Pamela Celeste Gutierrez

The Life of Pamela Celeste Gutierrez Woman of Substance "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Corinthians 15:58 On the beautiful day of November 12, 1960 in Mount Vernon, New York, God showered down a blessing on Lincoln and Lois. It was a lovely baby girl they named Pamela Celeste. Pamela was a smiley little bundle of joy. That smile would become so well loved and so very well known. Pamela was a strong, sweet and tenacious child, graduating from high school at sixteen and business school at seventeen. By the age of nineteen she was the youngest administrative supervisor in her company and had already started what would become a lifetime of volunteerism and community involvement. In 1983, Pamela Married Tracy Gutierrez and that union was blessed with great joy, a son, James Tyler Gutierrez. In 1986, Pamela, then a single mother blessed by the support of her parents joined the United States Air Force where she served as a pharmacy technician, training supervisor and legal assistant in the JAG (Judge Advocate General) office. While enlisted in the Air Force she earned numerous recognition and achievement awards including a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. After leaving active duty and joining the Air Force Reserves in 1991 she subsequently became a paralegal and court administrator, earned her Bachelors' of Science degree in business management and began work towards a Master's degree in Business Administration. In 1992, she represented our state and reigned as Ms. Black Arizona. Her tenacity, dedication and community participation continued and in 1994, she was elected Arizona's first African American female Justice of the Peace. Since that time, she has served the South Mountain community and as recently elected to a fourth term. Judge Gutierrez was devoted to her constituency and promoted youth, families and justice. Her foundational theme - "Justice in Our Courts and Peace in Our Neighborhoods" led to founding the Proactive Family Focus Group, sponsoring a Family Night Out on Olympic block party, supporting various teen leadership programs and the establishment of a personal scholarship for youth designed to encourage continued education. Pamela accepted Christ at an early age and never wavered in her commitment to and dependence on Him. A strong and faithful servant, Pamela was a member of First Institutional Baptist Church where she formerly served as Vice-President of FIBCo Family Services, Inc. and a member of the young adult Usher Board. Her servant's spirit led to involvement in and recognition by many social and civic organizations including the NAACP (Life Member), South Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis of South Mountain, 100 Black Men of Phoenix, Inc., Black Women's Task Force, United Parents and Youth League, Youth Together, Inc., Leaders of Tomorrow, Career Leadership, MADD, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), AMVETS Post #65, South Mountain Impact Coalition through South Mountain High School, ABWA (American Business Women's Association), Phoenix Woman's Commission. Pamela was particularly honored and humbled by her participation as a Big Sister, a relationship which enriched her life with many spiritual children. Those blessed to really know Pamela know she was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend; she loved the Lord, all of His children and LIFE. She lived EVERY day to its fullest and challenged everyone to do the same. Cherishing the memory of Pamela: Loving son James T. Gutierrez (Tamara) and grandson Javion Gutierrez of Phoenix, Arizona; God Daughter Leshawn Geter; of Phoenix, Arizona, Loving mother Lois Fountain of Mount Vernon, New York; Loving Father Lincoln Brevard Jr.(Yvonne) of Laveen Arizona; Beautiful and Loving Grandmothers Gladys Humphrey of Mount Vernon, New York and Isabell Brevard of Bronx, New York; Grandfathers (preceded in death) James F. Humphrey of Mount Vernon, New York and Lincoln Brevard Sr. Bronx, New York; Brother, Lincoln Brevard III (Lela) of Copperas Cove, Texas; Beautiful and loving sisters, Evette Fountain (fiance Maurice Williams) of Mount Vernon, New York, Cynthia Jolliff (Gregory), Leandra Smith (Timothy) and Tanisha (MiMi) Woods (Jason) of Phoenix Arizona; Nephews Montrell Fountain, Lincoln Brevard IV, Stephon Jolliff, Bryce Pang, Trystan Smith, Ty Smith, Kayden Smith and Logan Woods; Neices Cerisa Merced Jolliff, Dejinee Mitchell Jolliff, Evoni Jolliff, Lasandra Brevard, Lateisha Brevard and arriving soon, Baby Kaiya Smith. Children adopted out of love Israel Correa, Michelle Hillman Hendrix and Courtney Dasher.... a host of dearly loved friends and family. Visitation and Services The family will receive friends at a visitation Monday August 13, 2007 at First Institutional Baptist Church, 1141 E. Jefferson, From 5 PM-9PM. Funeral services will be Tuesday August 14, 2007, 10 AM at the First Institutional Baptist Church. With an additional visitation from 9AM-10AM. Pastor Warren H. Stewart Sr. officiating. Interment will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of AZ. Preston Funeral Home is serving the family. 2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

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