Gerald Preston Curtis, 57

MAGNOLIA - Gerald Preston Curtis of Magnolia left this world peacefully Sunday, June 17, 2007, in home with his family. He was 57.

Mr. Curtis was born and raised in Washington, D.C., until 1990, when he and his family moved to Delaware.

He was a jack of all trades but a master at cooking, where he proceeded to work at numerous five-star restaurants.

He was preceded in death by a son, Gerald Preston Curtis Jr.

He leaves to mourn his passing his mother, Edna Kave; three sisters, Denise Govan, Cheyanne Curtis and Janice Curtis; and two brothers, George Kave and Preston Curtis; two brothers-in-law, Fred Govan and Charles Paige; one sister-in-law, Joyce Kave; and a host of nieces and nephews in the Washington, D.C., area.

In Delaware, he leaves his wife of 38 years, Emaline Hovington of Magnolia; four children, Mary Curtis, Tiffany Hovington and Reginald Hovington, all of Magnolia, and Jasmine Brown of Camden; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two special sons-in-law, Russell Flowers and Willis Mcteer and a host of family and friends.

Services will be noon Tuesday in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, where friends may call two hours earlier.

Burial will be in Whatcoat Cemetery, Dover.