Mrs. Aquilla Nevitt was born September 7, 1959 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Wilson Gaines, Sr. and Zelmay Melton. She attended Delta College in Saginaw, Michigan and majored in nursing after graduating from high school. She worked for eight years at General Motors Corporation before becoming her own boss. Driven to succeed and set an example for her family, Aquilla operated and managed several businesses. In her spare time, she loved to go walking and swimming. Her favorite thing to do was decorate her yard. A self-proclaimed gardener, she possessed a green thumb. She was truly gifted in growing plants. A keen eye for detail, patience, and expectation is what made her yard the envy of all others. Though her yard brought her great satisfaction, there was nothing she loved more than her family. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Aquilla was able to make beautiful things and decorate with ease, but none of that compared to the beauty she possessed inside and outside. Anywhere she went, she brought and left her beautiful presence. This same presence has made all our lives better and more beautiful.
Aquilla was preceded in death by her parents, Bishop Wilson Gaines, Sr. and Zelmay Melton; sisters, Priscilla Gaines, Tamika Brintley; and brother, Wilson Gaines, Jr.
She leaves to cherish precious memories her devoted husband James Archie Nevitt; daughter, Kimberly Shiree Nevitt; son, Octavius Mallory (Amber) Nevitt; grandchildren, Shuntavius, Shakayla, Quintasia, Olivia Nevitt, MiQueen, Amari Aquilla Lee, Cameron Green; four sisters, Dr. mary Alice Gaines Powell-Johnson, Christine (Larry) Gaines, Antoinette Gaines-Huff, Yolanda Gaines; brother, Matthew (Janet) Gaines; sisters-in-law, Nettie, Mattie, Velven, Karen Nevitt, Cora, Lillie Liddell, Betty Norman, Janet Gaines; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, including Maggie Crumpton, Nieka Crumpton-Coates, Adrianne “Sissy” Marsh, Jettie and the Hoggs Family, and daughter-in-love, Amber Marie Nevitt.
The family would like to express special thanks to the Nevitt, Liddell, Hoggs, Gaines, Crumpton and Calhoun families, Adrian Marsh and Tracey Hollins.
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