Bertha Gleaton

Bertha Lee Gleaton, was born on August 31,1928, to Jeff and Carrie Wilson, in Williston South Carolina. Bertha, known to her close family members as “Early” was the oldest of 9 children, 2 boys and 7 girls. She went to Kelly Edwards Elementary School, but left early to assist her parents with caring for her younger siblings, and often times working at her young age. Bertha was very close to her mother, often talking about how much she meant to her and her siblings, and what a beautiful and proud person she was, traits that she clearly held onto. She always looked up to her mother as her “hero.” She spoke of being present at the time of her passing and how much she love and miss her.

Bertha later on met a handsome young man, from Neeces South Carolina,Cornell Gleaton, whom she “courted” and went on to marry on September 6, 1947 at the age of 19. Out of this union, 8 children were born in Williston, Martha, James, Charles, Sue, Ercell, Mary, Jerome and Rosa Gleaton. Sadly, Ercell passed away at 2 weeks old , leaving her broken hearted.  Bertha loved being a wife and mother, and after relocating to Jersey City in 1957, she went on to have 4 more children, Bertha, Barbara, Cornell Jr. and Dawn Gleaton.

Once in New Jersey, she began working various jobs to help keep her growing family of 11 children clean and fed. Her favorite job, was baby sitting the neighborhood children, who all love and cherish fond memories of her to this day. 

Bertha was a christian all of her life. She attended church and was baptized at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Dunbarton South Carolina in 1939.  Upon moving to New Jersey, she attended Apostle Arturo Skinner Church, High Power of God Ministries, under Pastor Thomas and Sister Mary Williams, Prayer partners of Oral Roberts Ministries, Benny Hinn Ministries, Reverend RW Shambach and many others. She was the oldest living member of Miracle Prayer Ministries, under Pastor Cheryl D. McCord, at the time of her demise.

Bertha was the Best cook in the world !!!!!!!! Fried chicken, turkey wings, Macaroni and cheese, Stuffing, smothered pork chop, potato salad, home made plain cakes with jelly, banana and bread pudding and her famous, new years eve chitterlings and hog head cheese. Bringing her sibling from near and far to fill their bellies with it. She prided herself in cooking for her family at the age of 7, and it really showed. Boy do we miss her cooking!!! Her youngest daughter, Dawn, dreamt of one day having a restaurant with her Mom called “Early Dawn”.

Bertha loved listening to Gospel music, listening to WNJR and WWRL every Sunday. She attended many area Gospel singings near and far with her husband and children. She and her husband were huge Swanee Quintet fans. With him priding himself being their backup singer in his earlier days. 

With Bertha's children all grown up, she became a grandmother to many. Her first grand daughter, Rhonda, born in 1969, and first grandson William, born in 1970. She had 20 grandchildren, where she became legal guardian to Leonza, Fuquaan Gleaton and Kareem Walston. Berttha loved all of her children dearly, however, her boys were her favorites where they did no wrong. She was a great mother, leaving her children with valuable life lessons and beautiful memories. She loved to shop, play the lottery, often time sneaking to the corner store to do so. She loved to cook, loved watching Martin and Madea movies and attending  Madea plays at Symphony Hall. She loved to watch wrestling, playing bingo, attending Chinese auctions, and although she didn’t get there often, loved bus rides to Atlantic City. She loved spending time with her siblings and their families at barbecues and family gatherings, but most of all, she loved spending time with her children.

On Sunday, February 12, Bertha closed her eyes in a peaceful sleep, with her daughter Rosa by her side. After a lifetime of caring for others, her job was done and she entered into a well deserved rest. 

Bertha is survived by her children, James Gleaton ( Deanie ), Sue , Mary, Rosa, Bertha, Barbara Gleaton and Dawn Gleaton-Loftin. Grandchildren, Rhonda Gleaton, William Britton, Tameka Gleaton, Gyneshia Mitchell, Joseph Lindsey, Felicia, Nyeshia, Hasaan, Makeda Gleaton, Janaya Watson, LaVahn Loftin, Atia Gleaton, Maya Loftin, Jadah Gleaton, Trayce and Warren Evans. 13 great grandchildren. Her sisters Julia and Alma Wilson, Carrie Walters, Lessie Mae Gaston, one sister in law, Vina Robinson, a special niece, Carrie Allen, who she often times spoke of sharing her birthday, a host of nieces, nephews, close cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Cornell Gleaton Sr., Oldest daughter Martha Britton, Charles , Jerome and her baby boy Cornell Gleaton Jr. Grandsons, Leonza,  Fuquaan Gleaton, and Kareem Walston. Mother and Father Carrie and Jeff Wilson, Brothers John and Willie Wilson, sister Beatrice Evan, Eartha Smith and Inez Martin. 

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