Mrs. Ethel Lee Gilbert

Ethel Lee County was born on September 8, 1943, to the parents of Henry County Sr. and Sadie Lewis County. She grew up in St. Maurice, Louisiana and accepted Christ at an early age under the ministerial leadership of Pastor David Pye at New Morning Star Baptist Church. Growing up, she attended New Enterprise Elementary and J. W. Gaines High School, Louisiana.

Ethel met Dowel Gilbert in 1961 and married in 1962. The couple later united with Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, TX in 1974, under the leadership of Reverend Floyd D. Harris. Sister Gilbert was a faithful member of the church and served on the Usher Board from the beginning of her membership. She also served under the church’s pastoral successor, Pastor S. C. Nash. Ethel held a number of positions throughout her life, including order-filler at Handleman Record Company, for over twenty year and long-term meal server for Wilmer-Hutchins school with Dallas ISD. While there, she met forever friends and formed loving connections with people she called family. Ethel Gilbert was preceded in life by her mother, Sadie Lewis, and father, Henry County Sr., siblings Jimmy Lee County, Helen Marie County-Higgs, Henry County Jr., Robert Lee County, and Betty Ann County; an infant child, baby Gilbert; and her grandchild, Marvin Stewart II.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: her loving and caring husband, Dowel Gilbert; three children, Adrienne Pitts (Anthony), Anthony Gilbert (Jaquina), and Laticia Brown (Anthony); five grandchildren, Antoinette Pitts, Anthony Gilbert (Disie), TyNesha Stevens, Tori Brown, and Antanee Pitts; three siblings, Polete County, Mamie Lee Rainwater, and Amma Lee County; and a host of great-grandchildren, family members and friends.