LASHAWNIA CARLENE GAITWOOD
July 29, 1972 ~ January 3, 2023
LaShawnia Carlene Phillips was born July 29, 1972. She was the firstborn of two daughters. Shawn, as we affectionately called her, accepted Christ at an early age. Most of her church life was under the leadership and direction of Rev. Clifton Phillips, who was her Father as well as her Pastor at Joshua House of Worship. While in church, Shawn grew a love and passion for singing. She sung in various choirs and smaller gospel singing groups. Most of Shawn’s upbringing was in Kirby, Texas, where she attended Kirby Elementary, Kirby Middle school and Judson High School. She also attended St. Phillips College.
Shawn later married on August 9, 1993, to Curtis Eugene Gaitwood, Jr., a widower with a five-year-old son, Jerome Joseph Gaitwood. Together they had a son, Jared Clifton Gaitwood. Shawn worked at various jobs. Her longest being with Olympia Elementary, in the Judson Independent School District. Where she worked as an attendance clerk for eighteen years.
Shawn had a love for family, friends, and people in general. But most of all she had a love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Shawn is preceded in death by her father, Clifton Phillips; her mother, Carolyn Phillips; her grandmother Kathryn Gray passed on January 7, 2023-four days after Shawn’s passing.
Shawn leaves to cherish her memory: husband, Curtis Gaitwood, Jr.; sons: Jerome and Jared Gaitwood; sister, Monica Arceneaux (Derrick); aunts: Almetra Hudspeth (Vernon) and Annie Brown; niece, Kaci; nephews: Kevin, Jr., Jaiden, Derrick, Jr.; mother-in-love, Jerlene Gaitwood; sister-in-love, Lora Gaitwood-Smith (Boom); cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Services
Interment: January 26, 2023 1:45 pm - August 26, 2025 2:31 pm
Fort Sam Houston National CemeteryView current weather.
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Shawn you will be missed from your Olympia Elementary staff â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸
I’ll always remember Shawn, Sandra, Kim and Charletta singing “Marvelous “ with Sis. Phillips at the piano. What a glorious time. â¤ï¸
To The Gaitwood/Phillips family. You are in my prayers. I grieve with you of the passing of Shawn. My time in San Antonio was made the better by the the Gaitwood and Phillips families. The great times we shared at Joshua Baptist Church will never be forgotten. The big Thanksgiving Dinners at the Phillips home was beautiful. May we hold on to our fun memories! Its helped shape us into the people we are! Welcome home Shawn! Rev. James E. Morrison Sr. Alexandria, Va
Shawnia, my dear sweet beautiful friend, I’m so grateful that I got a chance to know you. We shared many great memories and laughter at Olympia. You will be missed forever.
Shawn I will truly miss you! You was always so kind, nice, helpful, beautiful inside and out, giving, supportive, wise and loving to me. You was one of the first persons I met when I started at Olympia Elementary School. You was a strong God fearing woman! Thanks for all you did for me and I’ll never ever forget you! You was my sister in Christ. Condolences to your sons and husband that you loved DEARLY.
I started going to Olympia in the fall of 2014 when I first met her she was working in the front office waving at me and tell me how I would love elementary the one memory that sticks with me the most is when my granddad who went by gdad picked me and my cousin up and when she asked who was picking us up and we told her she was like gdaddy and me and my cousin started laughing she was a very kind person and now she’s in a better place rip
I just learned of Shawn’s passing. I was a member of Joshua church when I was in high school. The Phillips family was my 2nd family. So sorry to hear about the loss.