Mrs. Josephine Hairston

MASKS ARE REQUIRED

Josephine (Brown) Hairston Myles of Hephzipah, GA passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at the age of 68. She was born on December 23, 1952 in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Sloan & Reasie Irene Brown. She was preceded in death by both of her parents. In 2003, she married Eddie Lee Myles and they remained husband and wife until his departure in May 2021. 

In her early years, Josephine was raised as a Seventh Day Adventist, an upbringing that equipped her with a foundation of morals, respect, and an everlasting love of her Heavenly Father. In approximately 1969, she graduated with a High School Diploma from Chisolm Trail Academy in Keene, Texas. In 1975, Josephine joined the United States Navy where she served her country for 16 years. During her enlistment with the U.S. Navy she served in many countries around the globe, to include Grand Turk and Whales, England, and she defended her country as a participant in Operation Desert Shield. In addition to her military service, she also had a successful career with the United States Postal Service for 10 years, before retiring in 1998. 

Josephine attended Norfolk State University in pursuit of a degree in Business Management and graduated from the Banning Massage School as a Certified Therapeutic Massage professional in 2002. 

Josephine remained a devout Christian all of her life, serving as Choir Director, Choir member, Deaconess and many other positions in several churches over many years. She was quite popular in her church community as a profound singer, as she expressed her love of Christ, through gospel music with her exceptionally powerful vocals. Most recently, she was an active member of Wrens Seventh-Day Adventist Church Wrens, GA.. 

Josephine was a phenomenal and selfless woman and mother who would do anything within her power, for children, family, friends, and even assisted in raising her nieces, nephews, a step-son, and a granddaughter. She volunteered to assist the less-fortunate, was an avid decorator, and traveled throughout the U.S. and overseas on missions to spread the gospel. 

Josephine is survived by her sister Margie R. (Brown) Douglas of Bossier City, LA; two sisters-in-law Minnie Lee Griffin of Hamtramck, MI & Louise Myles-Gibson (h. Charles) of Detroit, MI; two sons Bilal Abdus-Sabur (Anthony M. Hairston) of Denver, CO & Duriel Jermaine Hairston of Tuscon, AZ, her daughter Chera Arian (Hairston) Martinez of Virginia Beach, VA; three step-sons Omar Anderson of Bloomfield, MI, Abdul Anderson (Roleta) of Bloomfield, MI, and Arib Eddie Myles of Santa Clarita, CA. She was also grandmother to Rebecca Yasmin Lawson, Kennedy Isabela Martinez, Cameron Jermaine (Hairston) Brown and Aniyah Nevaeh (Hairston) Brown, as well as several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; She also leaves behind countless nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. All are grateful to have known her and will carry her spirit in their hearts. 

She was preceded in death by five (5) sisters: Ada Mae (Brown) Hampton, Maggie (Brown) Williams, Mariel (Brown) Woodward, Jessie Mae Brown, Elizabeth Anne (Brown) Foote (h. Lewis), and five (5) brothers: Percy James Brown, Henry Coloucious Brown, Jim Sloan Brown, Chris Columbus Brown and Willie Timothy Brown; along with several aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Please join us in celebrating her life Saturday, January 15, 2022, between 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home located at 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Should family and friends desire, contributions can be made to https://www.stjude.org, online or by mail. 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." from Matthew 11:28-30



 

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