Columbia, MO for a number of years. She retired from Glasgow Quarries, Glasgow, MO in 2002.
Geraldine was a loving sister to her brothers, Eugene Williams, James Dowdell , Joey Dowdell and sisters, Dorothy Dowdell, Dianna Dowdell, Darlene Dowdell and Laverne Mack.
She met and married her "Honey" as she affectionately called Elder Richard (R.C.) Paige in Denver, CO. They united in marriage on November 27, 1970. Together, they raised four children, Tommy, Denise, Kenny and Ronnie. In their golden years, they were blessed to raise, love and nurture their great-granddaughter, Natasha Gilson. In their journey, God led them to build a place of worship in Fayette, MO. They founded Holy Ground Christian Tabernacle in May 1993.
Geraldine leaves the loves of her life; her children, Thomas (Solange) Gilson, Pastor Denise V. Johnson, Kenneth (Valerie) Gilson and Ronald Mingo. She also leaves her beautiful legacy of 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, her best friend/sister, Dr. Mary Page-Houchin a wealth of cousins, friends and God-Daughter, Mary McComb-Kindred.
Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her granddaughter, Angela Gilson, her sister, Laverne and her brothers Eugene and James.
Affectionately known as "Gerri", loved, ministered, counseled and comforted anyone who entered in to her life. She was a gentle soul who would tell you the truth yet comfort you when the truth hurt. A woman that humbled herself before the Lord. She always stayed in prayer and worship. A woman with a strong, beautiful voice that sang His praises with everything she had. A woman who would get so amused and tickled that all you could see was her shoulders moving in strong laughter! First Lady and Mother, Geraldine "Gerri" Paige was truly a warrior for the Lord.
Take your well deserved rest up yonder Mother Paige. "Well done thy good and faithful servant . . . " Your work here is finished.
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