Gelila McCullers

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Gelila McCullers, affectionately known as Mama Lila to her family and Mother McCullers in her church, was born Annie Gelila Holcomb on May 27, 1918, in Inman, South Carolina, and passed away peacefully in Staten Island, New York, on April 19, 2024. 

Gelila was the seventh of fifteen children born to Gladys and Hollis Holcomb, who were sharecroppers. Despite facing hard times, Gelila’s parents emphasized the importance of education and faith, values she upheld throughout her life. In 1938, she received her high school diploma from the Cummings Street School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She went on to earn a degree from Friendship Junior College and later became a licensed cosmetologist. At 21, Gelila moved to Maryland to be with some of her older siblings before eventually settling in New York City, where she met and married Lamarr McCullers, affectionately known as Pat.

Gelila dedicated her professional life to helping the less fortunate. Continuing her education, she completed extensive training in newborn and childcare at the Medical Aid Training School in the State of New York. She was also trained in geriatrics and convalescent care for homes and hospitals. At the age of 56, Gelila received a degree in Mental Health from Staten Island Community College. For 13 years, she worked for the North Richmond Mental Health Center as a Mental Health Technician.  

Gelila always had a passion for helping the underserved. She volunteered extensively, working with patients in nursing homes. One of her greatest accomplishments was helping the homeless and people with HIV/AIDS. Her dedication to volunteering continued despite diminishing eyesight.  

Faith and being active in the church were always very important to Gelila. In New York, she was a member of Greater Central Baptist Church in Harlem and Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn before joining Fellowship Baptist Church on Staten Island. She joined Fellowship under the pastorate of the late Reverend Arthur D. Phillips. While attending Fellowship, Gelila served in various capacities. She became one of the first missionaries and served as “sick report” chair, devotional leader, and Sunday School Teacher. Ultimately, Gelila was appointed “Mother” of the church by Pastor James H. Williams.

Gelila advanced her knowledge of Bible study and received many certificates for her service and support. In 1987, her first certificate of progress from the Board of Education and Publication / Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. was awarded to her. She received numerous honors and awards from Greater Central Baptist Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, and the Richmond Terrace Senior Center. Gelila also received multiple certificates and awards from the Progressive National Baptist Convention, The National Council of Negro Women, Project Hospitality, and the Staten Island Borough President’s Office. She was honored with various awards for her teaching and service within the Christian community.

 She was devoted to her family and was the President of the Holcomb Sisters Club, which included her sisters and sisters-in-law who lived in New York. The group met regularly to keep close family ties and to recognize the graduations and achievements of the younger generations. The activities of this group and their family gatherings inspired the beginning of the Holcomb Family Reunion, a tradition that began in 1980 and continued for decades.

In 1999, she was an original member of the Lockman Senior Club at Fellowship, where she remained active in their social gatherings, field trips, and plays. Her hobbies included sewing, crafts, gardening, and making and painting ceramics. She enjoyed traveling and visiting the Caribbean, Egypt, Israel (The Holy Land), Italy, and throughout the United States.

Gelila had five children: Loretta, Willie Fred, Bernard, Jeffrey, and Duane. The branches of her family tree expanded to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her husband LaMarr, two of her sons (Jeffrey and Bernard), and one grandson, Albert (Champ).

Gelila was truly a virtuous woman. Her gentle demeanor, generosity, and willingness to help impacted everyone she encountered. As her eyesight diminished over the years, she continued to remain active and engaged and did whatever she could do independently. Everything was done with grace, pride, and with her head held high. Gelila lived a full and incredible life of nearly 106 years. May she now rest peacefully, and the life she lived speak for itself.

Left to cherish her memory, Gelila is survived by three of her children - Loretta Shephard (Russell), Willie Fred Bailey (Arthur – deceased), Duane McCullers (Sharon); one daughter-in-law Ernestina McCullers; eleven grandchildren - Geraldine (Wesley), Brenda, Frederick (Detra), Darlene, Babette (Yuhanna), Tracy, Tanya, Dawn (Marcus), Kyle (Sheena), Bernard and Kenton; one sister Frances Ruth Robinson; one brother Wilbert Holcomb; two sisters-in-law Annette Holcomb and Elease Holcombe; and a host of great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, church family and friends.

Sleep on Gelila and take your rest, we all love you, but God loves you best!

~Lovingly submitted by the Family~

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