Obituary of Evangelist Gail Patricia Hooks

Gail Patricia Hooks was born the fourth of six children to Lexie May and Howard Herman Hooks, United States Navy, on August 14,1954 in Wilmington, DE. On December 26, 2019, she transitioned peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior at her family home of 51 years with her daughter by her side. Gail received her early education in the Wilmington Public School system and graduated from Wilmington High School in 1973. At the age of 19, Gail began her walk with Christ when her sister Joyce became ill. Her cousin Russell Hawkins talked her into going to church with him where they sought prayer. Pastor Ross B. Rainey prayed for Joyce and told Gail and Russell that they needed to be saved. She would then join The Mother Church of God in Christ, where she began to share her gift from God, her voice. She devoted her time as a member of the church and the Young Adult Choir which was renamed as “The Harvest Choir”. Then later becoming a director and Minister of Music. On February 2, 1974, Gail became a member of the late Rev. Ernest Davis Jr’s Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir, where her national traveling experience began. The choir had been presented on many stages, from the McDonald’s Gospel Fest to The Apollo and Carnegie Hall in NYC, just to name a few. Soon to follow, the choir would become a national recording artist choir. You would often hear Gail say, “We are Rev. Ernest Davis Jr’s Grammy Nominated-Stellar Award winning Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir,” when she didn’t like how the choir was being treated. Gail would be named a charter member of The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir for which she continued to serve for many years to come. Gail was also a founding member of the gospel singing arrogation “KINDRED” under direction of the late Solomon Trotter. In the early 1980’s, Gail continued to share her gift with the world and was chosen as a background singer for well known recording artists. She toured with Patti LaBelle in the “Look to the Rainbow” tour. When Patti realized Gail was a lyric soprano list, she would put the mic to Gail’s mouth to hit those notes during the live shows. She also sang background for Tremaine Hawkins and was featured as a guest soloist for Peter Nero and The Phili Pops Orchestra. Gail’s gift and personality opened many doors including the opportunity to sing background for Vanessa Bell Armstrong in Philadelphia and one of country music’s biggest recording artist, Charlie Daniels. Gail would often talk about how kind Mr. Daniels was to her and how he would bring her coffee after every show. Gail worked for over 20 years in the Finance Department with The DuPont Company INC. After an early retirement, she recently became employed by AAA. Gail was a faith-filled servant of the Lord. She attended Conquering Power Church of Deliverance where her Pastor, Overseer Hayward Hamilton, described her as “The Rock of The Church”. She was known as “Mom Gail” as she loved and encouraged everyone that crossed her path. On September 17, 2016, Gail was ordained as a missionary. She worked diligently winning souls to Christ and bringing them to the church to learn the ways of the Lord. Three years later, on September 28, 2019, she was ordained as Evangelist Gail Hooks. Evangelist Gail was an inspirational woman. She accepted everyone with open arms and would do what she could to help. If you needed prayer, food, a ride, the truth, or just someone to talk with, Gail was there. She was a kind and giving person who humbly served her community. She was a genuine and supportive friend and a nurturing mother that loved her daughter with all of her heart. She had a captivating voice that brought joy and comfort. Gail’s greatest accomplishment was giving birth to her daughter, “The Princess” Alexis Nichole Proctor. Gail did all she could to give Alexis the best education from the start. Her proudest moment was the day Alexis graduated from The Pennsylvania State University. Gail and Alexis did everything together and their bond was inseparable. Gail was predeceased by her parents, two brothers: Paul Wayne Quick III, United States Marine Corps, and Lamotte Allen Young, United States Army, and two sisters: Joyce Ann Hooks and Denise Darcell Hooks-Kurt. She leaves to cherish her precious memories; Princess Alexis (her beloved daughter), Desiree (sister), Kym (nephew), Nikki (niece) and her husband Maurice Jr., Shanese and Andranae (great-nieces), Maurice Bevans III (great-nephew), her Wilmington Chester Mass Choir family, and a host of friends and love ones.