The Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Corthea Graves of Tampa, formerly of Chicago, Illinoiswho passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2016, will be held on Saturday, April 2nd, 11:00 a.m. atAikensFuneral Home Chapel, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd,Rev. Michael Neely, officiating. The interment will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. On a Crisp spring day Corthea Graves was born on March 22, 1953 to Jeffrey and Tommie Sue Qualls in Chicago, Illinois. Corthea was the first child of six to be born from this union. Corthea was raised on the south side of Chicago; were she attended Bryn Mawr elementary school and graduated from South Shore High School, class of 1972. She continued on to higher education by attending IIT were she became a certified nursing assistant. In 1968, Corthea met the love of her life, Maurice Graves. After their world wind romance they were united in holy matrimony on May 2, 1974. This union produced three beautiful daughters: Yugonda Graves, Kenya Gardner and Asia Graves. Corthea and Maurice marriage allowed them to live and travel to many places around the country while Maurice served our country in the United States Navy. Corthea took great pride in being a mother and a wife. Once Maurice retired from the Navy, this gave Corthea the opportunity to resettle back to her hometown of Chicago, Illinois in February of 1987 to be closer to family and friends and resume her nursing career. Upon Corthea's return home she landed her dream job at UIC hospital. There Corthea's natural gift as a caregiver for people shined. She enjoyed caring for others until her career was cut short due to illness, which led to her early retirement in 1999. This bump in the road did not stop Corthea from taking care of her grandmother and nurturing her grandchildren. Family was very important to Corthea even when in pain she would cook Sunday dinners to show her love to her extended family. Corthea accepted Christ at an early age and was a true believer of the Lord. She was a long time member of L.I.F.E. ministries and she cherished her church family. Corthea migrated to Florida with her daughter Yugonda and two of her grandchildren Kayla and Jordan in July of 2015 for a fresh start in life and to enjoy the warm sunny weather Florida would offer. After years of battling against illnesses, Corthea passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughter and granddaughter on March 24, 2016 at St. Joseph's Hospital-South, Riverview, Florida. Corthea was preceded in death by her father Jeffery Qualls Sr., her mother Tommie Sue Qualls, her beloved husband Maurice Graves, grandmother Creola Reed, sister Tonya Love and grandson, Nathan Gardner. Corthea leaves to cherish in her precious memory: daughters, Yugonda Graves (Adam), Kenya Gardner (Raymond) and Asia Graves (Leon); siblings, Vanessa Samuels, Riverview FL, Yvette Lagrone Matteson IL, Jeffery Qualls (Irene) Yulee, FL, Gerald Qualls (Walinda) Jacksonville, FL and Daryl Qualls (Sidney) Chicago, IL; 7 grandchildren, Kayla Hendricks, Darien Henry, Isaiah Gardner, Jordan Hendricks,Deon Henry,Aaliyah Gardner and Cameron Gardner; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, April 1st from 5 to 8 p.m. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Saturday for the funeral ceremony.

Visitation
Aikens Funeral Home
Friday, April 1, 2016
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610

Funeral Service
Aikens Funeral Home
Saturday, April 2, 2016
11:00 AM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610

Burial
Garden of Memories Cemetery
Saturday, April 2, 2016
12:15 PM
4207 E. Lake A
Tampa, FL 33610