Geraldine (Gaiters) Tyes

Geraldine Tyes was born on May 20, 1946, to the late Moses Wesley and Donnie Bell Gaiters in Saginaw, Alabama. She was affectionately known as “Gerri” to her siblings and friends.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents and several siblings, which include William Pickett, Jr., Arnet Lee Pickett, Moses Wesley Gaiters, Jr., Willie Earl Gaiters, Joseph Phillip Gaiters, and Dorothy Nell Gaiters.

After the death of her parents, she moved to Jemison, Alabama, and was reared by Willie Dove Cobb, an aunt who also preceded her in death. While in Jemison, she continued to be nurtured and met several family members and friends.

Her confession to Christ came later in life at the Saint James AME church, now known as Saint James Community Church.

Geraldine loved her church and faithfully served there as deaconess, superintendent of Sunday School, and choir member, and held many other titles. Geraldine loved her pastor and always ensured she met his needs by stocking his office and cleaning the church. She faithfully and willfully worked on the signage ministry, and each week, she changed the sign without hesitation. Everything she touched produced something great in ministry.

As Geraldine grew older, her desires shifted to what she needed to do, but her focus was always on JESUS and working for the kingdom. Many years later, she joined the Women’s Outreach Ministry of Jemison, where they held bible studies, gave to the poor, assisted the elderly, and awarded scholarships to children going to college. She loved this ministry and continued with it until she moved to Huntsville, Alabama.

Geraldine peacefully departed this life on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 5:11 a.m. at the Huntsville Health and Rehabilitation Center in Huntsville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Tyes.

She leaves to cherish her memories: three sons, Earl (Selena) of Huntsville, AL, Michael (Michelle) of Korea, and Sherman (Angel) of Jemison; a stepson, Thaddeus (Pearl) of Calera; two daughters, Rita (Levi) of Calera and Connie of Jemison, AL; nine grandchildren, Kaivonna (Nicholas) of Huntsville, Yvonne of Atlanta, April of Hampton, VA, Desmond (Brianna) Phoenix, AZ, D’Andre (Lisa) Jemison, Alexis Powell of Huntsville, Kaliyah of Calera, and Thaddeus and Shanetra, both of Calera, AL; eleven great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Gianna, Giselle, Olivia, Arianna, Journee, Shamariah, Arionna, Tamarah, Thaddeus III, and Khalani; siblings, Ernestine Oden of Alabaster, Cordelia Coleman of Eastvale, CA, Kathy (Michael) Marcus of Montevallo, AL, Edward Gaiters of Maylene, AL, and Michael (Wilma) Gaiters of Calera; loving sisters-in-law, Theresa Gaiters, Juanita Wallace, Teresa Tyes, and Brenda Reed; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Geraldine (Gaiters) Tyes, please visit our floral store.