Denovius Gist

Nobbie's Journey

Denovius Douglas Gist, lovingly known as Nobbie and Red due to his sandy red hair, was born December 6, 1989 in Los Angeles, California to his loving mother, Jacqueline Gist. At the young age of 8, Denovius accepted The LORD as his Savior, was baptized at Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, and was very active in various ministries there, along with his siblings Ja'Kes and Fredgennie. They participated in Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, and sang in the Youth Choir. Denovius and his brother were also active members of Greater Ebenezer's Sons Of Abraham Boy's Mentoring Program. Later, in his adult years, he was a member of the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in San Pedro for several years. Denovius really loved The LORD!

Jackie, being motivated and determined to keep her children active, inspired, and safe, kept Denovius and his siblings involved in various programs throughout the community including the Boy's and Girl's Club, The Airport Academy of Junior Pilots, The A. C. Green Basketball Camp, and various other basketball programs. Denovius and his brother loved to play basketball so much that Denovius even inspired his sister Gina to play basketball as well. Although basketball was his game, the Minnesota Vikings Football team was his favorite professional sports team!

Being raised in Los Angeles, Denovius attended Calvary Christian and Loren Miller Elementary Schools, Bethune Middle School, and Westchester High School. He went on to pursue higher education at El Camino College and later at Langston University where he majored in Business.

At the age of 13, Nobbie met this beautiful young girl, Tori Pierre. They soon became each other's best friend and blossomed into an inseparable love that endured for many years! Nobbie and Tori were overjoyed at the birth of their beautiful and very energetic baby girl, Kyia, who is now a very active teenager, as her father was! Nobbie was such a proud father! He genuinely loved his family and was a great provider, protector, respectful and respected, and even quite funny! Both his smile and laughter were contagious! Nobbie, Tori, and Kyia spent countless hours together intently enjoying life and each other!

Throughout his life, Denovius worked in various fields, including several summers with Summer Night Lights, as a baseball umpire and a basketball referee at Carson, Mt. Carmel, and Algin Sutton Parks, as a security guard at Tinder and SpaceX, and his most recent position as a Parking Enforcement Officer I with the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). Denovius dreamt of becoming a Firefighter and later desired to become a LAPD Officer. Outside of work, Denovius enjoyed watching sports, listening to hip hop, jazz, and R&B music, cooking, barbequing, and spending time with family and friends. He also found joy in attending church and celebrating life's special moments.

Being so resourceful, Nobbie was known as the 'Go To' guy. If he didn't know the information, he always knew where to get it. Some of his qualities included compassion, humility, friendliness, trustworthiness, and being loving! What was so amazing about Nobbie was that he was even courageous enough to admit his flaws and wrongs! He was such a likeable and down-to-earth guy! Nobbie also loved to travel! His parting journey was August 23, 2025.

Denovius was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jean Christian and Fred Gist, and his uncle, Lawrence King. He leaves to cherish a treasure of memories to his loving mother, Jacqueline Gist; daughter, Kyia Gist; brother, Ja'Kes Gist; sister, Fredgennie Gist; aunt, Keshua Lewis; Godmother, Cecelia Lara; best friend, Tori Pierre; bonus parents, Rosalin Ross and Ernie & Charlotte Pierre; bonus sisters, LaShunay Pierre and lyonna Dixon along with many family members and friends who loved him dearly!