Carrie Louise Gill

Carrie Louise Gill was born on Monday, April 23, 1928, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her parents, Sammy Windom, and Marion "Sister" Cook Hall preceded her in death. Carrie moved to Cleveland, Ohio, as a young child. She recounted often how ominous the Terminal Tower looked when she arrived via train. Carrie professed her faith and pledged her life to Christ at a very young age. She was educated in the Cleveland Public School System. She graduated from "the old Central High School."

During her youth, Carrie made many friends, most notably Lessie B. Walker, who upon seeing Carrie, thought she was so fashionably dressed that she decided she would claim Carrie as her friend. Carrie acquiesced and she and Lessie were inseparable. Carrie even lived with the Walkers for a brief period of time. Carrie was lovingly raised by "Sister" and her stepfather, James Hall, affectionately known as "Gee Gee."

In 1947, the year she graduated from high school, Carrie met "the love of her life," George Algernon "Bubba" Gill, Jr. (deceased). Hailing from Nashville, TN, "Bubba" wooed and swooned "Miss Muffet," his pet name for Carrie, like it was going outta style! The following year they were wed at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. Their union was blessed by four children: Deborah Louise Ratchford (Gregory, Sr., deceased) George Algernon "Beeble" Gill, III, (Lula Jean, deceased), James David "Jaybird" Gill and Victor Marion Collins Gill.

Ever the fashion plate, Carrie pursued a career in cosmetology, becoming a "beautician extraordinaire." She honed her skills at Lessie's Beauty Rama, located on Cedar Avenue, working alongside her best friend, Lessie. Carrie loved her clientele, and they loved her. She once was asked to style actress Ruby Dee's hair, but she declined, because she already had customers scheduled. Carrie went on to work in Mrs. Taylor's beauty salon and Black's High Fashion Beauty Salon on Noble Road. From finger waves, precision haircuts, sets and even Jheri curls, Carrie's customers left the shop with their hair "fried, dyed, and laid to the side." Between working in beauty shops, she did hair in the "basement" at home, on Empire, from where she retired. She was the inspiration for her son, Jay and granddaughters, Yolanda and Victoria, as she encouraged them to pursue careers in the "beauty industry."

Aside from her family, Carrie was passionate about Classical and Gospel Music, food, fashion, crafts, decorating for holidays, SHOPPING, her church, The Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church (GABC), and sharing good times with family, friends, and neighbors. She loved playing the piano, singing in her high school alumni, "Acapella" Choir, and the GABC Gospel and Sanctuary Choirs, selling banana bread to raise funds for the Deborah Circle and Women's Day at church and throwing fabulous affairs, for all to attend. "Weese," as she was lovingly called by her grand and great grandchildren, was a lot of fun to be around. She kept those around her laughing with her "comedic flair." If she knew you, she could imitate you, and you can believe she entertained others at your expense - always in good faith and with malice towards none. Mild-mannered and diminutive in stature, Carrie was generous with her food with one enduring caveat, "Don't eat the last piece!" Unless, of course, you thought it worth experiencing her wrath - it never was.

Carrie leaves to mourn her transition, her aforementioned children, six grandchildren: Dr. Stacey P. Gill, Ph.D., Yolanda Raymel Walker, Windom Gill Ratchford, Victoria Louise Gill, McKenzie Jean Louise Gill, Camille Stella Louise Gill; one grandson, Gregory Odell Ratchford, Jr., preceded her in death; three great-grandchildren: Cori Ross, Cobe Ross, Noah Gregory Ratchford; one great great grandchild, Kori'el Stott; one stepbrother, Lawrence Hall, nieces: Vicki Hayes Coe, Melanie Love, LaTanya "Tweety" Love; nephews: Donnie Hayes, Rodney Hayes, Michael Hall, Christian LaCroix Love and a host family, friends and "customers."