Gizela "GiGi" Ajido Salenga

Gizela Ajido Salenga, lovingly known as GiGi, went home to be with her LORD and Savior Jesus Christ on June 24, 2026, in Jackson, Tennessee, after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer.

Born on October 7, 1971, GiGi’s journey began with warmth and promise—a promise she fulfilled through a life brimming with compassion, dedication, and grace. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila, Philippines, setting forth on a path that would allow her to care for others in their most vulnerable moments. Her education was only the beginning of a remarkable career, as she would go on to serve as a physical therapist at Jackson-Madison General Hospital for many years. GiGi’s gentle hands and empathetic heart touched countless lives, offering healing and hope to her patients and their families.

But perhaps GiGi’s proudest accomplishment was not found in her professional success, but in the family she so fiercely loved. Her devotion to her husband and children was unwavering; they were the very center of her world. Those who knew her best remember GiGi as loving and kind, someone who radiated a special light in every room she entered. Her care extended beyond her household—she cherished her church family, extended family, and close friends, offering kindness, encouragement, and endless support.

Throughout her illness, GiGi continued to teach those around her about faith and perspective. She wanted her loved ones to remember, as she faced the prospect of parting, that although her earthly presence would be missed, her spirit would find peace in Heaven with The LORD. In this way, even as she faced hardship, GiGi extended comfort and reassurance, reminding all who mourn her that her faith in her LORD Jesus sustained her until the very end.

Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband, Mark Anthony Herrera Salenga; adored children, Hannah Elizabeth Salenga and Samuel Josiah Salenga; and dear sister, Minette Ajido-Shankoff. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dante and Edeltrudes Ajido.

Her memory will be honored at a visitation on June 30, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. A funeral service celebrating her beautiful life will be held 11:00 a.m. July 1, 2026, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, 6185 Rowsey School Rd, Bethel Springs, TN 38315, with Pastor Bobby McCord officiating. The burial will follow at Mt. Gilead Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Jason Cox, Rick Welch, Mark Macarino, Dan Moore, Sammy Hill, and Steve Judd.

Those who were blessed to know GiGi will remember her loving nature and her unwavering faith in her LORD Jesus Who gave her the quiet strength that she displayed. Her legacy endures in the lives she touched, the family she cherished, and the hope she cultivated in the hearts of all around her. As her loved ones gather to say goodbye, they do so with gratitude for the precious years shared with GiGi and the enduring impact of her testimony as a true believer in Christ Jesus.