By Staff
Mrs. Gladys Hill Winfield, 72, of 548 Pamlico St., Belhaven, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at home.
A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Wilkinson Center in Belhaven with pastor Mark J. DeNeal officiating. Burial will follow in Northside Cemetery, Belhaven.
Mrs. Winfield was born in Beaufort County on April 3, 1936. She was the daughter of the late Hezekiah and Beulah Pailen Hill. She was reared by her grandparents, Richard and Addie Jaycock. She was a 1953 graduate of Belhaven High School. On Aug. 25, 1957, she married George E. Winfield Sr., who survives. She had been employed in food service at River Forest Manor. She retired as head cook at Spencer Rest Home in Pantego. She was a member of a number of community organizations, serving as vice president of Church Women United, Inc. of Belhaven; member of Pungo Ministerial Alliance and the Mt. Gilead Pentecostal Holiness Church conference. In April 2008, assisted by Dean Rosa Walker Gibbs and other pastors, she organized the Mt. Gilead School of Ministry. On Nov. 15, 2008, the chief administrator led by Dean Rosa W. Gibbs bestowed upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa, from Mt. Gilead Pentecostal Holiness Church. She was first a member of First Baptist Church (formerly known as Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church). In 1964, she was ordained as a missionary evangelist at Mt. Olive PFHC. From 1998-1999, she served as assistant pastor of Mt. Gilead Pentecostal Holiness Church. In 1999, she was installed as pastor of Mt. Gilead Pentecostal Holiness Church where she served for more than 10 years.
Survivors include four daughters, Stephanie Thompson of Greenville, Cindy Cross of Florida, Rettie Winfield of Delaware and Regina Arthur of Belhaven; three sons, Richard Winfield of Virginia, George Winfield Jr. of Pantego and Ronald Winfield of Kansas; 22 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Jacob A. Hill.
The family will receive friends today from 5-6 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 681 Railroad St., Belhaven and other times at the home.
The body will be placed in the Wilkinson Center one hour prior to the service.
Arrangements are by Randolph Funeral Home, 219 N. Bonner St., Washington.