Josephine (Richardson) Kyles

Josephine Kyles, 72, of Davenport, died Friday, October 16, 2020 at home.  Funeral services will be 11 am Saturday, October 24, 2020 at the Word of Life Church, 1804 7th Avenue, Rock Island.  Visitation will be 4-7 pm Friday, October 23, 2020 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island and Saturday, October 24 from 10-11 am at the church.   Private burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island.  Memorials may be made in care of the family.

Josephine Richardson was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 28, 1948, the daughter of Doc Scott and Allena Richardson.  She was married to Arthur Lee Gillespie Sr. on June 3, 1975.  She later married Joe A. Kyles Sr. on February 17, 1979. 

Missionary Josephine Kyles enjoyed serving the Lord, being with her family and working in the church.  She was a dedicated and faithful member of the Mt. Moriah Jehovah Jireh Church of God in Christ (COGIC) under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Donnell Owens where she served as the Assistant Church Mother.  She was also a member of Gethsemane COGIC, Community COGIC, Greater Roadside COGIC, and Mt. Olive COGIC, where she served in several capacities such as a Missionary, President of the State, Deacons Wives Circle, Local and District President of the Ministers and Deacons Wives Circle, President of the Local and District YWCC, District Usher Board President, District Women’s Department Chair Lady, Local Home and Foreign Missions President and Local Music Department President. Missionary Kyles was also the recipient of the 2017 Midwest Regional Music Department Trail Blazer Award. 

She loved traveling with her family.  Some of the most memorable attributes of Missionary Josephine Kyles was how she praised the Lord in her dance, passionate praise with her voice and teaching the word of God.  Another thing about Missionary Kyles, she did not mind telling the truth to anyone who came across her path.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, LeRoy Kyles, Sioux Falls, S.D., Sandra (Michael)  Thomas, Lexington, KY, Duane (Gail) Kyles, Sumpter, SC, Marc Richardson, Davenport,  IA, Michael  (Tracey) Kyles, Topeka, KS, Wendell (VaLora) Richardson, Rock Island, IL, James Kyles, Los Angeles, CA,  Nathaniel Richardson, Davenport, IA, Laukesha (Lowe) Holmes, Atlanta, GA, Arthur (Shani) Gillespie  Jr.,  Rock Island, IL, Hamilton Kyles, Davenport, IA and Howard (Mechelle) Kyles, Davenport, IA; her siblings Jeanette Young, East St. Louis, IL, Doris (Paul) Drayton, St. Louis, MO, Fred (Diane) Atchison, Chicago, IL, Linda Loving, East St. Louis, IL, Valencia Crockett, East St. Louis, IL, Raymond Scott, East St. Louis, IL and Ruby Jewel Ingram, East St. Louis, IL; Goddaughters, Eva Joyner, Lashonda Thornton, Elisa Reid-Haynes; Godson, Emmanuel Mack; her God Family AJ, Earlye, Wesley and Jacobe Julien; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Missionary Kyles was preceded in death by her husband’s, Arthur Lee Gillespie Sr. and Deacon Joe A. Kyles Sr.; her parents, Doc Scott and Allena Richardson; brother, Eddie Scott; sisters, Helen Young and Barbara Shelby; and Goddaughter, Adrianne Love.

 Mother Kyles would always say “I love the Lord and I want to be in the center of His will.”  One of her favorite songs was, “I’ll Let nothing separate me from the love of God”

Online condolences, memories and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine (Richardson) Kyles, please visit our floral store.