Dessie Rea (Davis) Gathers

Mrs. Dessie Rea, was born on August 4, 1958 to Dortha Mae Davis and Leroy Winks in Portageville, Missouri. 

Our family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I attended Grand Rapids Public Schools.  

Dessie accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.  I was baptized at a young age. I continued to seek God and grew a very strong prayer life.  My life was not always easy because I chose to live my life on my own terms.  Through life’s twists and turns and my many pains, I learned to lean and depend on God. I developed an effective fervent and active prayer life.

She has two children Felice and Colice of whom she loves dearly. She met and married her childhood sweetheart, Mr. David Gathers Jr.  They were later married on August 10th, 1981.  

On Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at approximately 1:07pm with family and friends by her side she entered eternity.  Her husband, David, sister’s in love, Rose and Sharon, daughter Felice and granddaughter Brandi were holding her hand at her bedside. There were a host of family praying for me at home and in the hospital. 

I Thessalonians 4th chapter speaks about us not mourning as unbelievers for our loved ones that have died in Christ for we believe that as Christ died and rose again, so shall our loved ones rise in the last day when the trumpet sounds and Christ calls us to be with Him.

She was preceded in death by her mom, Sis. Minnie and Bro. Clarence.  

She leaves to cherish her husband David Gathers, Jr., daughter Felice Kelley, son Colice (Lynette) Ussery, special daughter Denise Gathers.

3 brothers  Lawrence (LC) Smith of Grand Rapids, MI, Buster Smith of Los Angels, CA, and Ricky Kelly of Lansing, MI.

2 sisters Josephine Hughes and Marth Smith both of Grand Rapids, MI.

5 sisters in love Emily Jackson of Florida, Sharon, Melanie and Rose Gathers of Muskegon, MI, and Kathy (Robert) Hutchison of South Carolina.

1 brother in love John Antonio (Tony) Gathers of Muskegon, MI.

6 grandchildren Paula (Kelvin) Copeland of Kalamazoo, MI. Erica Sullins, Brandi Kelley-Nelson and Kelly Nelson of Muskegon, MI, Colice Ussery Jr. and Sasha Latham-Ussery both of Grand Rapids, MI.

7 great grandchildren Havana Copeland, Marko Sullins, Kaliyah Ussery, Kaia Sullins , Christopher Ray Sharp Jr., Eliza Nelson, Myles Ussery.

And a host of nieces, nephew, cousins, and friends

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