Gail was such an inspiration to me and to so many others at Mercer and beyond. She was a smart and fearless leader who pushed  boundaries and expected the very best from those she worked with. You certainly didn’t turn up for a meeting with Gail unprepared :-)  
She was also one of the most empathetic leaders I’ve ever met and I learnt so much from her, in particular on how to help and support other Women in Tech. 
I’ll miss our chats and how generous she was with her time. I’ll cherish the last call we had a few months ago and the sound advice, as always, that she gave me. 
RIP Gail , gone way too soon xx

Gail with Kodak.com leadership team members Helen Hogan, Sharon Delman, and Margaret Jones. Rochester, New York.

Gail on the Kodak corporate jet when she was leading tech at kodak.com

Gail teaching kodak.com coworkers Tony Bacchiocchi and Tina Clark the electric glide.

At Kodak Home Office reviewing a major redesign of the kodak.com website. With Judy Goonan, Margaret Jones, Ted Pryzbylowicz, Terry Lund, and Bob LaPerle.

Working on the Kodak corporate jet with Sharon Delman, Peter Lautenslager, Margaret Jones, and Bob LaPerle.

Gail on the Kodak corporate jet with the kodak.com leadership team.

Gail was a true beacon of leadership in Disney for all of the people who worked for her in Disney Experience family. She set new standards that will forever help our organization attain higher standards. She will be truly missed. Praying for her dearly departed soul and my condolences for her family.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Gail's family.   She was a delightful, intelligent, kind and caring leader!  I loved meeting her and getting to know her at Mercer.  She came to our Charlotte office several times and also participated as a guest speaker with our Women@Mercer Charlotte Chapter.  

Gail was an inspiration to me.  I cherish the memories of her and what she taught me.  She was a light!  I think she made every single person she met - smile!  And also made all of us think about how we can be better!  Her story was amazing.  She walked the walk!  

I won't ever forget her.  And I hope that I can someday be a tenth of the person she was to all of us!  

Sincerely,
Sharon Gerard

Gail was so easy to talk to, always connecting with everyone at their level with genuine warmth and understanding. Her constant smile and positive energy brightened every room, leaving a lasting impact on all who had the pleasure of knowing her. 

May the family and close friends find comfort in the cherished memories you all shared with Gail.

So sorry to hear about this. I worked on a project with her at Mercer and found her to be brilliant as well as a loving person who looked for the best in everyone. I will cherish her memory. 

Heidi Andrew

Gail was my manager and mentor for many years at Kodak. She had such an inspiring story -- from custodian to executive at Kodak, then on to leadership roles at several other companies. 

Gail was the person that encouraged me to get into product management -- my professional pursuit for nearly 15 years. She was the single most influential person in my career journey.

Within the last decade plus, our communications have only been over email. Among her last words to me were "I am so very proud of you."

Rest in peace.

Gail was an incredible person and a born leader, constantly challenging and supporting her teams. Gail I will always be grateful to you for the chance you offered me. Your energy, smile and legacy will stay forever with us. Rest in peace.

Gail’s presence was always inspirational and touched so many in a positive way. She had the rare quality of driving her team but with unconditional support and kindness. A true leader and one that will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.

It was fall of 2022, and Gail had just started at Disney a few months earlier. I was eager to meet her, but I also wanted to give her time to settle in. As a new C-suite executive bringing fresh perspectives to Disney, I was excited—and, to be honest, a bit nervous. I really wanted to ensure our first meeting between Disney and Apple was a success.

What I didn’t expect was meeting someone who was just as committed to building a genuine, symbiotic relationship as I was. From the start, it was clear that Gail was not only grounded and authentic but also someone who effortlessly commanded respect with her professionalism.

In my typical fashion, I had done my homework ahead of time and learned that Gail’s grandson, RJ, was an incredibly important part of her life. So, when our meeting began, I mentioned my findings and we agreed to make sure we’d talk about RJ before wrapping up.
Sure enough, as our time was coming to a close, we still had 10 minutes left—and we spent those 10 minutes swapping stories about family, backgrounds, and of course, RJ. She proudly shared photos and stories of her beloved grandson on her iPhone—pictures that only a proud grandmother could cherish so deeply.

As I reflect on Gail’s time with us, I’m reminded of how important it is to make real human connections with those we meet, whether they're colleagues, clients, or customers. It's those intellectual and emotional connections that truly make a difference.
Gail, you will be missed. But I’m not surprised by the number of lives you touched during your time at Disney. Your impact is lasting.

I have known Gail since childhood growing up together and living around the corner from each other in Rochester, NY.  A friend of mine sent me a text message letting me know that she had passed.  I immediately was sadden by the news and could not believe it.  I know that now she is in a better place and I know that she enjoyed life to the fullest.  Gail was a very special friend to me and from reading everything others said and wrote about her was very true to the heart.  I saw Gail as a very devoted person, fun, loving, and kind individual who enjoyed life to the fullest.  She was an amazing, talented, smart,  woman who touched many lives with her knowledge and smile.  I was very devasted to learn about her passing and still is in awe that she is gone, but not forgotten.  I have no doubt that she is in everyone's heart that she touched and will be remembered by all.  Rest in peace my friend and know that you are now in a better place.  YOU WILL BE MISSED.
Love Always,
Rosslin Horton

Gail was an incredible mentor to me. Her guidance, and leadership challenged and helped me to grow as a leader. Although she set high expectations, she also valued family and her team. A special person who made the world a better place.

I will always remember Gail when we  joked and her endless smiles. I met her years ago when she relocated to NC. Gail knew exactly what she wished for. God put her here to spread her love to many. May we all remember her legacy in the lives she touched! Rest in peace Gail! My sincere Condolences to her Family  💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

This is one of the hardest things I've had to do. We've shared a 30 year friendship that started in the hair salon. Our spirits connected and we made every effort to check on each other and share love despite our distance. I always admired your brilliance, balance, humanity and sense of humor!!! I was looking forward to us writing that book together once you finally retired. I am struggling with your sudden departure but we often talked about trusting God's plan. I am counting my blessings for God allowing our paths to cross and our friendship to flourish! 
Well done,  my friend! You have exemplified Black Girl Magic... rest well thy good and faithful servant!
Thank you Pam for loving my friend the absolute best you could...I will always love you for that! God's got you and the boys...continue to trust God's plan!💞🙏🏾

I  known Gail ,Pam,Linda and Tracey when we were teenagers.  We form our Zodiac Club  and  had 26 Members and share  A Sisterhood. .  We went to Franklin HS and played Sports together . Basketball was the Love and Passionate we share together with My Sisters Pat and Marilyn Mcfarland.   We All Graduated from Franklin  and Are  Quaker Alumni’s Finest Ladies Basketball Teams. It is  2024   A Life Time Friendship  and Sisterhood Today.  RIP My Sisters  Gail, Pat and Linda Love Jennette Henry ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Sleep in peace auntie haven't seen you since a little girl ..if it was up to me I would of reached out more when I got old enough ...I remember you always made a way to come see me .. wish I would of reached out to you years ago now it's too late this is what happens when family is distance 🫶🏾

There are gifts in life, and knowing Gail was one of the greatest gifts in mine. She was one of the most influential leaders I have ever worked with. Somehow, I instinctively knew our time together would be short—just two years—and I cherished every conversation we had.
Years later, I shared with her a memory of my drive home after our first long interview. I had actually cried tears of joy, moved by who she was: magnetic, inspiring, and authentic to the core. Leaders like her are rare. She had an incredible ability to make you believe anything was possible, just as she had overcome so many obstacles in her own life that she never even spoke about until later in her career. From that day on, I knew I had no choice but to work for her.
Working with Gail was a dream. She trusted me completely, giving me full creative freedom and never doubting what I could accomplish. Saying I loved working for her is an understatement—she brought out the best in people and always had your back, even if she didn’t agree with you. She used to tease me about two things: who between us would be featured in a Wall Street Journal article first (it was her, of course, not to mention her Netflix documentary hosted by Obama), and that I needed a T-shirt with "GSD" (Get Stuff Done) on it because I got things done like no one else. Humor was at the core of who she was, and I can still hear her laugh as I write this. She never took herself too seriously, a quality we all appreciated in our intense work environment.
I know how deeply she adored her family, especially her sons. She would share stories of what they were up to, the family reunions, and how she was making a difference for others. Getting the time I had with Gail was a gift I’ll always treasure. She was not only a leader who shaped my career but also a person who will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. I am grateful to have known her, incredibly proud of what she achieved, and thinking of all those she leaves behind.

Gail was a talented professional who mentored many and led by example. She made such a difference during our time at MErcer together.
Even more importantly she was kind, gracious, caring, supportive and always made people around her feel safe. She had a very engaging way about her…you wanted to be around her. ..and that smile…wow! She tried so hard to help me realize how important taking care of myself was. How I shouldn’t take the weight of the world on my shoulders alone. ….I loved her and who she was as a person and a dear friend. Right before she passed, we had just communicated about how great it would be to get our grandkids together for a trip to Disney. …
Yes she was the consummate, talented professional and guiding light for many. But more importantly she was a wonderful friend  who you wanted to spend time with. 
My deep condolences to Pam, her sons and beautiful grandson. She is resting in peace until we meet again….. Julio Portalatin and the grateful  world she touched…..

Rest peacefully Gail. You was truly an angel sent from above.  I will always remember the good times that we had when you and Pam would come visit the DVM, those was the best times.  I use to be so happy knowing you all was coming in town and so sad to see you all leave. It's really hard to fine loving, caring , beautiful people in this world.  But God blessed me with my best friend Pam of 54 years and then you of 29 or more years and for that I am grateful.  I love you my friend/my sis Gail you will be truly missed forever.

Gail, you are my girl my friend you laughed at all my jokes and you were just a pleasant person to be around. I thank God every day that I had a chance to meet you and enjoy your company. May God bless you and my girl Pam also I love you And I appreciate you. Rest easy rest easy, my friend. Sincerely, your hairstylist friend and comedian Stacey Sacko.

You were an inspiration to so many, your legacy will endure through us. Rest in peace Gail.

Gail,
You always told me that you were my "credit card," there whenever I needed support. In your last message, you promised "to always be nearby". I want you to know that, thanks to the strength you’ve given me, I am a true child of Gail- a Tiger Mom and can take care of myself.  I know you believe in me so much. Please rest peacefully—you’ve prepared me well.

With all my love,
Sophia

My deepest condolences. May memories of Gail and the love of Family and Friends surround you and give you strength in the days ahead. 

I mentored Gail during her days at Kodak and was instrumental in bringing her incredible skills and talent to Bank of America. 

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I am thinking of you all. I wish you peace and comfort as you remember and celebrate the life of Gail. 
🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿 Lance Drummond

Gail, like me, was a firm believer in remote work. She used to say she wanted to work but she also really wanted to enjoy her grandson. Sometimes this little boy would run close to her desk and she'd interrupt any meeting and show us her pride and joy, hugging her lovingly. Gail worked so very hard all her life. But she really knew what mattered. This boy's hugs and the daily phone calls with her son on his way to work. It warms my heart now to remember she had these wonderful things every single day.

Gail took a chance on me. She bet on this young Portuguese girl who won't stop smiling and turned me into a global professional woman, who still won't stop smiling.

She taught me the importance of, God, of being human at work, of delivering lovingly, of contributing to a better world, not just doing the job. She was so aware of her social responsibility as a leader, as a woman, as a mentor, as a symbol, as a beacon, with such an amazing life story.

My favourite quote from her was always "Team, I am a work in progress!!!", said with this wonderful funny tone that showed just how humble, vulnerable yet strong and accepting Gail was.

Noone can ever replace this woman's example to the world. I am so grateful she had a spot for me under her wing and in her heart.

A huge loss for the world, a shining bright light switching off like that. May we be able to come even slightly close to her amazing example.

OBITUARY

Gail Evans

May 31, 1959 – October 29, 2024

McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel

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