Denyce was laid to rest at the Hills of Calvary Cemetery on December 13, 2023.
Denyce, who also went by “Gypsy” to some of her friends, was a gentle spirit. She was soft spoken, loved nature, had multiple crushes and loves, and often felt misunderstood. She moved around to different parts of the city and was a long-time resident at both Green Street Church and Fort Negley before the city shut it down. She was a deeply spiritual person who was in tune with the earth and the spirits of those who had passed. She talked with them constantly and always asked me for scented oil, candles, incense, and sage.
Denyce had an eclectic style and often tied her short curly brown hair back with bandanas or scarves. She wore interesting jewelry and layered all kinds of clothes and belts. She was a collector of clothing and had a separate “donations tent” – which was essentially a closet – at her camp at Fort Negley. She also got in trouble on multiple occasions for hoarding when she was living at Green Street. (You can imagine what happens when heaps of damp clothing begin to pile up…) She was one of the last standing residents at Fort Negley and briefly had housing and a lovely garden at Mercury Court. Denyce loved people fiercely and was loved by so many. She is dearly missed. May she rest in peace, may she know home, and may she be surrounded by love and all the spirits who comforted her throughout her days.
–Lindsey Krinks, Open Table Nashville
