Mrs. Gloria May Sewell

Gloria May McFarlane Sewell was born to Adelaide Jones and Vivian McFarlane on August 21, 1937 in the District of Tiki Tiki, in the Parish of Manchester, Jamaica. Gloria completed her education in stenography in Mandeville.

Gloria later moved to Kingston when the love of her life, Clifton, was reassigned with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. They raised their family there until the entire family immigrated to the United States in 1972, residing in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY and later, in Queens Village, NY. Gloria worked in clerical and retail sales positions until she found her niche as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), and passionately served at St Mary’s Hospital, Brooklyn NY until she and Clifton, now empty nesters, relocated to Royal Palm Beach, Florida in 1989.

Gloria was baptized at Grace Fellowship Church, Royal Palm Beach, and remained a faithful member until her death. Her fulfillment was in serving and helping others without expectation of praise or reward, encouraging friends and family according to their needs. She studied the Bible and loved her Lord without question or doubt through even the most challenging times.

Gloria was a dedicated and supportive wife and mother to her six children. She worked tirelessly and diligently to support their needs and encouraged their educational and professional pursuits. The absolute pride and joy that Gloria had for her children extended to four future generations. Mommy, Grandma, Nana; she made each and everyone individually feel special and loved, with unending hugs, kisses, telephone calls, visits and attendance at weddings, births, graduations, and commemorative military events.

Gloria took advantage of every opportunity to travel. From day trips and cookouts in New York, road trips in Canada and throughout the U.S., cruises, trips to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Spain and Panama, and, as often as possible, back to Jamaica. She was an accomplished seamstress, and also learned to crochet and knit, proudly gifting her creations, even the less than perfect ones. She loved her music and dancing, and enjoyed a good concert. Could she ever cook…Number one request was her johnny cakes (fried dumplings). She loved seafood, any dish that included saltfish, roast breadfruit or thin bammies. But there were rules to her discriminating taste — no pasta, no jello or jiggly foods, and only she could make her own perfect bowl of oatmeal. Moreover, you would never dare bring her a curved or skinny ripe banana. That is legendary. Gloria has always been a fashion icon; even her doctors would regularly remark on her stylish outfits at her visits, from hair to lipstick to shoes, she was impeccably coordinated from head to toe.

Gloria was preceded in death by her mother, Adelaide Jones, father, Vivian McFarlane, husband, Clifton Sewell, Sr., sister, Gemma Elliott, and grandson, Daniel Stewart, Jr. She leaves to continue her legacy and cherish her memory, her children, Daniel Stewart (Hyacinth) and his children Tracy, Juan and Kiamesha; Patricia Thomas and her children, Nicola, Sean and Lakeisha; Paulette Collier(Lyric) and her children, Jamal, Aisha and Omar; Clifton Sewell, Jr. (Charlotte) and his children Lavar and Stephanie; Sharon Abdur Rahman and her children, Amir, Khadijah, Suhaylah, Kalila, Ayyub, and Aminah; Carol Sewell and her daughter, Adia-Simone; step -children Andrea (Sylvester) and Carlton (Ann-Marie), 31 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; sisters Karen and Sharon, brother Eric (Zina), niece, Lorna, and a host of cousins and life-long friends, most notably, Carmen(Babs), Icelyn, Hazel, Dorothy, Cherry, Trevor, and Aubin.