Mrs. Zelma Williams Oudkerk’s spirit returned to the Lord on August 12, 2019, but her body is here with us today. Her Soul (body+spirit) now awaits the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, who is without a doubt her Creator, Savior, and Redeemer. She loved the Lord and was a loving mother and grandmother who was devoted to her family and loved ones. Her desire was to see them all save and be a part of God’s eternal Kingdom. She loved to share her spiritual knowledge and took every opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God. Zelma was a founding and active member of the Senior’s Group at Lauderhill SDA Church where she was a faithful member for over 10 years. She was also part of the nursing rotation during Sabbath services.
Zelma was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies on January 25, 1934. She was the 4th of her Mother’s 12 children and was the longest living one so far. She was raised by her grandmother and mother who were both Seventh-day Adventist Christians. She was an avid reader from young and continued this habit throughout her life. She was engrossed with spiritual and healthy lifestyle books, periodicals, videos, and tapes. As a result, she amassed hundreds of related books, tapes, papers, and other materials over the years. She willingly shared these with family, friends, and acquaintances.
Zelma had all four of her children at a very young age. She worked hard as a single mother to support them. She encouraged them to read, excel educationally, and to grow spiritually. In her early years, she worked as a beautician in Trinidad and even had a small beauty school before migrating to Brooklyn, New York, in the 1960’s. After and during her brief stint as a domestic worker in Manhattan, she aggressively pursued training to become a registered nurse. She graduated with honors from Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY with a BS in Nursing. She worked in many hospitals with the longest tenure at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Maimonides Medical Center. Amid her rewarding nursing career, she fell in love and married Vibert Oudkerk from Guyana, South America, in the mid-60’s.
Eventually, and after her mother Lillian passed away, she sent for her four children who immigrated to the U.S. in 1972. During the 70’s she was busy working, taking care of her family, and seldom went to church. However, and praise the Lord, she started depending and trusting in the Lord again and attended church more regularly. She adopted one of her grandchildren, Dasta James, at age two. After high school, and after his grandmother retired to Florida, Dasta moved in with his Aunt Jennifer in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, Dasta was shot and killed in NY about 10 years later and a few years after his graduation from Long Island University. His tragic death had a major adverse impact on his loved ones and especially his grandmother who continued to grieve his passing as she grew older; her physical and mental health started to deteriorate rapidly. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with dementia. She never accepted this condition and continued to wonder and ask WHY? Her confusion and short-term memory loss plagued her even more this past year. This condition was a mystery to her loved ones as well, considering how well she took care of her health. Throughout her life, she consistently read and educated herself in many areas of life, regularly attended health retreats/seminars, and applied healthy and spiritual principles to her daily life. She also subscribed to and promoted a Vegan diet for the past 30 years and loved to prepare and serve nutritious meals. Mom was also a fanatic house cleaner and would try to do so even up to last week.
Zelma travelled extensively and usually went with church or mission groups, and sometimes family and church friends, like Sisters Edwina and McCormack. Her travels included all over the Caribbean, Central and South America, European countries, Russia, West Africa, Israel and Egypt. She enjoyed these types of adventures and her passion for travelling was naturally passed down to her children and grandchildren. Thank you to my cousins, Christopher and Dillon, for conducting repairs at her home; her neighbor, Queen, for checking and praying for her as well; her dear aide Josephine, for assisting with her care this past year; to all those who prayed, called, and visited.
Zelma is survived by her oldest child, Karen Smith, and her daughter, Jennifer Esther; Randy’s children: Khalifa, Kamau, Kyle, Kamarley, Kasa, Kadada, and Kebra; Roger’s daughter, Keenya. She is also survived by her four remaining siblings, Jean, Neville, Stephanie, and Nathaniel, and seven great grandchildren. Zelma was preceded in death by her children’s father, Fitzroy Grant; her husband, Vibert Oudkerk; her parents, seven siblings, Dasta (2011), and three youngest children, Jennifer Ann (2019), Roger (2017), Randy (2016), and Son-in-Law, Jerry Smith Sr . She is survived by a vast number of nieces, nephews, cousins, sister-in-law and childhood friend, Veronica Miranda, and faithful church friends, Faye Dinham, Ilene Martin, Bro. McSween, Elder Williams, Elder/Sister Palmer, Pastors Elliott, Gordon, and Howard, and a host of other family and friends.
One week after returning from her daughter’s funeral in Brooklyn, Zelma suffered a second hemorrhagic stroke on August 10, and as dictated in her medical directive and at the request of her family, she was removed from life support on August 12, 2019. May her soul Rest-In-Peace. Her confusion, anxiety, and suffering are over. Thank you, Lord, that she did not live to suffer through the final stages of dementia. God is so loving and merciful to us all. As Mom would say, “Only God Knows.” She constantly called on His name and He was a constant help and comfort to her on so many occasions. Thank you, Mom, for all the intercessory prayers you lifted-up on behalf of your loved ones to God Almighty. Thank you to all the faithful Prayer Warriors from Lauderhill and Port St Lucie, FL, Seventh-day Adventist churches, and Forest Hill, TX SDA church, and to everyone who prayed for her well-being.
The family would like to thank you for your prayers, support, tributes here and on the funeral home’s website. We are grateful to the ministers, pastors, elders, musicians, and all who assisted with this service. May the Good Lord continue to Bless you all. Mom, we love you and miss you tremendously. However, we have the Blessed HOPE that we will see you again at the Midnight Cry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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