Obituary
Today we celebrate the life of Sterling Gill. Sterling was so loved by his friends and his family. Together we find solace in remembering the extraordinary person he was and the impact he had on our lives. There was never a question of how much he valued his relationships. Sterling was known for his zest for life, and his love of family, cooking, sports, and music.
Sterling wrapped his arms around you with his soulful cooking. Close your eyes and imagine the smell of fresh fried chicken coming out of a well-seasoned cast iron pan, a pot of collard greens seasoned with fatback, buttery cornbread and sweet candied yams. Let’s not forget his passion for CRABS with his niece/daughter Latease who is known for taking CRABS through TSA/airports just to satisfy his ultimate desires! In the background, you hear the sounds of fans rooting for the Orioles, Ravens, the old Baltimore Colts and any team Lebron James plays for! Music was always a part of the occasion including a hand dance or two, listening to Michael Franks, Bobbie Womack and Bobbie Humphrey.
Sterling loved to drive! After moving to Ohio, he was always on the road to Baltimore, visiting family, picking up his mother and Aunt, taking family trips to Virginia and Myrtle Beach and three road trips from Florida to Ohio. He loved living in Canton, OH. with the Pro Football Hall of Fame right up the road! He would dress up in his GOLD suit during the HOF festival/dinner ceremony and people would ask him “Which team did you play on?” Sterling got a kick out of others thinking he was a PRO Football Hall of Famer! Lastly, one area that he would not want us to forget from his legacy was that he was super proud of being named the Pimlico MVP Little League baseball player back in the late 60’s.
As a coach, Sterling mentored many young adults throughout his lifetime including his three sons Kevin who was a pitcher, Christian who played basketball and Jordan who is now a college basketball player. He had several roles leading young adults as Recreation Leader at the Baltimore City – James D. Gross Recreation Center (formerly Edgecomb Rec. Center), Maryland School for the Blind, the Child & Adolescent Services Center and Canton City Schools. He shared lessons on the way he lived his life with humility and a selfless spirit.
Sterling Gill a native of Baltimore, MD, was born to William Marion Gill and Mae Frances Gill on September 29, 1953. Sterling was a graduate of Northwestern Class of 1972, Bay College, UMBC & graduated from the University of Baltimore 1980.
Sterling was preceded in death by his father, William Gill, mother, Mae Frances Gill, his brothers, Jerry and Terry Gill, and sister, Marcelia Gill. Sterling is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Joy Martins-Gill, and their children, Kevin, Christian, and Jordan, grandchildren, Kymani, Brooklyn and Nyla, his sisters Betty Hart, brothers, Bryant and Jeffrey Gill nieces, Orlando, Dorthea, Arlene, Latease, Ebony, and Nicole and nephew, Chiisia, in-laws, Alia Compton McCorkle (William), David Martins, Darrell Compton, and Alvaro Compton. He is also survived by a large family of relatives family and friends from Baltimore, Canton and now Florida that he loved and cherished including his Aunts Dorothy, Mildred, and Freda.
Sterling came to know and love Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ and the wonderful promises in the Bible. Sterling was thankful to know about the Resurrection – John 5:28, 29 and How Sickness and Death will be done away with – Revelation 21; 3, 4. All of these promises are based on the hope of Everlasting Life that Jehovah God, Who Cannot Lie, promised long ago – Titus 1:2. It is faith-strengthening to know that the next voice Sterling will hear will be Jesus Christ’s calling him to wake up and to come out of the memorial tomb!
A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Sterling Gill will be held on June 1, 2024, beginning at 1:00 pm at the Longwood Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1860 Longwood Lake Mary Rd., Longwood, FL. 32750. The memorial service will be streamed on Zoom scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm EST.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84088348489?pwd=N3VhZ0wyVUcwRmZ0SDFDaFBrNHI4QT09
Meeting ID: 840 8834 8489
Passcode: 06012024
**A Celebration of Sterling’s life will also be held in Baltimore, on June 15, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Baltimore Rowing & Water Resource Center, 3301 Waterview Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
Please feel free to send pictures and or share your memories on the tribute wall provided
Baltimore friends
Visiting Baltimore friends
Ronald, Michael and Sterling in Baltimore
Ronald and Sterling during his visit to Orlando.
R.I.P Cuz
We became friends back in 1976. We were together every day drinking Weidemann’s beer and playing basketball.
I knew the entire family.
Sterling you will always be
One of my best friend.
Rest in paradise
Joe York
Best wishes to his loving family.
Sterling and I @Northwestern's Meet and Greet for 50th class reunion
Rest in Power Fallen Wildcat!
A Coach, Mentor, and Friend
Sterling Gill's legacy lives on in the hearts of the young boys of the 21215 zip code. His passion for baseball was only surpassed by his dedication to shaping the lives of the players he coached. With unwavering positivity and boundless energy, Coach Sterling inspired a generation of young athletes to dream big, work hard, and never give up.
In the game of life, he taught us more than just how to throw a ball or swing a bat. He instilled in us the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance. His impact reached far beyond the baseball field, shaping us into better individuals both on and off the diamond.
Today, we stand together to honor the memory of Coach Sterling Gill, a man who touched so many lives with his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Though he may be gone, his spirit lives on in the laughter, the cheers, and the camaraderie of the games we play.
Rest in peace, Coach Sterling. Your legacy will forever inspire us to reach for the stars and carry on the lessons you taught us with pride and gratitude.
Forever in our hearts,
The Little League Baseball Players of the 21215 Zip Code
your kindness and spirit of service will be deeply missed but forever remembered with gratitude and admiration. Rest in peace, knowing your legacy lives on in the hearts of those you've touched.
Roscoe aka Slim Williams.