MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD TO CELEBRATE LIFE OF MARY ELLA “GYPSY” MOORE

    A memorial service for Mary Ella Moore, known as Gypsy, was held at JLM Abundant Life Center on October 18 to celebrate the vibrant life of an active West Sider who died October 14 at age 56.
    She was born May 7, 1956, to Joseph Moore, Sr., and Dorothy Bellamy Moore in Ashtabula, Ohio, the third of eight children. The family moved to Chicago in 1962 when she was 6. She graduated from Mulligan Elementary and attended Crane High School.
    In 1979, she was introduced to the world of fashion. She described herself as “a baldhead girl who wore scarves and big earrings,” earning her the nickname “Gypsy.”
    She became an entrepreneurial designer of leather clothing and accessories, including belts and jewelry. In 1993, after 15 years of designing and selling her own creations, Gypsy launched a project teaching leather crafts to children of Bethel New Life, Franklin Park, Agape Youth Center, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Homan Square, Garfield Park, and LaFollette Park. She operated a shop selling her creations and taking orders for custom items in the lower level of Homan Square.
    In 2003, she became Executive Director of Third Gear Youth Leadership Organization, the foundation established by her son, NBA Basketball player Linton Johnson III. The goal was to assist children to succeed in their journey through life.