Obituary

Gerald William “Cherokee” Locklear

Age 65

https://www.facebook.com/will.locklear

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/gerald-locklear-obituary?pid=188595668

You Can Not Make This Up.

It was a sad after pride this year. Word of the passing of Will “Cherokee” Locklear. There are many “You Can Not Make This Up” stories about Cherokee. He owned a chain of very successful stores in the Carolinas. He also owned a getaway condo in the towers of Channel Side. We had known him for many years before as a fun customer at our stores. He LOVED to PARTY – Drink – Gamble – Boys!!! When he was cocktailed he was hard to understand. One night after many drinks we made it to Bradley’s on 7^th.  It was one of his first times there. Cherokee was WOOP WOOPING in his wild Indian voice. He said something to the bartender, who gave us a look like “I’m going to cut you all off!” I said, “It’s OK I speak Cherokee!!! (I really don’t, just understand drunk talk) He wants to buy the house a round of shots.” The bartender said “Really can he afford to pay for them?” I said “Yes, if not I will pay for them.” We all toasted to Cherokee. He paid for the round and then gave the bartender a $100 bill for a tip.  After that everybody at Bradley’s knew Cherokee!!!!

In 1980 we both moved to Tampa from Minneapolis to attend USF. We found a big nice apartment complex on Fletch Ave close to USF. We asked the manager if they had any 1 or 2 bedroom apartments available. With a shocked look on his face he said “We DO NOT RENT to HOMOSEXUALS!!!”  We looked at each other and replied…”Who said we were gay?”  He replied “Only HOMOSEXUALS would ask for a 1 bedroom!  Now leave!!!” The next apartment was next door to the VA Hospital. We asked for a 2 bedroom. She said that yes they did have a 2 bedroom. But… Why should she rent to us without jobs? We had just left Minneapolis where our rent was $400 per month. The rent here was $125.  Mark said “How about we pay the first 9 months in advance.” She smiles and said “Can you move in today?” Carrie got a job at the VA Hospital right next doors and Mark worked 2 blocks away at the University Restaurant.  So things turned out the best for us after such a cold welcome to Tampa.

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HOMOPHOBIA

In the late 1990’s there was a fun LGBT group that started a club called “The Krewe of the Umbrella”. They decorated rainbow umbrellas and would make appearances across Tampa Bay. They were even at the Suncoast Resort on the 1^st Day.  One Sunday there was a Gay Play by Max Turner at the Silver Meteor Gallery in Ybor City.  The group showed up to show support to Max & Bill and the theater.  After the play we walked down the side walk of Ybor City to a brewery. There had been a pre-arranged party scheduled there on the 2^nd floor. The group had a great time and I remember the bill being over $700.00. We had so much fun that we paid and joined the bars beer mug club. Were given 2 beer mugs to take home and decorate. Then bring the mugs back, to have them on the shelves waiting for us next time. We took 2 rainbow stickers and cut the letter “M” & “C” for the mugs. Then took the mugs back to be placed on the shelf.  Several weeks later our family were in town. We told them all about the brewery and how fun it was and took them there. When we asked for our private beer mugs the server said “Oh those mugs… You know we cannot allow that Gay stuff on our shelves here!” Our family was outraged and we were embarrassed, so we all went elsewhere.

You Just Can Not Make This UP.

Drag…. the word Drag comes from Shakespearean theater times when women were not allowed on stage. The men would perform as the women. Thus “D.R.A.G” Doing Role As Girl!!! In many performances they would be acting as the Queen. Here is where “Drag Queen” comes from!!!! Our favorite and good friend is “Miss Joey Brooks” She is also Miss Ybor City and Miss MC Film as well as Miss Tampa PRIDE 2017 and many more! One favorite story about Joey is…. One week day we went to Georgies Alibi for a cocktail. Joey was out of drag. A young guy came up and sat next to us. We told him that we were from Ybor City. For the next 20 minutes he went on and on about how FABOULOUS Miss Joey Brooks was and how we really should go and see her. Joey just smiled and agreed with the young guy. We laughed all the way home. The young guy did know who she was and Joey didn’t tell him. Today you will find Joey every Thursday, Friday 7 Saturday hosting the shows at Bradley’s on 7^th .  CHEERS TO MISS JOEY BROOKS

It was a very fun and busy weekend. The LGBTA Gasparilla Softball Classic Tournament was in town. 100’s of Hot Softball players from across the country made for a lot of eye candy. Hamburger Mary’s hosted the closing party Sunday night. The after party was at Bradley’s on 7th. After working 3 doubles I was off and done for the week. It was off to Bradley’s. I open the door and Bradley’s was packed. Thru the crowed I spied an open chair. This old queen darted over to the chair and sat down. I passed my tea cup to the bartender Bradford and it was filled with the 1st drink of day. One sip and it was like “Angels dancing on my tong!” One big deep exhale and suddenly everything was right in the universe again. Next to me was a young girl all dressed up. She says to me. “I like your name tag.” OMG I forgot to take the TEA CUP name tag off again. LOL Then she asks “Do you work at Disney?” I smile and say “Why Yes Kinda”. All excited she say “That is my favored ride at Disney!!!” I laugh, thinking to myself WOW not very bright. I say “Your boyfriend is smoking HOT your very lucky.” She actually say to me, a total stranger drinking out of a Tea Cup “I think so too!! I just blew him in the car on the way here!” With a bigger smile again I say ‘Well lucky you” She giggles again and are off into the crowd. Two cocktails later there are back and this time spills her drink on me. In a drunken voice says “We just had sex in the restroom again!” Just then the bouncers come up and say to them “Its time for you two to go home”….. You just can not make this up.

There are 2 fun ladies from Boston who come to Ybor often.  On their last tip they shared, laughing, this story with me. One Sunday they were at Tampa International Airport going home. She was giving stupid answers to the security people. Then she said “I’m sorry we are coming from Ybor and are a little Tea Cupped!” The security guard with a big smile said “SUNday FUNday on the Balcony with Tea Cup. I totally understand!!” http://www.mcfilm.co/category/you-just-cant-make-this-sht-up/

People say the strangest things to bartenders. Even stranger to bartenders they do not know. Recently there was a cute 30 something guys sitting at the bar by himself. I was making small talk with him. Then out of nowhere he actually says to me… “You know I’m not Gay, BUT I do know what gay sex taste like.” Just what do you say back to that? I just smiled and said” Well Gay or Straight, people come in all different sizes and tastes.” 

We were in our bank in Ybor City. The branch manager was helping us with some things at her desk. A homeless guy walks in and tells her that he is more important than us and to help him now. She smiles and says no have a seat. Then goes on to say how the regional manager is there watching and checking up on the branch. Just then a guy and woman come out of the restroom. Right in front of her desk the woman collapses onto the floor and starts to make noise. Without missing a beat, the manager calls 911 and continues to help us. She has 911 on speaker phone as they are asking her questions. The regional manager comes out with a strange look on his face. WHATS GOING ON???? The manager just smiled.  About 20 minutes pass and no 911 ambulance. Meanwhile the homeless guys is talking to the lady on the floor. When he asks if she would like some pot. The lady sits right us and is better right away. LOL. The manager then recalls 911 who on the speaker phone says…” If the ambulance is not there in the next 5 minutes call back.” The ambulance guys arrived and the lady and guy now realize they might have pot on them and lock themselves into the restroom. The manager opens the door with a key and the woman is taken away on a stretcher. Just a day in Ybor City LMAO http://www.mcfilm.co/category/you-just-cant-make-this-sht-up/

One New Year’s Eve we spent the night at The Suncoast Resort in St. Petersburg. That night it rain so very hard, like we have never seen before.  The next day we drove home to Tampa. Our garage is on the back alley. We drove down the alley parked I the garage and went in to the back door of our house. A little while later the phone rang. It was a gay neighbor. He asked if we were OK? A little puzzled we asked why not??? He said guys walk out the front door of your home….. The house next doors had caught on fire the night before. A big portion of the house had collapsed into our front yard!!!! Everybody said that the HUGE RAIN storm had saved our home!

This story is nice and a little strange too….. Back in college we had a close gay friend named John. He decided to travel the world and lived over sea for several years.  John would always send us post cards from his travels.  Whenever he was in the state of Florida he would always stop by. Then he meet a boyfriend and brought him back to America to live. They lived together for many years in California.  Every year we would get a Christmas card from the couple. Then about 10 years ago we received news that John had passed away. We looked up his obituary in his local paper and even signed the guest book on line.  That year after his death we received a Christmas card from him, signed John only. This week a Christmas card arrived signed John. We have been receiving a card, every year for the past 10 years? We have wrote back and heard nothing.  The cards keep coming just signed John.