Sylvia Bereth Gaskin was born November 6, 1921 in Drax Hall, St. George, Barbados, to Marie and Rufus Walcott. She was affectionately called Ma, Grams, Grandma, and Grandmother.
Sylvia was a member of the Haggatt Hall Pilgrim Holiness Church (Barbados), where she served as Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader and Missionary President. In1967, she joined her daughters, Valdene and Olivia (Richardeen), in Brooklyn, New York.
In New York, Sylvia studied to become a Nurse’s Aid. She obtained employment as a housekeeper in New Jersey and later retired after working for a family in Manhattan for 18 years.
Sylvia became a member of the Church of the Pilgrim Holiness in 1967. At Pilgrim Holiness, she served as President of the Missionary Department, member of the Sunday School, the Women’s Ministry and was ordained by the Late Rev. Eugene A. Howard as Deaconess. Later she was appointed Head Deaconess, where she was very dedicated in preparing communion and served God faithfully. In her capacity as Head Deaconess, she often visited sick and shut-in members of her church family and others who were in need. Sylvia enjoyed singing in the Candlelight Service every December and volunteering for Vacation Bible School and the Annual Health Fair each summer.
Sylvia enjoyed vacationing in Barbados and Canada. She loved bus outings and church banquets and was known to be the first to pay for her ticket.
Sylvia’s talent as a cook is legendary. Cou Cou, Fried Fish and Bakes were some of her specialties. No occasion was complete without her Famous Mauby.
Sylvia’s retirement began a new phase of her life. Her artistic abilities developed and she learned the art of painting and a love of craft at the Hazel Brooks Senior Center. She subsequently found a center closer to home and spend many fruitful and fulfilling years at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Senior Center. During her time at St. Gabriel’s, she made many new friends and enjoyed participating in the abundance of events and activities, which kept her quite busy. One of Sylvia’s favorite activities was advocating for Senior’s rights in City Hall, Albany, N.Y and Washington, D.C. On Wednesday’s she attended the Pilgrim Seniors Ministry and enjoyed the devotional and fellowship time with her church family.
After a brief illness, Deaconess Sylvia B. Gaskin was called home to her reward on Monday, December 3, 2012. Despite being ill, she continued praising God in song and scripture.
She was predeceased by her son, Grantley Walcott, his wife Erlene, brother William Walcott, and his wife Eunice. Ma leaves to mourn two daughters; Valdene Hazell and Olivia Richardeen Jones, sons- in-law; Calton Jones and Min. Jason Hazell, grandchildren; Julien Walcott, Andrea Jones, Courtenay Hazell, William Hazell (Janea), Kelvin Jones and Cassandra Earle-Hazell, great-grandchildren; Christian, Ciera, Cameron, Christopher and Erica, aunt of; Patricia Hercules, George Hamblin and Jean Howard, cousins including; Marva Grosvenor, Glenith Greenidge and Joyce Barrow, relative of; Audrie and Christian Reid and the Grosvenor Family, good friend of Sandra Simpson - Loney and Victor Moore, the church family of the Pilgrim Holiness, the St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Senior Center, and a host of relatives and friends.