Obituary of Gwendolyn A Young

Gwendolyn Arcalia Burton Blakely Young was the twelfth and last child born to George Washington and Mary Jane Barton. Gwendolyn often reminisced about being a child during the depression. Thanks to World War II things were lean and mean. It was indeed a hard time. Everyone had to watch their pennies. But there were good times! Gwendolyn would accompany her father to the Biltmore Estates. Her father was the caretaker for the property. Gwendolyn spoke about playing with the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts. "We were all children together," she would say. I got to know those children as well as my neighbors. Gwendolyn won accolades for her piano playing and was voted "class musician". She expressed frustration about winning a music scholarship to Shaw University. However, her father passed during graduation week and she had no resources. "I had to make my own way," she said. Gwendolyn went to New York and attended Goldwater Memorial Hospital School of nursing. She could go to school and work at the same time. Gwendolyn often said, "working in the hospital and living in New York was an education in itself. She would tell about seeing celebrities. She would laugh about seeing Ella Fitzgerald walking along 59th Street eating a fish sandwich and pulling up her slip. She told about meeting Harry Belafonte. Harry was nice, but could only talk about waiting to get his "big break". She spoke about meeting Adam Clayton Powell, he was dynamic and had energy like no other". Gwendolyn would say, back then, bodyguards was not necessary. Gwendolyn was reunited with her high school sweetheart Dotson Lee Blakely. He graduated from Tuskegee University and she told about the excitement he felt being there at the same time as the Tuskegee Airmen. Thanks to them, everyone in the world knew about that school. It caused a great deal of pride for African Americans or Negroes as we were called back then. Gwendolyn and Dotson married and along with his teaching and coaching at the high school they ran Blakely's General Supermarket. They resided in their hometown of Asheville N.C. They had 3 children Diane, Deborah and George, but alas their union could not remain united. They divorced and Gwendolyn returned to New York, and to her job at Goldwater Memorial and set out to become a single career woman. However, she was not to remain single she met and married John C. Young, Jr. He was a nurse's aide but was pursuing other career choices. John became a U.S.D.A. Government Food and Meat Inspector. Gwendolyn became a fulltime homemaker. Life went on and everyone grew up and pursued their lives, John departed this earth in 1992. Gwendolyn felt blessed that she had her children around. They shared a great and loving friendship with one another as adults. She was proud that all of her children attended college and were professionals in their career choices. Gwendolyn lived her life with gusto. She enjoyed her combined garden of roses and collards up to 2008, she could be seen doing yard work. She enjoyed cooking and performing home repairs. However, it's her style that deserves honorable mention. Gwendolyn loved fashion and had an extensive wardrobe. She had her own swagger. There is an old movie where the classic line spoken is "no one puts baby in the corner". Well, if you knew Gwendolyn or Gwen as everyone called her you know that no one could place her in a corner. Her voice and views was not to be censored. She was strong like a lion, vibrant as the winds of a storm but also generous to the point of giving her last cent. Tears would come into her eyes when she felt an injustice had occurred but then she would go into battle mode and her tongue would become a lethal weapon. And "God Bless you" if you got in her way! Her big eyes would flash like firing torpedo's. She would bare her teeth and you would know that you were in a war. The only thing that she did not say was come here and get your whipping! Gwendolyn had many interests and she lived learning new things. She loved living and sometimes life came up short for her. She could have lived a different life and she could have lived it well. Gwendolyn was a suburban housewife and mother but her soul and mind took her to faraway places. Gwendolyn is survived by her five children Diane L. Geer (Donald) and Deborah L. Beverly (Roland) both of Pleasanton, CA; George D. Blakely; Shari D. Young and Keith W. Young all of Plainfield, NJ; two grandchildren Harold Darnell Geer and Jenae Danielle Beverly all of Pleasanton, CA; two great-grandchildren Jayden Geer and Harold Geer, Jr. of CA; one sister Mary Caroline Burton of Brooklyn, NY; and last but not least her beloved pet Michael Jordan. Gwendolyn A. B. Young was blessed she was rich with nieces, nephews and cousins along with good family and friends.