Denise Keys passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024 at the age of 71 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 18, 1952. Her childhood was spent in Baltimore, Maryland and Buffalo, New York.

Denise was a quiet spirit that possessed a wonderful and inviting smile. If you were to ask anyone who encountered Denise, her hugs were one of the most valued part of her personality. She was Council Road Church's poster child for fashion. She started as a Greeter and eventually moved to teaching the Joy Connection class at Council Road. Her greatest attribute was her ability to put people at ease and feel listened to. Her pleasant personality helped to build trust quickly with people affording her to be a trusted confidant.

Denise was a proud Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) who embraced the mission of Toastmasters to help foster self-confidence and personal growth. Denise recognized her spiritual gift early in her journey with Christ, making people feel good about themselves by encouraging the need to love yourself which will culminate into loving others in a manner pleasing to God. When you were in the presence of Denise you felt love exuded from her by her demeanor and how she treated you. She had a special ability that made you feel you were the only friend she had in the world. Denise treated everyone she met with respect and kindness, never thinking twice about who they were, their station in life, or where they came from.

Denise was preceded in death by her adopted mother, Rose Williams and her beloved sister, Judy Brown.

Denise is survived by her husband, Willie Keys; her daughters, Bianca (Gyasi) Depusoir, Brandi Williford, and Temika (Ray) Rose; and her son, Anthony Keys; brother, James Williams; grandchildren, Derrick Wright, Kavon Rose, Alyssa Keys-Carper, Anthony Keys, Zaria, Ajani, and Ayanna Depusoir and Thai and Aidan Cerda; and great-grandchildren, Elijah, DeAndre, and Nola.

She is also survived by beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, a wonderful Church family, and a community of friends.

Many thanks to our Church family and friends for your love, caring hearts, spiritual and mental support during our battle with the beast called cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Tuesday, February 6 at Council Road Baptist Church with interment to follow in Ft. Sill National Cemetery at 1:00pm.