Biography:

Gwendolyn Dolores Robinson King was born September 17, 1935, in Effingham, South Carolina. As a young child Gwen moved to Harlem, New York with her parents Gladys Scipio Robinson and Rufus Robinson.

Gwen had fond memories of growing up in Harlem, which for her was a tight-knit community rooted in St. Matthews Baptist Church.

Gwen had an appreciation for style and fashion. As a young woman she modeled in numerous community fashion, Harlem theater, and arts shows. She kept her eye for style throughout her life and had a knack for selecting an outfit for friends and family even without knowing their size.

Gwen graduated from the High School of Commerce in 1953 and completed nurses training at The New York Foundling. Deciding to change careers, Gwen completed secretarial training. Across her career Gwen continued to learn as the tools of her work changed from manual typewriter to electric typewriter to computer with dot matrix printer to numerous computer software programs and the advent of email. Gwen retired in 2003 executive assistant to the university director of financial aid for the City University of New York.

Gwen was a proud and dedicated wife and mother. Until widowed Gwen was married to Walter King for 55-years. Gwen and Walter shared a commitment to family, a dedication to parenting, and a love of travel. The parents of Adrienne Robin and Kinda Louise, Gwen and Walter worked together to provide a nurturing home filled with love, laughter, and lively discussions of current events. Gwen encouraged Adrienne and Kinda to learn and explore while maintaining knowledge and respect for themselves and God. “Remember who you are and whose you are,” Gwen would always tell her daughters.

Gwen enjoyed traveling and with Walter visited Rome; Greece; London, England; Venice; Florence, Italy; Turkey, The Bahamas, Savannah, GA; Las Vegas; Cape Cod, Maine, and several other places. On one trip, Gwen and Walter met their daughters in Geneva, Switzerland from which the family traveled to the Swiss Alps.

An active member of Canaan Baptist Church of Christ, Gwen sang soprano with the Voices of Canaan, Women’s, and Mass Choirs for many years. She traveled with the choir and sang in Grand Central Station for the Christmas season.

Experienced in data entry and clerical work, Gwen did tithe and offerings data entry for Canaan.

To know Gwen was to be loved. She cherished her family and friends and strived to give grace to all. Gwen would always say “everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt” and “everyone deserves a howdy.”

Gwendolyn King, loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend, and neighbor departed this life January 2, 2024. Gwen is lovingly remembered by her daughters Adrienne Robin and Kinda Louise, granddaughter Anaiah Gwendolyn, cousins Barbara, Annie, Tyrone, Alaine (Everett), Alesia, LaMyra, Mia, Monique, Arthur, brother-in-law Murch, sisters-in-law Grace and Celia, nieces Sabrina, Zenobia, Stephanie (Michael), nephews Murch, David, Donnie (Kathy) and a host of family, friends, and neighbors.