Estella Warner

Estella Gulley was born July 15, 1934, in Chidester, Arkansas to the late Roosevelt Gulley and Paralee Alexander. At the age of eight, Estella accompanied her parents to Richmond, California, where they worked at the Kaiser Shipyards during WWII. Prior to her mother's death in 1949, Estella also spent significant time in Los Angeles.

Estella professed her belief in Christ at an early age. She attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church and was a member for well over 80 years. She always professed God's goodness over her life.

Estella graduated from El Cerrito High School in 1951. Thereafter, she met and married Jim Robinson, and to this union four children were born: Cheryl, Dwaine, Charmaine, and Belinda.

After deciding she wanted to expand her horizons, Estella put herself through night school to become a nurse. She worked for the Contra Costa County Health Department, retiring after over 30 years of service. It was there she met her husband Andrew Warner, and the two were married on August 4, 1979. He preceded her in death, passing away in June 2019, they were married just two months shy of 40 years. We know they look forward to being reunited in God's kingdom. We can hear him calling out to his "Robbie," as she was affectionately known by many.

Estella was an avid traveler, journeying to places such as Haiti, the Bahamas, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Even in her 80s, Estella's love of adventure never waned. At age 84, she traveled to Italy and Singapore, and revisited Thailand and France-this time with her twin granddaughters-where they spent their days walking more than six miles while sightseeing. She also explored much of the United States in her 40-foot RV, proudly driving it herself into her 80s as a member of the Good Time Rollers Motorhome Club. Among her most memorable trips were visits to her husband's family in Texas and journeys through Tennessee, Missouri, and Oregon.

Her adventurous spirit was matched by her devotion at home. Throughout her life, Gran and Grandpa helped raise several of their grandchildren and opened their house as a place of love, laughter, and refuge. Their home was always a gathering place where family felt welcomed, supported, and cared for.

Throughout her life, Estella wore many titles-landlady, nurse, traveler, baker, secretary of the Goodtime Rollers, and seamstress-but the ones she held dearest were mother and, eventually, grandmother. She was known as "Gran," not only to her grandchildren, but also to friends of her children who saw her as a grandmother and to many others in the community. She loved her family deeply and was the matriarch who cherished keeping everyone together. Estella was blessed with 36 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren. She often expressed gratitude to God for allowing her to live to see five generations, always saying He had been so good to her. She was also charitable and dependable-if there was one phone number to remember, it was Gran and Papa's, because everyone knew they could call on them in times of need. Caring for others truly gave her purpose.

Estella departed this life at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, peacefully at home in Hercules, CA. She was 91 years young. At 90, she still drove, lived alone, and walked without assistance, just as she had always expressed was her wish. She is preceded in death by her husband Andrew Warner, children Dwaine Robinson, Andra Luke, Carl, Craig, Kenneth, Marsha, & Carla Warner, grandson Lamar Stringer, and sister Brenda Gulley-Chapman.

She leaves to cherish her memory her brother, Roosevelt Gulley Jr. (Camille) of Nevada, her sister Betty Gigantino of Florida; and her goddaughter Geanette Miller (Baraka). She will also be dearly missed by her daughters Cheryl Williams, Charmaine and Belinda Robinson, Marva Warner, Dorothy Solomon (Luvester), and Anita Robinson.

Grandchildren: La'Teshia, Tamara, Rasara, Richard, Dwaine II, La'Roi, La'Corey, Dwainika, Verneeza, Brentley, ShontéNicole, Jason, Tamara, Tatiauna, Dwaine Roosevelt, Brianna, Eddie, Estella, Estelle, Jimika, Donnia, and Donald.

She will also be dearly missed by her many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends.