Lady Lee Gilbert

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Mrs. Lady Lee Gilbert, 97, of Monroe, La., died Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La. She was born in Halls, Tenn., Aug. 4, 1913, or Aug. 4, 1916. Her family records show both birth dates. Her parents, Roland Newbern and Johnetta Parr, and four siblings preceded her in death. She accepted Christ as her Savior as a child in Halls.

She moved to Arkansas in 1927 and she and Jack Gilbert married in Blytheville in 1950 and moved to Chicago. In 1969, they moved back to Blytheville and united with St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Barfield where she served as Director of the Youth Department and worked in all other auxiliaries of the church. Later she became a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and served as a Deaconess and on the Mother's Board. She lived a life of service to others, loved her family dearly and preached a sermon every day through her Christian actions. She enjoyed cooking and feeding friends and family.

Survivors are her beloved son, Tony, and his wife, Regina, of West Monroe, La;

A granddaughter, Jacqueline of St. Louis;

A grandson, Tony II, of West Monroe, La.;

Two brothers, Ivory Newbern of Benton Harbor, Mich., and Henry Hardin of Toledo, Ohio;

Five sisters, Addie Mooney and Glorestein Orr of St. Louis, Lucinda Ellis of Benton Harbor, Mich., Virginia Hardin of Toledo, Ohio, and Paulette Harvey of Evansville, Ind.;

Her cousins, Lee Quilia McCoy Barber of Rock Island, Ill., Alma Gray of Toledo, Ohio, and Olivia Parr Chandler of Benton Harbor, Mich.; and

Nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church at 9th and Central in Blytheville. Funeral services will follow the visitation with the Rev. Howard Smith pastor. The Rev. Johnny L. Williams will be the eulogist. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Gardens Cemetery. The family prefers that memorials be made to New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McDonald-Horner Funeral Home.