COHEN, Gay Letitia (Howe) – 71, Hampton, Virginia, passed away with her loving family surrounding her, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Born April 14, 1953, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, she was the daughter of the late Ronald S. Howe and Lucinda "Momma Sooks" P. (Brown) Howe.

She confirmed as a Catholic and became a member of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church. She attended St. Mary's University and Flight Attendant training before becoming employed at H.H. Marshalls Publication. She then worked many years with the Victoria General Hospital in Medical Records prior to relocating to the United States where she worked in Medical Records at Sentara Hampton General Hospital (now Sentara Careplex Hospital). She enjoyed her past-time of Bingo weekly in Newport News, Virginia.

In Gay's words, "My fondest childhood memories were picking berries and playing made up games. As I grew into a young adult, I enjoyed Saturday morning coffee breaks with mom, the tug of war games I had with daddy over the T.V. remote, and the proud look on daddy's face when I graduated. I laugh when I think about mom telling her friends on the phone that she was house cleaning, when in fact, she was directing us what to clean, while she sipped on her coffee. It also makes me smile when I think about how I would laugh at daddy when Faye, Colleen, and I would put on music and dance in front of the T.V. when he was trying to watch his favorite programs."

She is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Allan B. Cohen (Virginia); her daughters Jahnaya (Howe) Ramey (Marcus) (Mississippi); Malikka "Boo" Howe (Virginia) and son, Derek Howe (Virginia); granddaughters, BreeAnna Freeman and  Justice Howe (Virginia); sister, Yvonne (Howe) Knight – Montreal; brother, Coleman Howe (Yvonne "Muzzie" ) - Halifax; sister, Edith (Howe) Barton (Romeo) – Montreal; brother, Lloyd Howe – Toronto; sister, Faye (Howe) Samuels (Ricky) – North Carolina; sister, Colleen (Howe) Boone – Virginia; sisters-in-law, Cora Howe; Germaine "Kandi" Howe; Christine Howe; June Howe; many nephews, nieces, great and great great nephews and nieces, and a host of family and friends.  She was predeceased by her brothers, Thomas, Mitchell, Garnett, Rubin, David, Ronald Jr. "Puppy," and Russell Joseph "Bruce." She was also predeceased by sister, Geraldine (Howe) Parker and brothers-in-law, Harold "Buddy" Parker, and Harold Patrick "Paddy" Knight.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 11am at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 1601 27th Street, Newport News, Virginia, 23607.

Special thanks to the Sentara Hospice Staff and special nurses Karen Bailey, CNA and Sherri Ross, RN.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association or Canadian Lung Association. Online condolences may be made at cookebros.com

Thank you for the outpouring of support at this difficult time.