Gayle Marie Folks

Gayle Marie Folks, 77, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away on September 20th, 2020 in Rio Rancho, NM, surrounded by her family.  Gayle was known for her ready smile and gift of encouragement.  She loved to laugh.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Gayle was born in Port Arthur, TX to Thomas Anderson Sr. and Indiana Maria Anderson on November 25, 1942.  She married Merrill P. Folks on September 21st, 1963 in Savannah, GA.  Gayle graduated from Kensington High School for Girls and attended Temple University, both in Philadelphia, PA.  In 1978, she received her Accelerated Christian Education Teaching Certificate while living on Guam.

Gayle was an active and faithful member of Victory Baptist Church for 38 years.  While a member there, she first supervised the Reading Room Program for one year and then transitioned to teaching kindergarten for the next 33 years at Victory Baptist School (formerly known as Victory Baptist Academy).  She loved her students and watching them learn and grow.  As she shared in her retirement speech, “It has been the joy of my life to have watched so many from the platform of kindergarten and witness their flights into their future with God’s word in their hearts.”  Gayle enjoyed singing in the church choir and also sang in the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus every year for 24 years.

In the early years, while living in Fairfield, CA, Gayle was a den mother for Trevor’s Cub Scout troop and a substitute teacher at Armijo High School.  She was also a Family Services volunteer at Travis Air Force Base in California.

Gayle is survived by her loving husband, Merrill P. Folks, her devoted children, son, Trevor Folks (Sandi), and daughter, Rochelle (Jesse) Coleman; Her adoring grandchildren, Antoine Folks, Josiah and Jiana Coleman.  She leaves behind her siblings: Cheryl Huff, Elayne Anderson, Thomas “Tommy” Anderson Jr. and Yvette (Don) Crichton.  In addition, Gayle leaves behind to mourn her many cousins, nieces, nephews, church family and friends. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Monday, October 05, 2020 at Johnson Funeral Home of Moss Bluff, 2171 N Highway 171, Lake Charles, LA 70611, and officiated by Pastor Wayne Dartez of Victory Baptist Church, Lake Charles, LA.  Interment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens.  Visitation Monday will be from 1:30 PM until the time of service in the funeral home.

The family of Gayle Folks wishes to extend our sincere thanks to longtime friend and caregiver, Cathy Nunez for going above and beyond in the loving care and support she gave to our mother during her battle with ALS.  We also want to give a special thanks to Betty Beverly for the devoted care she provided to our mother during her illness.