Gladys Kirkland Ramsey, a beacon of light and love, graced this world from December 15, 1929, to September 16, 2024. Gladys was the baby girl of ten children and was cherished and loved by her parents, the late Edward Kirkland and Anna Mae Marshall Kirkland. She was born in the quaint town of Cokeburg, Pennsylvania. As a small child, her family relocated to Blythedale, Pennsylvania because her father was looking for work, which he found at the Warden Coal Mines. 

Gladys was a devoted wife to her beloved husband, Reverend Leroy Ramsey for forty-nine wonderful years until his death on March 20, 2001. During this union they raised four beautiful children. Gladys’ warmth and generosity knew no bounds. Her loving spirit touched the lives of everyone she encountered. For many years, Gladys worked as a Crossing Guard for Elizabeth Forward School District, before she retired. Not only did she cross the neighborhood kids; her grandchildren, nieces and nephews were also a part of that special group as well.

She was the matriarch of the family and the glue that held everyone together. Gladys was known by many names, “Tiny, Gladys, Momma, Mun-Law, Momma Tiny, Aunt Gladys, Aunt Tiny, Granny, Nanny, and Grandmother.” Throughout her life, she was a nurturing mother to her children, as well as a devoted grandmother. She loved her grandchildren with all her heart. She enjoyed babysitting all ten of them together during the summer months and on weekends. Not only did she love her immediate family she also loved and cared for her extended family.  Aunt Tiny was the one who stepped in after each of her siblings died and became a surrogate parent for her nieces and nephews, making sure they were alright even as she was dealing with her own grief. Aunt Tiny opened her home and heart to anyone in need. 

Tiny found immense joy in simple pleasures, whether it was sewing clothes, or cooking meals for her family.  She was a talented seamstress who made her daughters prom and wedding dresses. When Debbie became the first black head majorette, Momma made sure she had a new uniform every week during football season. She even made holiday dresses and suits for her grandchildren. Her grandkids loved her yellow chicken and rice, baked banana pudding, candied yams, and her delicious homemade rolls. 

She opened her heart, house, and wallet during the annual family reunion, which was held in her backyard. She found solace in the kitchen making pancakes, 7-up pound cakes, apple cobbler, sweet potato pies along with all the other delectables the family requested upon arrival from various parts of the country.

Gladys was a God-fearing woman who loved the Lord. She was a faithful member of Ebenezer Baptist Church for more than seventy years. There she taught Sunday School and served as Church Treasurer. When she relocated to Clairton to live with her daughter, she joined Morning Star Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Richard D. White, Jr. She graduated from the Jerome Stevenson Bible School’s inaugural class in May 2016 and was consecrated onto the Deaconess Ministry, March 19, 2023.  Deaconess Ramsey enjoyed her private devotions with her son-in-law, Deacon Michael Gressem. Every day, they read scriptures, studied the bible, sang songs, and prayed until the day she went home to be with the Lord.

Deaconess Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three of her children, Duane Richard Ramsey, Sr., Deborah Ann Lewis, Wendy Lee Rice; grandchildren, Stacy Nicole Rice, Kirk Devar Lewis, Shannon Denise Gressem and eight of her siblings, Mabel Drake, Bertha McBride, Henrietta Lipscomb, James Kirkland, Aaron Kirkland, Marshall Kirkland, Frederick Kirkland, and Bernice Moses.

Her legacy will endure for generations to come through her daughter, Sharon (Michael) Gressem, Sr. of Clairton, PA; grandchildren, Lamont “Andre” Lewis, Jr., Duane “Rick” (Andrea) Ramsey Jr., Raymond (Latisha) Rice Jr., Angela Gressem, Tisha Rice, Keela (Joseph) Stanley, Michael T. (Larissa) Gressem II, Ashley Rice, Michelle (Marcel) Peterson, Amy (Tony) Brinson, and Marica (Phillip) Harris; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; brother Jack (Iris) Kirkland of St. Louis, MO; children she reared, Kim Drake of McKeesport, PA,  Paula Wortham of Pine Hill, NJ, and Christopher (Raina) Richardson of Greensburg, PA; daughter in law, Brenda Ramsey of Fayetteville, NC; son in law, Lamont Lewis Sr. of Clairton, PA, and son in law Raymond (Marilyn) Rice of Elizabeth Township, PA; host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.