Toni Leone Gatlin is known as Mama T. She is a Christian, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loves teaching and helping people discover God’s love and their life through Jesus Christ her Lord. Her philosophy is simple: “Faith, Hope, and Love in God.”

Oregon is Toni’s native home where she was raised by her precious Grandmother Octavia. Toni’s early years were scarred by abandonment and sexual abuse, which led to years of a promiscuous lifestyle rooted in seeds of fear, anger, and loneliness.

Shortly after graduating from High School, Toni lived in an abusive marriage for nine years. Then, she divorced and lived a single-parent life. She found pseudo security in Martial Arts Culture as an acclaimed black belt artist.

In these struggling times, Toni met Jesus her Savior and Lord. Shortly after, she met and married Walter J. Gatlin, (known as Papa Walt).

Papa Walt and Mama T served for many years in gang ministry with Pastors Kelly and Sara Cohoe. Together they birthed a mobile outreach from their youngest son, LaMont called Love by Example. They also hosted a weekly podcast entitled, “The Gift of Life.” Toni and Walt served at C3 Church under Pastors, Seth and Kaz Brooks in Northeast Portland.

After 36 years of marriage and ministry, on May 7, 2021, Papa Walt left for Heaven due to COVID-19. Toni’s lost love and best friend would be the grief to cause Toni to sink or swim. Toni is a fighter at heart and never likes wasting loss or failure, so she chose to swim.

This meant that she would chose to trust God, and allow His healing, lubricant love to be her catalyst in Papa’s absence.

Papa always said, “Toni is like a porcupine: people get the point.” This is why she chose to finish this book, and also begin a new book dedicated to the memories of her Papa, her grandmother, her son (Jokava), and also to the many people who have lost love ones taken by illness, disease or suicide.