April Elizabeth Gipson

April Elizabeth Gipson was born on February 5th, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri to Louis and Evelyn Chalmers. Both parents, one sister and one brother preceded her in death. April peacefully transitioned on October 31st, 2025 at the American House of Burlington Creek Assisted Living in Kansas City, Missouri. 

April accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at the Paradise Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Her faith stood firm as the foundation of her life. After relocating to California, she united with Central Baptist Church where she served faithfully and remained an active member until her health declined. She loved the Lord deeply, and she never hesitated to share His goodness with everyone she encountered. Her joy, her kindness and her unwavering faith were evident in her words, her actions, and the way she touched the lives of those around her. 

She was raised in Kansas City and graduated from Central High School. April furthered her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Driven by her passion for community health and service, she continued her studies and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health. 

In 1971, April began her teaching career in the Long Beach Unified School District, in Long Beach, California. She served with dedication, compassion and excellence until her health no longer allowed, retiring in 1999. Mrs. Gipson, as she was known throughout the school district, was loved and highly respected by her peers, students and parents. 

When the love of her life, Vernon Gipson joined her in California, April’s journey found its true companion. They married in 1973 and shared more than four decades of love until his untimely passing in 2014. 

April was known for her remarkable contributions in both education and community service. With a strong academic foundation and deep passion for uplifting others, she dedicated her life to advocating for equity and access in education, especially for underrepresented communities. Throughout her career, April championed policies and programs designed to ensure every student had the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. She helped build meaningful partnerships between schools and their surrounding communities, believing that true progress happens when families, educators and community leaders work together. 

April had a strong voice, and anyone who knew her well, knew she was heard! She was a dedicated Carson community advocate and civic leader. She was frequently quoted in the Los Angeles Times as a dedicated Black community activist and neighborhood leader speaking at public hearings and organizing protests against certain development projects in Carson, CA. 

Beyond her public work, she was devoted to family, faith and mentoring young leaders interested in civic engagement. Her legacy endures in policies and people she helped shape shall live on for many years to come. 

April loved to shop, and her style spoke for itself. She was always dressed beautifully, with grace and elegance that left an impression everywhere she went. April had a special love for hats and she wore them with unmatched confidence and charm. It was said that she owned more than one hundred hats, each one just as stunning as the last, and she looked radiant in every single one. Her sense of fashion was not just about clothing, it was an expression of her joy, her pride she carried in presenting herself to the world with dignity and beauty. 

April leaves to cherish her memory, one sister Dorothy (Darryl) Weaver, Kansas City, MO; one brother Alfred (Betty) Chalmers, Kansas City, MO; three nephews LeAndrew (Charlotte) Harden, Kansas City, MO; Caesar (Cynthia) Rentie, Arlington, TX; Kevin Rentie, Hartshorne, OK; seven nieces Debra Davis, Kansas City, MO; Eileen Rentie, Oklahoma City, OK; Phyllis Rentie, Hartshorne, OK; Marlene Keith, Durant, OK; Janice Chalmers-Priest, Shreveport, LA; Monica Kinsey, Lafayette, LA; Angela Johnson, Denver, CO. She also leaves behind a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.