Gertrude Williamson

GERTRUDE ADELLA WILLIAMSON

SUNRISE

Oh what joy when beautiful Gertrude Adella Williamson, nee Dawes, graced the Earth with her presence on July 2, 1922, in Hanover, Jamaica, West Indies! She was the first of seven children.

WHAT A LIFE – ONE WELL-REMEMBERED!

Raised by her grandmother and grandfather, Rebecca and James Chambers, Gertrude grew up in Jericho, Hanover, and attended the All-Age School there. She married Leaford Williamson (deceased), and their union was blessed with 10 children. At an early age, Gertrude became concerned about where her soul would spend eternity and accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and Lord; she was baptized at the Jericho Big Level Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

Affectionately known to her children as “Mama” the name we will call her today and to many as Ms. Gerty, Sister Gerty, Aunt Gerty, Gertz, she raised nine of her 10 children in Jamaica. In 1960 she moved to Wolverhampton, England, accompanied by all but two of her children. She worked in various jobs, attended nursing school and worked at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. Mama immigrated to New York in 1970, worked as a Home Health Aide, attended nursing school and gained a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certificate; she later enrolled at Bronx Community College. She worked at Jacobi Hospital, Bronx, New York, as an LPN in the neo-natal ICU unit for many years and retired from that establishment in 1987.

Witty, articulate, and hilarious (effortlessly, she was such a comic, motivating and inspiring others).Those who knew Mama will remember her for the expression ‘what a life’. She used it reflexively to express surprise, concern, or joy or enthusiasm at developments in her circle. It offers now as an epitaph for her remarkable sojourn here on earth. For, indeed, what a truly remarkable life she has lived! To be sure, most everyone can make a defensible case that their mother is best. So you will allow us this moment to say what we believe in our heart of heart is the case—that our mother and hero is best—not so much better than the mothers gathered here or who ever lived, but best to us in her way and in ours. She belonged to us as a mother but in a real way she belonged to the community as well, by personally touching all our lives with her humanity and vicariously through the exploits of her numerous descendants.

She taught her children the values of hard work and balancing work and family life and was a well-respected member of the community who loved education—she encouraged her children to learn something new daily and to study Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Mama was very interested in the world and people, which manifested itself in her interest and knowledge of current affairs. She loved watching the news and would discuss current events with whoever would listen; she cared about others and always had an opinion.

The matriarch of a large family, she was the driving force for the improvement of their situations and life, moving to the UK and the US to provide them with greater opportunities. She was God-fearing, a hard worker, very educationally minded, and led by example. All of these qualities she instilled in her children. Nothing pleased her more than having her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren next to her; she was a proud mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and wife.

Mama often helped out with her grandchildren and shared with her children the lessons and experiences learned in her own life so that they could improve their parenting skills. She gave excellent advice and was family oriented. Very proud of her family and loving all dearly; she taught honesty. Her children were always well presented. She was creative and innovative and had a sense of fashion—she was an avid seamstress who made and customized her clothes and that of her children. A lover of travel, she visited places like Israel, Egypt, Wales, Europe, Alaska, many islands including Barbados, Aruba, Puerto Rico, went on cruises, etc. Mama loved to walk and often chose that over other mode of transportation (one of the reasons she loved New York, where she enjoyed shopping). Most of all, she was very health conscious and had a love of alternative complementary medicine, before it became popular. She was a pioneer. When not reading her Bible, she spent time reading health books. If one needed any herbal remedy she was the person to consult. . . .Golden Seal, Pau de Arco, Gingko, garlic were firm favorites. She gave to others.

As an accomplished mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Mama was an excellent cook and loved preparing meals for her family. She made the meanest, most delicious sweet potato and cornmeal puddings, fruit cakes, escovitch fish, ginger beer and sorrel.

Psalm 27 is her favorite scripture; she regularly recited it as a child to an elderly gentleman who often visited her grandparents’ home.

SUNSET

On February 18, 2013, at 11 p.m., Eastern time, at the age of 90, Mama’s trials and labors ended, and she received a very special blessing—no more pain; her Creator called her home, and she is now at peace, resting until that special, “grand getting up morning.”

She is survived by her 10 children—daughters Gloria Harewood, Flavia Brown, Maxine Hurst, and Jacinth Rosa and sons Owen, Sherwin, Barry, Elton, Mel, and Vas. Sons-in-law Dudley and Manton, daughters-in-law Beverly, Mitzi, Veronica, Judith, and June, 37 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, brothers Siebert and Everall, aunt Judith Chambers, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all of whom will cherish memories of her.

It appeared that Mama would always be with us—such was her presence; but even though she is physically gone, her instructions will live in her descendants. The legacy of Mama can be seen in the lives she has touched and the memories created; she was the glue that bound her family together. Her family misses her dearly and is so blessed and happy for the time spent together. A highly caring Mom and loving person, she will be sorely missed.

DID YOU KNOW?

For six generations of Mama’s maternal line, the first-born child has been a girl?. . . .Her grandmother, Rebecca, mother Beatrice, Mama, daughter Gloria, her daughter Maxine (UK), and Maxine’s daughter Nicole (UK).