Gloria Williams

1925 - 2024

Gloria Williams
7/11/2024
Gloria Agatha Liburd was born in New Haven, CT on August 7, 1925. She transitioned to everlasting life on Wednesday, July 4, 2024, just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday. She is now with the good Lord and a whole flock of other folks we know, miss and love.
Gloria was the widow of the late Ernest C. Williams, Sr, and the daughter of the late Charles Henry Liburd and the late Ella Challenger Liburd. She was also predeceased by her siblings Charles Ira Liburd; Kathleen (Lena) Liburd Gorley. Gloria leaves to cherish her memories her son Ernest C. "Manny" Williams Jr (wife: Lauren) of North Haven; daughter Eileen Williams-Esdaile of Hamden; much beloved grandchildren, Aaron C. Esdaile and Morgan A. Esdaile. Gloria is survived by several generations of additional nieces and nephews from the Gorley, Liburd, & Williams families. Cousins from the Huggins-Weekes clans with roots back to Nevis, West Indies will also miss her dearly. This large extended family has now lost their reigning family matriarch.
Gloria was a lifelong member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in New Haven, where she was baptized, confirmed and was married there. She was involved in many activities, projects, and church committees over the years. Of utmost importance to Gloria was her passion for the church's music ministries over the years. She was an extremely proud and vocal member of the St. Luke's Senior Choir since her youth. She also served as a member and president of the church's Gospel Choir. Gloria was for many years the go-to soloist for weddings, funerals and other special church-related events. And of course, it was never officially Christmas, until she sang her version of Oh Holy Night at St. Luke's Christmas Eve services.
She was educated in the New Haven Public School System and was a graduate of Stone Business College. Her business career included 15 years of service with the Visiting Nurse Association as a Records Clerk. She went on to work for the New Haven Board of Education for 28 years. She retired in 1990 as the school Secretary for Winchester/Wexler School. Gloria was a founding member of the former Ebonite Social & Civic Club. She was a member of the Antillean Friendly Association of New Haven, The Union of Black Episcopalians, the NAACP, the Dixwell/Newhallville Senior Center, and The Heritage Chorale of New Haven, Inc. In her later years, she lived in Hamden and North Haven. Recently, she was a resident at ARK Healthcare & Rehabilitation at Branford Hills until her passing.
Homegoing services will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 111 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT on Friday, July 12th. The public viewing will start at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral commencing at 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Beaverdale Memorial Cemetery in Hamden. A repast will be held in the church Parish Hall. Howard K. Hill Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either of these causes which were very near and dear to Gloria: St. Luke's Church; or Sisters' Journey, Inc., P.O. Box 6267, Hamden, CT 06517.