Henrietta Adella-Gumbs

Obituary For Henrietta Adella-Gumbs

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HENRIETTA ADELLA GUMBS Obituary March 18, 1914 Henrietta Adella Gumbs (nee Somerset) the third of six children of Thomas George Somersle and Mary Aletha Jane Somerset (nee Davoren), both deceased, was born in New York, N.Y. on March 18th, 1944. Baptized by Dr.John Wesley Johnson of St. Cyprian Episcopal Church. In teenage, was confirmed by Bishop Manning becoming eligible for membership in the church. Inheriting her musical talent from her mother, she joined the Church Junior Choir, performed in many musical concerts, also served as an acolyte during Lenten mid-week services. Continuing her religious service, moving from lower Manhattan, enrolled in the membership of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Harlem, New York. Upon entering womanhood, she married Mr. Oliver Gumbs, who has pre-deceased her. Her activities continued, becoming a member of the Anguilla Benevolent Society, Inc. of New York in 1936, serving in many offices from Recording Secretary to the Presidency. Her musical talent continued by joining the Anguilla Choral Group which was organized in 1937 by Sis. Rosina Weston. It sponsored many musical concerts but was dissolved when Sis. Weston retired and returned to her island home of Antigua, West Indies in 1949. Sis Gumbs received her business education and residence in New York. Her employment included government and private agencies (such as Federal Rent Control, American Red Cross, American Cancer Association, United Negro Fund, Greater New York Fund and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Hospital, retiring from there in 1976) Interested in learning of her parent's homeland of St. Christopher (St. Kitts), West Indies, an island in the Caribbean, same was fulfilled in 1950, meeting her maternal grandmother, enjoying visit for several months and the pleasure of seeing her enter her Fathers heavenly home. Believing that vacation from daily vocation was an enjoyable time, she fulfilled t}is, traveling north and south in the United States (including Hawaii),. Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Africa. Her friendship, with whomever she came into contact, was due to her pleasing personality and ever willingness to assist and cooperate. After retiring, Henrietta remained a very active person. Keeping busy with the Stuyvesant Camp Parents Group. Continuing her work in the Anguilla Benevolent Society, as President a position which she held until the society folded in 1997. In addition, she joined the Senior Citizen Center, enjoying many activities and volunteering twice a week as cashier at lunch time. Henrietta was very surprised, in 2000, upon receiving a Merit Award from the New York City Department of Commerce for her volunteer work. Her invitation to United Moravian Church was thru a relative of Dr. George Lloyd (minister) who was sponsoring a vacation trip to Europe in 1970. Still associating with the members, several months after, she met Dr. Lloyd, who requested her volunteer service to assist the church's secretary, Sis. Frances. While performing these services, Henrietta fell in love with the members and transferred her membership and was received into fellowship of United Moravian Church, January 1987. After which, she continued as "Sunday Secretary." If any question or problem arose during a Sunday program, Dr. Lloyd would say "please see 'Sis. Shortie' (a name he had affectionately given her) in the back of the church." She was glad to serve in this manner, until fully retiring in 2001. Between the ages of l1 and 90, Sis. Gumbs visited about 25 family members who have since returned to our Fathers Heavenly home. At the age of 95, Sis. Gumbs whispered a request! no answer until now. She leaves to celebrate her life nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; families of Somerset Charles, Davoren, Dolphins, Gumbs, Richardson, and the United Moravian Church. The last baby held in her arms was grand-nephew Alexander. Alex, who at the age of 5, wrote to her “Dear Auntie have a great summer”. At age 13, wrote “Dear Auntie, thank you for the gifts. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you”. Now I say to my family and friends “Thank you for the gifts, thank you for your love. So long, must leave you now.”