Cuba Gholston

On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Our Father in Heaven called his beloved daughter, Cuba Nola Gholston, home to her eternal resting place after a beautiful 80 years of life filled with love, family, unwavering faith in God, and gracious service to her church family and community.

Cuba Nola Gholston was born on May 8, 1945 in James, MS to the late Cecil and Cuba Jenkins. She was the beloved youngest of 11 children and was especially close and best friends with her sisters closest in age to her, the late Florain Jenkins, Mrs. Stella Hall, and Ms. Linda Bell.

She attended elementary school in Tennessee and graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1963. During her senior year of high school she joined the Sub Deb Society and was voted “the neatest dressed” by her classmates and friends.

Cuba was a dedicated civil servant with a strong work ethic and a heart for service that she dedicated herself to throughout her life. Her first job was working for the St. Peter’s Orphanage. After moving to California she held several positions to support herself and her two daughters including, Pacific Bell, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Public Health Department, and the Motion Picture Association. Cuba also worked for over thirty years for the City of Los Angeles, Board of Public Works where she formed many lifelong friendships.

Cuba’s greatest love was being a mother and grandmother. Cuba raised two daughters all on her own and she made it look effortless. Cuba instilled in her children confidence to pursue their dreams, kind hearts, courage, and a love of God. She loved her daughters selflessly and found joy in being their mom. Cuba was a very proud and loving grandmother who loved spending time with her grandchildren. During her retired years you could often find her with one or both grandchildren, at church, engaging in an act of service, shopping with her family at Macy’s or visiting family in Memphis, TN and Washington, D.C.

Cuba was also a devoted member of Loveland Church for over thirty years. She gave of her time and her treasures to several ministries of the church and always did so with a generous heart. She enjoyed volunteering in the church administration office, working with the Jubilee Pantry, the Storehouse of Blessings, the Greeter’s Ministry, the Bereavement Committee and the annual God’s Woman Conference. Cuba loved her Loveland Church family and enjoyed dedicating her time in service to God.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Cuba Jenkins, brother Cecil Lee Jenkins, Jr., sister Sofa Allean Jenkins, sister Lorainne Jenkins McFarland, sister Gladys Evon Jenkins Bell, brother Artree Sam Jenkins, brother Primas Otis Jenkins, brother Leon Thomas Jenkins, sister Florain Louise Jenkins, brother Westley Earl Jenkins, nephew Kevin Nathaniel, cousin Seymone Kelly, cousin Lonnie Jean Kelly, friends Ms. Sylvia Jones and Ms. Mary Carter, and many more cousins, great aunts, great uncles and friends.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughters, Dr. Kimberley Shine and Nathaniel Shine II and Ms. Shanise Gholston, Esq., grandchildren, Nathaniel Shine III and Korinne Nola Lee Shine, sister Stella Hall and James Hall, sister Linda Bell, niece Kellie Barnett and Martin Barnett, niece Florian Greene, niece Kimberly Neely and Anthony Neely, nephew Jerome Jenkins and Renee Jenkins, Brandon Jenkins, great niece Kayla Barnett, great nephew Jared Barnett, great nephew Jarrot Bell and Jessica Bell and Mia Amor Bell, and many more cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She resided in Monrovia, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.