Willean Marie Gullatt's Obituary
“GOING HOME” symbolizes the end of an earthly life of faith by showing one bird leaving the flock and “GOING HOME” to its everlasting reward. Those who remain do so with a peace of mind that their loved one is now forever secure in God’s care.
Willean Marie Smith Gullatt was born on August 3, 1938 in Texarkana, Texas. She was the eldest of seven children born to Willie Smith and Emma Briley Smith.
Willean proclaimed a love of Christ at an early age and united with St. Paul Methodist Church in Texarkana. She graduated from Dunbar High School, Texarkana, in 1956 and relocated to Oakland, CA shortly afterwards. She started working with the Internal Revenue Service and gained a newfound independence in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ennis Gullatt, her hometown sweetheart whom she met in the summer of 1955, relocated to Oakland in 1959 after serving in the army. They married on June 20,1959. To this union were born two daughters, Brigitte Yvette and Antonette Celia.
Willean worked for the Oakland Police Department in Community Services for some years while raising her family. She was a pioneer in the Home Alert Neighborhood movement helping communities organize to prevent burglaries. She was given an award by the City of Oakland for her work. Most of all, Willean enjoyed taking care of her family. She was a wonderful cook and made the best sweet potato pies. She was friendly and loved hosting parties. She especially loved hosting fundraisers at her home for candidates running for local office. She was a member of Saint Benedict’s Church where she served as a lector/Eucharistic minister, and she enjoyed attending the gospel mass.
On March 11, 2017, Willean’s earthly journey ended and her Heavenly journey began. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Smith and Emma Briley Smith, two brothers, Willie Raymond Smith and Earnest Smith, and one sister, JoAnn Smith Marks.
She leaves to cherish her memory, celebrate her life, and continue her love: daughters, Brigitte Gullatt and Antonette Gullatt West; son-in-law, James West, Jr.; grandsons, Ennis Diante Chauhan and Darien West; granddaughter, Danielle West; sisters, Rosie Jones (Norman) and Karen Anderson; one brother, Lon Dale Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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