Adella Gary

Adella Gary, affectionately known as Honey, was born on July 13, 1927, in Hayneville, Alabama to Morris and Claudia Gordon. To that union fifteen children were born. As the oldest, Adella helped raise her siblings while everyone else worked the family-owned cotton fields. 

She left Hayneville when she was around nineteen or twenty years old to come Cleveland to care for her maternal grandparents. There she met the love of her life, Thomas “Honey Baby” Gary. They were married on October 25, 1949and stayed married for fifty-nine years until his death in 2008. Honey and Honey Baby had three children, Maurice (deceased), Areita (deceased) and Elliott. 

For forty years, Adella worked at John Carroll University. She kept everything in the cafeteria in order. A great leader to all, her impact and memory is an indelible part of every life she touched. 

Known for large family gatherings, Adella was the ultimate host, making sure everyone was entertained and had a good time. And her love for food kept her cooking for anyone that came by and wanted to eat. Her best dish was dressing. 

Adella is survived by her son Elliott (Sanganette), siblings Samuel, Willie, Rebertha, Margaret, and McArthur, her grandchildren, Monica, Jacqueline, Sherita, Curtis and Vanessa, eleven great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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