Wendy James Gulley

May 18, 2023. On this day a bright fire passed into the heavens. We who were lucky were touched by her light, were touched by her warmth. Where she goes she carries her light with her. Where she goes she joins a greater light.

Wendy Susan James Gulley died on May 18, 2023, aged 57, after a four and a half year journey with pancreatic cancer. Wendy is survived by her husband Ned, children Jay and Sam, her mother Joan, and her siblings Billy, Maria, Nancy, and Aimee.

Wendy was born on June 23rd, 1965 in Oak Park, Illinois to William Berg James and Joan Weis James. As a young girl she moved with her family to South Carolina, and soon thereafter to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After graduating from R. J. Reynolds High School, Wendy studied at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. There she showed an early interest in social justice issues, leading the Furman University Peace Alliance. Following graduation, she worked for several months in Washington, D.C. for United Campuses to Prevent Nuclear War.

In her graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, Wendy began with Mathematics, then switched to Education. She went on to teach math at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, CA. After moving across the country to Massachusetts to be with Ned, she taught at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Middle School in Cambridge. After BB&N she worked on math curricula for the state at the Center for the Enhancement of Science and Mathematics Education.

Wendy married Ned Gulley in 1997. Her son Jay Gulley was born in 1999, and after he was diagnosed with autism, Wendy left her job and became what she sometimes described as a "full time assistant for Jay." Sam Gulley was born in 2003.

Wendy had a fierce passion for helping others, an unshakable faith, and at all times a bias for action that would make a difference. She participated deeply in many communities, including her Masters swim team, her mothers' group, immigrant families that she helped, the communities associated with her children's schools, and the fundraising and advocacy groups related to autism and pancreatic cancer.

Wendy's courage and faith shaped her home community of Payson Park Church in Belmont. With energy and devotion, she led the church's Mission & Outreach team to support and walk with the unhoused, the hungry, the poor. Wendy championed the church's Open and Affirming conversation, leading her church to vote for and embrace a covenant of welcome for all. With her final energy, Wendy helped create Welcome Circles to aid in the resettling of refugees locally. Her example has been an inspiration to all those who were fortunate enough to know her.