Amos Charles Gamble

Amos Charles Gamble, the beloved only child of Charles Lee Shorts, Sr. and Margaret Phine Gamble, was born on a Saturday morning, April 5, 1952. At an early age, he confessed Christ under the direction of Reverend A. Y. Kemp at First Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, Texas, laying the foundation for a life of faith, service, and love for others.

He grew up in Richmond, Texas, where he received his primary and secondary education in the Lamar Consolidated School District. A true trailblazer within his family, Amos became the first to attend and graduate from college. He began his academic journey at Wharton Junior College and later transferred to Texas Southern University, where he pledged Kappa Kappa Psi, became an original member of the world-renowned Ocean of Soul Marching Band, and remained a proud TSU Tiger throughout his life.

While attending TSU, Amos joined Merging Traffic, a Funk and R&B band, traveling and performing throughout the region. After graduation, he married his bandmate, Velma Avery, and from this union his beloved daughter, Shunte Narie Gamble, was born. Shunte was truly his world.

Affectionately known by students and colleagues alike, Amos taught and directed the band at Jack Yates High School before beginning a long and dedicated career at a Houston Refinery, LyondellBasell, where he built lifelong friendships and became known for his leadership, teamwork, and integrity. Outside of work, he was an avid bowler, a great cook, a talented carpenter, an enthusiastic DJ known as DJ Party Man, and a self-proclaimed dominologist and doctor - always bringing laughter wherever he went. He was well known for his style and dance moves.

Above all, Amos loved people. He had a rare gift for lighting up any room with his presence, and whenever there was a call for help, he was always there.

The oldest of fifteen siblings, Amos was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Lee Shorts, Sr. (Emma) and Margaret Mitchell (Alex), his sister Jacqueline Ketchum and brothers Alex Mitchell, Jr. (Joy), Anthony C. Mitchell (Julia), Ennis Ray Shorts (Sharon), and Anthony Hunter (Kathy).

He leaves as his enduring legacy his daughter, Shunte Gamble, and two cherished grandsons, Jontue L. Hayter and Braylon R. Davis. He is lovingly remembered by his surviving siblings: Katie Hice (Perry), Clarence Mitchell (Belinda), Cheryl Egan (Eddie), Michael Mitchell, Norman Mitchell (Darcy), Charles Lee Shorts II (Tasha), Anjanette Shorts Dent (Nelson), Kenyatta Shorts, Ada Shorts, and Charles F. Shorts, along with a special Aunt Katherine Coney, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends, and all whose lives he touched.