Gertrude Bass

Sunrise: December 2, 1945 – Sunset: November 22, 2022 Scripture: For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. Matthew 25:35-45 NLT This is the life story of an angel who was sent to earth with an assignment that was started on December 2, 1945 and was completed on November 22, 2022. The angel’s path into this life was through the earthly parents named Martin and Le Nora Lias of Fayette, MS. She was given the name Gertrude, a Biblical name which means “spear of strength”. A name that would carry her through the challenges of life for a period of seventy-six years. As the fifth child born in a family of fourteen, Gertrude was brought up under the Baptist Church teachings and was the baptized at an early age. She was always very neat, clean and had a desire to help with her younger siblings. She was known for how sweetly she treated her classmates as she attended Liddell School in Fayette, MS and later moved to Natchez, MS where she met and married Charles Bass, Sr. Gert, as she was fondly called and Charles had one son – Charles Bass, Jr. who resides in Natchez, MS with his very supportive and compassionate wife Patricia. While living in Natchez, MS in the 1960’s Gert step into the meaning of her name “spear of strength” as she began working with Mr. George Metcalfe, who was then the President of the Natchez NAACP. Thus, Gert became a part of the Fight for Freedom in the Jim Crown Era in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement. As an employee of Mr. Metcalfe, Gert knew and experienced hatred and segregation first hand including having living through Mr. Metcalfe car bombing by the white supremacists. This connection with Mr. Metcalfe lead to Gertrude moving to Chicago, IL in the late sixties and beginning her life long career in the hotel industry in the area of Guest Services. With an outstanding personality, a constant desire for cleanliness and neatness couple with a flare for decoration Gert fulfilled her responsibilities with passion while remaining active in the fight for civil liberties. While living in Chicago, Gert was known for helping people- whether it was giving school supplies to local kids or buying socks and other personal items for children and the elderly. This is the legacy that she passed on to her daughter Jennifer Lias who was born in the “Cold Windy City ”of Chicago, Il but has a warm and loving heart. Gert had a way of making people feel good about themselves and always supported political and civic activities. One of Gert’s fondest memories was going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of the “Million Women March” in October, 1997. While working on her earthly assignment, Gert had to release both parents – The Rev. Martin Lias and Le Nora Lias; five of her brothers: Roger, John, Robert, Norris and William Lias and two of her sisters: Lillie Lias - Anderson and Lucille Lias – Whitley as they all preceded her in death. Having finished her earthly assignment Gertrude was relinquished of any further duties on November 22, 2022. Gertrude Lias -Bass, the mother, the grandmother, the sister, the neighbor, the friend, the activist leaves to cherish her memories: one son Charles Bass, Jr. (Patricia) of Natchez, MS; one daughter Jennifer Lias of Rockford, IL; five grandchildren Travis Isaac, (Keviana) Aurora, CO; Brian Issac, Natchez, MS; Jenay Dania Wade-Richards, Dantrell Angelo Key, Jr and D'Angelo Yarnil Key all of Rockford, IL; two great-great grandchildren: Kace & Karson Isaac; three brothers: Martin Lias – Jackson, MS, Frankie Lias – Pearl, MS and Morris Lias of Natchez, MS; three sisters: Alice Rucker – Fayette, MS, Dorothy Lias – Louisville, KY and Lorrine Lias – Fayette, MS; a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and a countless list of friends as she never met a stranger.