Funeral services for Natalie J. Gaither were held at St. Matthew AME Church on March 18, 2018. Ms. Gaither died on March 5, 2018. She was 90.
Natalie Jackson Gaither was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, on September 4, 1927. She was born to David and Clara Jackson and was the sixth of eight children born from this union. Her siblings Melvin, Ariel, Charles, George, Gladys, Viola, Anna and James preceded her in death. Natalie was divorced, but from this union gave birth to a daughter Diana, who also preceded her in death.
Natalie was educated in the Havre de Grace, Maryland School District and graduated from the Havre de Grace Colored High School. In her youth she loved to sing with her brothers and sisters in a group that performed at churches and black colleges in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Following high school Natalie worked for the United States Navy in Port Deposit, Maryland, during World War II. After relocating to Philadelphia she accepted a one-week work assignment that turned into a 40-year career and lifetime relationship with the Chapman/Zug family. Through her work she developed a love of travel and lived in several areas of the United States, Bermuda and Great Britain. She had friends throughout the world and loved to visit them in Amsterdam, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Denmark, Italy, England, Paris, Scotland and all over the United States. She continued her travels even at the advanced age of 88, visiting Canada, Las Vegas, Bermuda, Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard.
Nat, as she was known to everyone, was an award-winning cook and baker who loved to entertain. After her retirement she maintained a beautiful house and loved hosting gatherings at her home for family and friends. Birthdays, graduation parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter dinners, garden parties, high tea and the annual summer cookout… Everyone loved her baked goods. You were always welcome to visit her for a cup of tea with cake, cookies or pie. Her home was a special place of love and fun!
In September, Natalie’s family and friends were blessed to honor and celebrate her wonderful life with a 90th birthday party at her home. Unfortunately after her 90th birthday Nat became ill with cancer, and on March 5, 2018, she was called from this earthly world. Some 30 years ago, Nat, true to her nature and always wanting to help others, made the decision to donate her body to science when she passed in the hope of possibly saving someone in the future.
Natalie Jackson Gaither is survived by her grandsons, David (Tika) and Darrell (Stephanie) DeMoe; great-grandchildren, David, Jr., Drake, Paris, Dominique, Darrell, Jr., Devin, Dylan, and Dawson; nephews, George, Reggie, Charles, James, Jr., David, Sr., Kenneth, Izzy, Kenneth, Jr., Paris, David, Jr., James III, Stephen, and Joshua; nieces, Rose, Wendy, Cindy, Vanessa, Jackie, Nicole, Tasha, Asia, Michelle, and Wanda; the Bermuda family, James, Sharon, Hattie, Weldon, Hadley, Esther, Rudy, Wilma, Chick, Evol, Lucy, Joan, and Mary; the Woolridge family; the Tolbert family; special friends, Stephaine, Nikki, Jim, Alice, Vernetta, the Jackson family, the Scott family, the Brooks family, the Green Family, the Chapman/Zug family, the Flower Club of St. Matthew; numerous beloved friends and family members; and her special dog Huey.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the St Matthew AME Flower Club and/or the Scholarship Committee.
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