Skip to content
memorial_lafayetteheader

LIVE STREAMING BROADCAST BEGINS IN

Lafayette Gatling Sr. obituary

The Man with a Vision

The epitome of a visionary, innovator, pioneer, and source of comfort for millions over his illustrious 40+ year career. Mr. Lafayette Gatling Sr. is The Man With A Vision.

Born on August 5, 1940, in Seaboard North Carolina to the union of Raymond Gatling and Virginia Kee. Mr. Gatling accepted Christ and was baptized at Roanoke Salem Baptist Church in Garysburg, North Carolina. He emerged from humble beginnings to become one of the nation’s premier innovators and preeminent figures in the funeral business.

In 1945, during the Second World War at the very tender age of five, he was challenged by the loss of his mother. At the time of his mother’s passing, his father was somewhere in a fox hole in New Guinea fighting for his country. When the elder Gatling arrived home six months later, he discovered the loss of his wife and his very devastated little boy. It was through this traumatic experience of losing his mother and waiting six months for his father that the five-year-old Lafayette envisioned providing comfort to those suffering the loss of their loved ones.

Mr. Gatling was raised by his grandparents Lummie and Lethie Kee. It was from their influence; he learned the value of integrity and hard work.  In 1958, Mr. Gatling was given the opportunity to relocate to Chicago by his Uncle Paul aka “Uncle Duke” and Aunt Mary Goffeny.  He often stated: “I came to Chicago on that B & O train.” Upon his arrival, the 17-year-old Lafayette asked himself: “What do I have to offer a big city like Chicago?”

So appreciative to his Uncle Duke and Aunt Mary for allowing him to come to Chicago, he promised: “You’ll never have to get me out of jail, and I’ll never cause you any problems.” He kept his promise. As the owners of Vogue Records, Uncle Duke and Aunt Mary supported him in each of his endeavors. Even as a young man, they saw and believed in the incredible visionary we celebrate today. Aunt Mary was the first to speak life into his dreams, aspirations and his abilities by saying: “Give him what he wants. He’s a businessman.”  

From conducting the funeral services of chickens in his North Carolina backyard, to relocating to Chicago to building one of the largest funeral homes in the country, that seed of sorrow created a harvest of help, hope, and healing to millions within the greater Chicagoland area.

As one author quotes: “One is too small of a number to achieve greatness.” Drawn together by their mutual love for the Lord and for gospel music, Mr. Gatling met and married his helpmate, Mrs. Marguerite Ewell Gatling. Together they created the true essence of a modern-day power couple as they partnered in life, parenting, and business success.

Blessed with many gifts, Mr. Gatling was a man with vision and a man who truly believed in hard work. He earned multiple trade designations including a degree in HVAC, and a certificate in welding and cable splicing. Additionally, he was a certified General Contractor for over thirty-nine years and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 for over forty-five years.

He merged the sincerity of his heart and the skilled expertise of his hands by physically building Gatling’s Chapel Chicago with his own hands. With a growing vision to have a broader impact, Mr. Gatling oversaw the recent 9,000sf state of the art addition to Gatling’s Chapel South Holland. Considered the Jewel of the Southland, this 14,000sf facility features three spacious chapels and two modern repass areas, with video streaming capabilities among other technological advances. Always willing to share his gift, Mr. Gatling volunteered his skills to erect multiple churches around the Chicago area.

Mr. Gatling. attributed his success and innumerable achievements to the Glory of God to whom he was unwaveringly faithful. He served as Chairman of Trustees at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, the first church he built for free, he was an Ordained Deacon at Combined Faith Missionary Baptist Church and served as Trustee at Messiah Temple Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Gatling’s gratefulness to God propelled his vision to extend beyond providing services to families in need to promoting the preservation of traditional Gospel Music. To that end, Mr. Gatling created Bud Publishing Co., Thisit Records, True Gospel Productions, and he was the Co-founder of The Gospel Music foundation. In addition to his love for God, family, serving those in need and commitment to hard work; one of his unrivaled joys was singing God’s praises with the Famed Christland Singers. Mr. Gatling joined the Famed Christland Singers in 1964 and served faithfully for 57 years as they traveled across the country lifting the name of Jesus.

In his quest to honor God through the ministry of song at the highest level, Mr. Gatling envisioned building the Gospel Quartet Capital of the World. This vision led him to purchase 445 acres of land in Country Club Hills, IL. This purchase earned him the esteemed distinction of being the largest single African American landowner in Illinois. Currently home to several developments, Mr. Gatling’s contribution to this area will forever be memorialized with the main thoroughfare named in his honor: Gatling Boulevard.

As Mr. Gatling so often requested through the words of one of his favorite songs: “Do Lord, oh do Lord, please remember me,” on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, the Lord remembered his faithful servant and called him to his eternal rest.

Mr. Gatling leaves to cherish his memory, a loving wife and partner in success, Mrs. Marguerite Gatling. Three Children, Lafayette (Dina) Gatling, Jr., Shirl (Lewis) Gatling-Lacey, & Marquita (Maurice) Gatling. Four grandsons: Aaron Lance, Lafayette III (Carletta), Dominic I, and Donovan A. Gatling. Two granddaughters, Lyric Amani, and Melody Iman. Two great grandchildren, Carsyn Marie & Maleigha Jeanette. Brother: Wendell Gatling of Aulander, North Carolina, Godson, Andrè Warren of Colorado Springs, CO., Special Cousin Ivan (Glenda) Kee, Kidney Donor Barbara Madison of Washington, D.C., a myriad of other cousins and in-laws.

Mr. Gatling also treasured his relationships with his Christened God Children: Pierre Toussaint, Tristian Whitaker, and Sapphire Howard-Snow. Others whom he accepted as God Children: Elaine Jones, Kirk Edwards, Harry Bullock, Iynna Franklin, and others too numerous to name. His special caretaker: Ruth Caldwell, chauffeurs: Clyde Thomas and Marvin Covington, his Christland Singers, and the entire Gatling staff.

Although the visionary has received his eternal promotion, the vision continues to live on.