Pastor Ethel Zella Gilbert

Pastor Ethel Zella Gilbert was called home on November 14, 2022 at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Pastor Gilbert was born on June 13, 1941, in Washington, North Carolina to the late Mr. Frank and Mary Jane Mills Green. She was raised along with her six brothers and three sisters whom she loved dearly. Pastor Gilbert received her education from the Pitt County School District in North Carolina. She birthed her only child Lillie Mae Braxton in 1957. She would later grace the state of New Jersey where the family extended to Rahiem (Jamila) Wali, whom she loved dearly. She moved to New Haven, Connecticut to build a life for herself and lay the foundation for her family. She fell in love and married William Gilbert in 1969. After his passing she vowed to keep her Gilbert name. Pastor Gilbert committed herself to an annual Mills family reunion in North Carolina. She worked various jobs as a housekeeper and as a child care provider. She was also a foster parent. She’d often reminisce about her employment at Mount View Nursing Home in Paterson, New Jersey and at Cedar Street YNNH in New Haven, Connecticut. After adopting her three grandchildren Ali, Sheila, and Mariesa in 1993 she dedicated her life to God and along with her daughter they raised the children to serve the Lord. Pastor Gilbert ministered in substations, housing projects, hospitals, and wherever the Lord called her to speak. She was ordained as a pastor and faithfully preached and taught the word of God every Sunday at The Church of Deliverance on Bear Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Pastor Gilbert loved her iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts, she kept it real and always spoke from the heart. She loved her family, but loved God most. The love that poured from her spirit was abundant and was felt by all who encountered her. She prayed prayers that opened doors, healed hearts and minds and she did this only with the help of the Holy Spirit. If you were hungry, she fed you. If you were sad, she’d comfort you and make you laugh. She shared scriptures to encourage many and was indeed the backbone of the family. She simply did the work God called her to do. She leaves to cherish her memory, brothers, David Green, Charles Green and Robert (Hazel) Green; sisters, Queenie (Pastor Jimmie) Swanson and Mary Taylor; daughter, Lillie Mae Braxton; grandson Ali Braxton; granddaughters, Sheila and Mariesa Jackson and Meagan Pinkard; great grandsons, Loneil Howard, Martin Louis Ward and Shawn Fuller; great granddaughter, Kayla Pinkard; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She is predeceased by her brothers, John Henry Green, Willie Green and Richard (Alice) Green; sister, Hattie Mae (Joe) Wallace; brothers-in-law, Pastor Jimmie Swanson and Henry Taylor; and grandson Isschar Howard She ran the race, she kept the faith. God added a star to her crown today. We rejoice she made it into the kingdom, so we cry only tears of joy.

Pastor Ethel Zella Gilbert

June 13, 1941 - November 14, 2022