Eunice Leotta Gaskin

Eunice L. Gaskin, age 80 of Cleveland, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on December 24, 2022. Eunice was born on November 15, 1942, in St. Patrick's,  Christ Church, Barbados where she grew up with her parents, 6 sisters and 3 brothers. After high school Eunice enrolled at Tercentenary Nursing School and graduated in 1968. During this time, she had been dating Harold Gaskin and on December 18, 1969, they married. In 1973, they packed their bags and travel over 2,300 miles to Cleveland, Ohio where Eunice continued her nursing career working at the following hospitals: Forest City Hospital (1^st interracial hospital), Huron Road Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital. Due to a back injury, she ended her career in nursing and found a new career in office management. Once she officially retired, she decided to fill her days doing the Lord’s work. She volunteered countless hours serving others not only at her home church, Bethel Baptist, but also at Amasa Stone Chapel and McGregor Nursing Home, to name a few. While Eunice’s intent was only to serve the Lord, she received several commendations for her service.

Eunice was raised by Godly parents, and she carried that same parenting and teaching over to her 2 children, Greg, and Jennifer. She was a prayer warrior. There was never any problem she or her children had that could not be fixed through prayer. She was committed to building a strong relationship with the Lord through daily praise and worship,  meditation and reading the word. She loved to fellowship with other believers. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20 NIV). One thing she loved sharing with others was her testimony! Her stories about her recoveries from multiple surgeries, battles with sickness or any other obstacles she faced. She’d say, “He brought me through it and He will do the same for you”. Even when Eunice was not feeling well and stuck in her hospital bed, she would still find strength to encourage and pray with or for the hospital staff. Her exuberance for the Lord was electrifying and contagious.

Things that brought Eunice great joy: Traveling, Baking & Family. Trinidad, Jamaica, Florida, New York, and Canada are just some of the places Eunice visited but nothing compared to the times when she got to travel back home to Barbados to be with family. Every year during the holiday’s she always baked her delicious coconut bread and passed it out to friends and family. The love for her family was immeasurable. She was always present at holiday parties, birthdays, graduations, and sporting events. She enjoyed watching basketball, but she loved it even more when she got to watch her grandson Anthony play. Spending precious moments with her 7 grandchildren filled Eunice’s heart with so much joy. Her laughter was infectious.  She loved traveling to Tiffin University to watch her son Greg play as well. She loved spending time with her baby girl Jennifer especially when they had dinner and dessert together.

Eunice was the daughter of the late Levi Blades and the late Sylvia Blades. She was the beloved mother of Gregory E. Gaskin (Jeannine) of S. Euclid, Ohio and Jennifer A. Gaskin of Mayfield Hts., Ohio. A dear grandmother to Maurice Lovett, Jasmine, Kevin and Isaiah Gaskin, Anthony Stevens, Aaron and Ariel Williams.  Sister of Beresford Levi Blades (Cecelia), Esther Walker, the late Ruth Bovell, Mabel Blades, Mary Blades and Lucille Blades (Barbados); Elsie Harewood (Rawle), (Florida USA); Livingstone Blades (Zadene) and Lloyd Blades (Late Sonia), (Toronto, Canada).  She was also an aunt and great aunt to many family members. Lastly, she was a family member of the Durant, Blades, Moseley and Cheltenham families.

A visitation will be held at 10:30 AM with the Homegoing Service starting at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 11th at Brown-Forward Funeral Home. This service will be livestreamed and recorded to this webpage.