Gussie L. Wallace

Gussie Lee Larkin was the ninth child, born on February 16, 1920, to Lucian & Della Larkin.

She peacefully departed this life on July 16, 2021, and is now resting in the arms of Jesus. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Richard, T.C., Charlie, Ernest, and Otis, three sisters, Eugenia, Priscilla, and Tillie.

She attended Spring Hill, Laurel, and Kinterbish schools in Mississippi where she was an excellent student, excelling in chemistry and geometry.

On July 6, 1942, Gussie married Herman Yarrell and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio along with their daughter Pearl. Her son Waughney and daughter Glenda were born to this union in 1952 and 1954. Later, her mother Della came to live with them until her passing.

Gussie worked at AVCO for 24 years as a lab technician in the Electronic Division giving her the opportunity to work on the Apollo Lunar Systems. She was instrumental in building the prototype for the Digital Uplink Assembly for the Lunar Module on which Sen. John Glenn voyaged. She received a letter of congratulations from President Nixon in May of 1969 for Apollo 13 where she worked on the Aquarius Lunar Module. She was truly a hidden figure. She retired from General Electric in 1985 after 5 years of service with many awards.

Mother Gussie was active in civic and community affairs including the NAACP. She attended New Hope Baptist Church and Deliverance Temple where she worked joyfully in many capacities. Mother Gussie is a member of Greater Emanuel Apostolic Temple where she has served faithfully since 1981. She was a Giver! She served as president of the Heritage Choir, Sisterhood, Adopt-A-Senior program, Sunday School Secretary & Teacher, Senior Saints, Pastors Aid, Married Couples for Jesus, Scholarship committee, and Marvelous Mothers. She was an Honorary Trustee. She also enjoyed traveling to the Ohio State Councils and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) conventions.

Mother Gussie started her own Missions and worked with many others in missionary work. She served the community and nursing homes around the city for over 60 years.

She took pride in receiving beautification awards at her Forest Park residence where she received flags for her beautiful landscaping.

She married her second husband Johnnie Wallace on April 14, 1990.

She leaves to cherish her memory: husband, Johnnie Wallace; Three Children, Pearl Thomason (Walter), Waughney Yarrell, and Glenda Davis (Charles); Ten Grandchildren, Gerald, Tyrone (Tracy), Carla, Marva, C. Quincy (Crystal), Jeremy, Brian (Tasha ), Isaac (Samantha), Brandon (Teia), Bradley (Anya): twenty-one great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and many amazing spiritual sisters, daughters, sons and church family. She will truly be missed by all.