Gladys Mae Roane

GLADYS BROOKS-ROANE was born December 24, 1934, the sixth of nine children, to Addie and David Brooks. She began her education in the Lee County school system and completed it in Baltimore, Maryland. She moved to Baltimore in 1952 to help her older sister Thelma with her family. There she met the love of her life, Lewellyn Roane, the brother of her sister's husband. On July 26, 1953, they were married by the then Pastor James Grant at the old Southern Baptist Church. From this union five children were born. As other members of the family migrated from North Carolina and Virginia, they often stayed with Gladys and Lewellyn at their home on Ellwood Avenue until getting established and on their own, but Ellwood was always home to many. Gladys was employed at various companies, most notably, George Franke's, where she learned to create beautiful Christmas ornaments that she often gave away to special people, Bata shoes, and her favorite, the Lunch Coordinator at Fort Worthington Elementary School. Gladys and Lewellyn enjoyed their Christian walk at the Southern Baptist Church, there they grew under the leadership of Pastor James Grant, Dr. Nathaniel Higgs and Dr. Donte L. Hickman. After caring for Lewellyn until he was called home in 2003, Gladys devoted her time to the church and participated in many of the various auxilaries. She attended the early morning services since its inception, and enjoyed Bible studies. She was a member of the Seasoned Saints, The Women's Ministry and the Pastor's Aide. In 2008, she was honored by Pastor's Aide for her service and faithfulness, and her trophy still sits proudly on her mantle. Gladys enjoyed membership with the Order of the Eastern Star, The Naomi Grand Chapter of the Hiram Grand Lodge and also the Heroines of Jericho. Through the years Gladys was there for countless family members, neighbors and friends. She would be there without you even asking. She was a friend to the young and the old and treated everyone as if they were lifetime friends. In June of 2011 she suffered a debilitating stroke in her home. She was paralyzed on her left side, and it robbed her of her speech. She continued to communicate with us with her eyes and the nodding of her head. On February 8th, God said to her, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord" (Matthew 25:23). Gladys was pre-deceased by seven of her nine siblings, her parents and her beloved husband of over 50 years, Lewellyn. She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Rosylina, John and Darrell Roane, Jaqueline Roane-Griffin, Shenna Roane-Hammons, and Jermaine M. Brooks; her loving sister Ethel Wise; grandchildren, Ian, Tevin, Margaret, Denise, Racquel, Kyndal, Matthew and Gabrielle; great-grandchildren, Eliyanna, Aniyah, Nathaniel, Christina and Jymier; three sisters-in-law, Levern N. Pollard, Dr. Clara Mayes and Evangelist Shirley Roane; one brother-in-law, Roy Pollard; one son-in-law, Thomas Griffin; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Also, we would like to acknowledge her niece Willetta Mayes who assisted the family with her care on a daily basis. Thank you for being there for her when we could not.

Tributes

Gladys Mae Roane

December 24, 1934 - February 8, 2014