Louise Juanita Gilbert

Years of Grace Louise was the second child born in Richmond, Virginia to the late Essie and Joshua Moten Brown, Sr. She attended school in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She was an active member of First African Baptist Church of Goldsboro where she was baptized at the age of twelve (12). She was a member of the Junior Choir, a Sunday School Scholar and member of the Baptist Training Union (BTU). After 10th grade, Louise moved to Washington, DC, where she continued her education, completing Nursing School and Business College. As an active member of First Baptist Church of Marshall Heights for forty-three (43) years, Louise was a member of the choir and Missionary Board. She also served the sick, shut-ins, and provided meals to senior citizens. Her favorite song was the Lord’s Prayer and Ore Today. Psalm 91 was her favorite Bible verse. In 1948, Louise was joined in holy matrimony to the late Sylvester Gilbert, Jr. From this union were born seven children – Constance, Pamela, Robert, Gary, Joshua, Sylvester and Kenneth. After finishing nursing school she worked at Columbia Hospital as a LPN. A foot injury prohibited her from continuing her career. Louise later attended Atlantic Business College which prepared her for Government service. Her thirty-three (33) year tenure included Department of Navy and General Services Administration. Louise retired from Government service in 1993 and continued to work through the Government contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Program Coordinator for White House and Executive correspondence. Affectionately as “Lou” to her friends and colleagues, she was known to her family as Mamma Weezie, Mother Gilbert or just simply Mama. Her love for her family was shown in many ways - a phone call, words of wisdom and hugs. The fruits of her labor are evident by the success of her children and those who have come in contact with her. In her eyes, success can only be measured by the effectiveness of the lives she has touched. Louise was especially dedicated to her Aunt Roberta. Roberta’s children and grandchildren adored her. She and her favorite cousins bonded, and they only called each other by their last names, Brown and Baker. Louise leaves to cherish precious memories: her children, Constance Williams, Robert Gilbert-Starkey (Fran), Gary Gilbert, Morton Joshua Gilbert, Sr. (Aurelia), Sylvester Gilbert (Victoria) and Kenneth Gilbert (Carol); her brother, Richard L. Brown (Carol); her surviving niece, Lisa Brown Morehead; cousins, Rosa Mae Freeman and Elizabeth Arrington; fifteen (15) grandchildren, Cynthia Mobis (Fidelis), Robin Tinkler, Jaime Willoughby, Robert L. Starkey, Virginia Davis, Aneessa Trotter, Joshua Gilbert, Justin Gilbert, Morton Joshua Gilbert, Jr.(Stanja), Morton Joshua Gilbert III, Simon Gilbert, Sonya Gilbert, Imani Gilbert, Chloe Andrade and Lauren B.; twenty-three (23) great-grand children; her best friend, Lonnie Mae Ebron and a host of nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were: Mother Essie M. Brown (mother); Joshua Moten Brown (father); Sylvester Gilbert (husband); Randolph Brown (Colleen) and Nathanael Brown (Mary) (brothers and sisters-in-law); Roberta Shanks and Hattie McClarian (aunts); Pamela Wheaten (daughter); Andrea Starkey (granddaughter); Willie Starkey (grandson); Whitney Brown, Barbara Cunningham, and Carolyn Shanks (nieces); Lottie Gilbert (daughter-in-law) and Parthenia Brown (sister-in-law). Famous Quotes from Momma Weezie “Give me flowers while I can smell them” “My inheritance is amongst the saints” “I’ll fix you” “I’m the mother; You’re the child” “ You gonna do what I say” “ I’m Independent” “ You’ve got to have a Plan A and a Plan B” WITH ALL OUR LOVE ~ THE FAMILY

Louise Juanita Gilbert

August 13, 1930 - September 28, 2020