Kathleen Victoria Gordon

Kathleen Victoria Gordon was born February 21, 1938 to the late Sylvester and Merlin Oliver in the rural town of Kentish, St. Catherine, Jamaica. She was the third child of eight children. She was affectionately known as Kathy, Sis. Kath, Aunt Kath, and Mother Gordon to those who knew her.

In the early 1950s, she moved from Kentish to the “big city” or “town” of Kingston, Jamaica to seek better employment. During her tenure in Kingston, she worked as a secretary for the Honorable Frank Spaulding, former Mayor of Kingston. Never one to forget her family, Kathy would always send money and gifts back home to her family in Kentish. In 1960-she emigrated to Nottingham, England where she reunited with her oldest sister. It was in Nottingham that she found her calling to be a nurse. It was this title for which she would most be known. She attended nursing school at Highbury Hospital, in Nottingham and was later employed there for several years.

Kathy was always seeking better opportunities for herself and her family. She moved to London in the mid-1960s searching for a better life than the one she was living in Nottingham. She worked at St. Nicholas hospital for many years. It was there that she met her husband, Norris Gordon.

On March 25, 1972 , Kathleen Oliver married Norris Lee Gordon. Norris often spoke about how fortunate he was that God had blessed him with his wife. Their union produced a blended family of six children. She was a loving and doting wife for 43 years until Norris took his rest on September 17, 2015.

In July 1976, they immigrated to Brooklyn, New York to seek even better opportunities for themselves and their families. Kathleen worked as a nurse for over 20 years in the Greater New York region. Her specialty was geriatrics. She LOVED working with the older adult population. She held nursing positions in various nursing homes and provided private duty nursing care in the New York Tri-State area, including Dewitt Nursing Home, Cobble Hill Nursing, and Terrence Cardinal Cooke where she retired.

Kathleen was a devout Christian and faithful woman of God. In Brooklyn, she was a member of God's Battalion of Prayer for many years before joining East Flatbush Church of God. In 1990 she and Norris moved to Orlando, Florida.

In Orlando she became a member of the Central New Testament Church of God. She was with the church from their earliest days on Turkey Lake Road to when they moved to their location on Powers Drive. Bishop Notice and Sis. Notice were not only their pastors, spiritual advisors, and church leaders, but very close friends. One of Kathleen’s greatest honors at Central Church of God was when the church bestowed her the title of Mother Gordon. Mother Gordon was known for bread pudding, hosting numerous dinners at her house, and providing tasty food and snacks for her husband’s domino night with his church brethren.

Although Kathy retired from nursing in New York, she still had the desire to still serve and missed caring for her patients. She entered the workforce again, but this time as a pediatric, private-duty nurse. It was quite the career shift! She impacted so many lives as a pediatric nurse and fostered wonderful relationships with both her patients and their families. Often times, the patients became extended family. When it was all said and done Kathy contributed 30+ years of service to the wonderful world of nursing.

In her later years after her husband passed away, she moved to Philadelphia, PA, where she was cared for by her daughter and grandchildren.

Kathleen Gordon, the woman who always said, “God first, education second, man/woman third,” took her final rest on August 16, 2021, surrounded by love at home, in Philadelphia. Almost a month before her husband’s death anniversary .

Kathleen gave of herself completely to her husband, children, grandchildren, family, friends and patients. She was a special, one-of-a-kind priceless gem. She loved and adored her family. It didn’t matter if you were a close or distant relative. If you were family, you were loved.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband Norris Lee Gordon. Left to cherish her loving, beautiful spirit are her children: Norman (Bernadine), Karlene, Florizel (Charmaine), Walter, Dave, Petrina (Kenneth); 21 grandchildren: Venice, Nyasha, Atiya, Chad, Ayanna, Ashanta, Courtney Candace, Asher, Leah, , Mark, Nafiysa, Florizel Jr, Charielle, Norris, Samuel, Courtney , Tyrell, Petrina-Kenya, Makeda Rose, Alexandria, and Marcus; 18 great-grandchildren, 5 siblings (Cislyn, Solomon, Manley, Linda, Rebecca and Fritz )and a host of countless family and friends who will cherish her memory.

Well done, Queen Kathy! You are free to dance with the Lord, you are free to dance with your husband. You are free to dance with your mother, father and brother. You are free to dance with the ancestors.

Your work here is done.

Sorrowfully submitted,

The family

A funeral service for Kathleen will be held Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Faith Cathedral Deliverance Center, 4425 Powers Drive, Orlando, FL 32818. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com for the Gordon family.