Deacon Gabriel Kent

Homegoing Celebration For Deacon Gabriel Kent.

Deacon Gabriel Kent, 77, Heaven Sent on April 17, 1946, and Heaven Bound on January 27, 2024. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio to Alice and Oscar Kent. A lifelong resident of Mansfield, Ohio, Gabriel proudly attended and graduated from Mansfield Senior High School.

Gabe had a fond love of football and enjoyed playing growing up on the Northside of Mansfield. He loved sharing sports stories of former great Mansfield athletes from “back in the day.” People that knew him, knew he loved his Mansfield Tigers football and basketball teams, OSU Buckeyes football team, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Browns. Besides attending and watching sports, Uncle Hubba enjoyed fishing and staying home to watch his Western TV shows: Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, and The Rifleman.

Mr. Kent was a generous family man, kindhearted, and hardworking man. He was employed at various jobs throughout Mansfield and eventually after working 20 years with the City of Mansfield in the Street Department, he retired in 2009.

After years of drinking and partying at The A-Club, and prayers from his sisters, Eva and Hattie, Gabriel returned to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Nothing became more enjoyable to him, than coming to church and smiling and greeting people. He became a Deacon and was awarded the Man of the Year Award at Shiloh. Gabriel always kept a Bible with him. During his retirement years, he and his best friend, Deacon Rob Whitfield would come weekly to gracefully clean Shiloh Church. After they cleaned, they would go visit church members at homes, nursing homes and
hospitals. He loved grocery shopping, playing lottery tickets, reading his Bible and getting dressed up for church.

He leaves to cherish his memories his stepdaughters, Pamela Gordon, Tammie Goodman; stepsons, Jimmie Jones, and Dannie Jones; 16 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nephews, special nephews, Ahmed Kent, William Kent, Jr., Marquis Sykes, and Maurice Sykes; host of nieces, special niece, Taymara Graves; host of cousins, special cousins, Willie See Bond and Alice Bond; brother-in-law, Billy Sykes; friends, and his Shiloh Baptist Church family who he loved with all his heart.

Gabriel was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Annie Colleen Kent; stepdaughter, Okemia Jones-Miller; stepson, Casey Jones; three sisters, Mamie Kent, Eva Sykes, and Hattie Flowers; brother, Richard “Saliheen” Kent; and nephew, Christopher Kent Fitzgerald.

The family will receive friends visiting beginning at 10:00 AM till time of service. Funeral Service at 11:00 am on Thursday February 8, 2024 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 130 E. Second Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to Marlan J Gary Funeral Home, The Chapel of Peace Mansfield, 753 McPherson St. Mansfield, Ohio (formerly Williams Funeral Services). Interment at Mansfield Cemetery.

To stream the service, order flowers, view video tribute and offer condolences to the Kent Family, visit www.TheChapelofPeace.com