Olathe — Services for Benita June Gilrath Freeman, 51, Olathe, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Southside Christian Church, 7304 Cleveland Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Burial will be in Olathe Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Freeman died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.
She was born Nov. 29, 1959, in Kansas City, Kan., the daughter of Benjamin F. and Christine Gilrath.
Mrs. Freeman attended public schools in Bonner Springs and graduated in 1977 from Bonner Springs High School, where she participated in Future Homemakers of America and was a member of the school’s first predominantly African-American drill team at the high school. She was heavily involved in athletics. Volleyball, basketball and softball were her passions, and she continued to play and participate in softball throughout her adult life.
Mrs. Freeman was employed with United Cities Gas Co. for more than 15 years. She received certification in information technology from Brown Mackie College. She was also employed with the Olathe Public School Systems and T.L.C. (Temporary Lodging For Children).
She, along with her family, participated for many years in the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure as a survivor warrior in the battle against breast cancer.
She was baptized at First Baptist Church in Bonner Springs, where she was a member well into her adulthood. While a member there, she was in the choir and taught Sunday School. She also was a member of Southside Christian Church and participated in several auxiliaries.
In 1981, she married Bobby Love Sr. They divorced in 2002.
In 2010, she married Melvin Freeman Sr. He survives of the home.
Other survivors include four sons, Brian D. Love, Bobby L. Love II, Benjamin I. Love, and Braxton J. Love; two daughters, Jacqulyn B. Love and Jasmine L. Love; two stepchildren, Dominique Freeman and Melvin Freeman Jr.; her mother, Christine Gilrath; mother-in-law Loretta Freeman; a brother, Chris L Gilrath (Joyce); a sister, Ruth Hart (Robert); and a grandson, Mason Smith.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Southside Christian Church. Northern Star Mortuary, Kansas City, Kan., is handling arrangements.