My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will miss my friend and telephone buddy. I really was blessed to know Ms. Exia . May she rest with the ancestors. Ella Green Palestine,Texas
Exia Vietta Duke
May 3, 1924 ~ October 23, 2026
Born in:
Palestine, TX
Resided in:
San Antonio, TX
A Live A 702 Year In the Making
Exia Vetta Gaston Duke, affectionately known as “Mama Duke,” as born on May 3, 1924, in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas, to Abner and Katie Robertson Gaston. She was the fifth of twelve children, raised in a family that helped shape the strength, determination, and loving spirit that would define her life.
Mama Duke lived a life marked by hard work, compassion, faith, and an extraordinary capacity to care for others. Her journey from Palestine to San Antonio was one of determination and purpose. At 18, she moved to San Antonio to find work so she could help support her family back home. She worked diligently, taking on daytime employment and various odd jobs until she pursued her calling in nursing.
After graduating from Lincoln High School, attending St. Philip’s College, and completing her Licensed Vocational Nursing education, Mama Duke began a career that would become a lasting part of her legacy. She served for more than 20 years at Bexar County Hospital, working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
It was there that she earned the beloved nickname “Mama Duke.” She cared for every infant who entered the unit as though that
child were her own. Her gentle spirit, strength, intelligence, and nurturing heart brought comfort to families and helped establish a
legacy of compassionate care. Her influence extended far beyond her profession; to those who knew her, she was a mother to everyone she encountered.
A Women of Faith
Faith was an enduring part of Mama Duke’s life. She attended South Union Missionary Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas, from birth through age 18. Following her move to San Antonio, she became a member of New Light Baptist Church in 1947, where her spiritual journey continued
under the leadership of Rev. P. S. Wilkerson Sr.
Her life reflected the values of love, kindness, perseverance, and service. She demonstrated through her actions that caring for others is both a responsibility and a blessing.
A Legacy of Love and Family
In 1947, Mama Duke married Lawrence Duke Sr. Together, they built a family and welcomed four children. She embraced the roles of mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with love and devotion. She was sweet, kind, strong, hardworking, and highly intelligent—a woman whose love
reached well beyond the walls of her own home.
To her family, she was a source of strength and wisdom. To those fortunate enough to know her, she was a loving presence whose generosity and nurturing spirit left a lasting impression. Her legacy lives on through the generations she helped raise. the values she instilled. and the countless lives she touched through her work and personal relationships.
Those Who Preceded Her in Death
Mama Duke was preceded in death by her parents, Abner and Katie Robertson Gaston; her husband, Lawrence Duke Sr.; her son, Lawrence Duke Jr.; her sisters, Trudy Mae Gaston Bowman. Versie Gaston, Idell Harris, Sammie Nell Gaston, Nicey Gaston, and Katherine Gaston; and her brothers, Henry Lee Gaston, Joe J. Gaston, and Thomas Gaston.
Those Who Cherish Her Memory
She leaves behind a loving family, including her children. Carolyn Joyce Shakir, Brenda Duke Douglas (Lonnie). Lawrence Duke Jr. (Gwendolen), and Other beloved family members whose names and relationships will be confirmed by the family. She is also survived by her siblings A. B. Gaston of San Diego. California, and Freddie Gaston Singleton of Long Beach, California. along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family members, friends, church family, and all those whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
Those Who Cherish Her Memory
Mama Duke’s life was a testament to the power of a loving heart, a strong spirit, and a life devoted to others. Whether caring for a newborn in the hospital, supporting her family, or offering the warmth of a mother’s love to someone in need, she made a difference.
Though her earthly journey has ended, the love she gave, the lessons she taught, and the memories she created will continue to live on. Her legacy is woven into the lives of her family. the children she cared for, and the many people who were blessed to call her Mama Duke.
Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure, and her love a legacy that will endure for generations.
Services
Visitation: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 5:00 pm
F.E. Lewis Memorial Chapel
811 So. W.W. White Road
San Antonio, TX
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2026-11-04 17:00:00
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811 So. W.W. White Road,San Antonio, TX
Funeral Service: Thursday, November 5, 2026 12:30 pm
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2026-11-05 12:30:00
2026-11-05 12:30:00
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607 Piedmont Ave.,San Antonio, TX
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