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Memorial for Gladys Berkley
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Born in Mt. Olive, NC on Sep. 23, 1921
Departed on Jul. 25, 2010 and resided in Philadelphia, PA.
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| Visitation: |
Saturday, Jul. 31, 2010
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| Service: |
Saturday, Jul. 31, 2010
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| Cemetery: |
White Chapel Memorial Gardens
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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The Obituary
GLADYS LOUISE BERKLEY was born to Patsy Pemberton and Alonzo Greenfield on September 23, 1921, in North Carolina and left this life on 25 July, 2010 with her eldest grandchild holding her hand. She was the youngest of 12 siblings. She pursued her formal education in the Wayne County schools; she continued to learn throughout her life. She accepted Christ at an early age and supported the Church throughout her life. At 17, she married Arlan Whitfield. Soon after, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a single parent. Her brother introduced her to his friend, William Berkley. She and William married in 1946. Death parted them when he left this life in 2004. They were married for 58 years.
During their life together, she and William opened their home to a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members who needed a place to start a new life in the Delaware Valley. She worked various jobs including domestic work, factory work and complex machine work. She spent 33 years at the Lovely Lady Comfort Company as a seamstress.
She had a hearty laugh and loved to hold court in her dining room. Her cooking skills were legendary. She was slow to anger, but when riled up, she could blister the paint from a wall with "special" words. She was known to be handy with sharp objects. She was extremely protective over everyone that she considered "hers". She had a very soft heart for a hard luck story and went out of her way to help anyone in need.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Bailey (Philadelphia, PA), two sons, Mr. James L. Whitfield (Philadelphia, PA) and Rear Admiral Dr. Vincent A. Berkley (Phoenix, AZ/Kabul, Afghanistan) and her niece, friend, confidant and caretaker Miss Vernette Pemberton (Philadelphia, PA). Vernette has been a constant in her life and in her household for more than 50 years. She treated her two daughters–in-law, Mrs. Dolores B. Whitfield and Mrs. Cassandra B. Berkley as daughters and friends. She depended on her son-in-law, Mr. James Bailey, for humor and good cheer. She leaves 5 grandchildren (Lisa Whitfield, Vincent Pemberton, Melissa Bailey, Andrew Berkley and Matthew Berkley), 4 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins.
Gladys was Mom to many, Mother to three and a Friend to all. This Matriarch is resting comfortably in the arms of the Lord.
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