Jane Eleanor Gilbert

Married 23 Mar 1974 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Gary Alonzo Williams
Born 27 Apr 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died 13 Sep 2009 in [Williamstown, Gloucester Co., New Jersey]

No children

Notes

• Obituary, Philadelphia Daily News, 23 Mar 2000:
  JANE WILLIAMS, PRODIGY VIOLINIST
  Jim Nicholson, Daily News Staff Writer
    Jane Gilbert Williams, a retired administrative assistant in the Philadelphia public schools and a child prodigy violinist, died of breast cancer Monday. She was 68 and lived in Williamstown, N.J.
    Formerly of West Philadelphia, Williams began a 30-year career in the school system as a teacher at McIntyre Elementary School in North Philadelphia and later was promoted to administrative assistant at the Leslie P. Hill Middle School at 30th Street and Ridge Avenue. She retired in 1983.
    Upon graduating from West Catholic High School, the former Jane Gilbert received a full scholarship to Chestnut Hill College where she continued to develop her musical skills while preparing for a teaching career. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music with a minor in education.
    Williams began showing promise on the violin at the age of 6 and by 14, had performed as a featured soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra during the orchestra's annual concert radio broadcast for young listeners.
    While at West Catholic, she performed in a series of concerts at the Acedemy of Music and, during her sophomore, junior and senior years, she was concertmeister for the combined Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School Concerts.
    In 1943, her flourishing talent took her to New York City where she was featured soloist at the "Stars of Tomorrow" variety concert in Town Hall, a program produced by the late, legendary W.C. Handy.
    She was also a devoted and caring big sister, recalled Frank E. Gilbert.
    "When I attended Villanova Law School in the '50s, she would give me my spending money out of her salary as a teacher. I lived on campus and occasionally she would drive out and take me to the movies," said Gilbert, a Philadelphia assistant district attorney.
    "I can say she never had an unkind word to say against any person," he said, "not even a politician she didn't vote for."
    He said that during the four years she battled cancer "she was a very positive person. She never complained and never had a harsh word about her treatment, Always she asked me about how I was doing, how everyone else in the family was doing,"
    Besides music, she was also a talented artist. She enjoyed doing oil paintings of religious icons and was an excellent gardener whose Concord grapes were much sought after.
    Williams was widely regarded as an excellent cook. She also worked side by side remodeling her home with her husband of 26 years, Gary Alonzo Williams.
    "Jane was not only my beloved wife," he said, "she was also my buddy. We went everywhere and did everything together."
    Survivors also include a sister, Neva Scott.
    Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Therese Church, Upsal and Anderson streets, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham Township.
• Obituary, Philadelphia Inquirer, 25 Mar 2000:
  JANE G. WILLIAMS
  RETIRED SCHOOL SECRETARY, 68
    Jane G. Williams, 68, a retired school secretary and an accomplished violinist, died Monday of breast cancer at her home in Williamstown, Gloucester County.
    Before moving to Williamstown in 1974, Mrs. Williams had lived in East Mount Airy.
    Mrs. Williams taught and worked in the Philadelphia public school system for 30 years. She started teaching in 1953 at C.D. McIntyre School in North Philadelphia, and later became an administrative assistant, working at Leslie P. Hill School in North Philadelphia until she retired in 1983.
    Mrs. Williams played the violin from age 6, studying at the former New School of Music, among other local academies. At 14, she played a youth concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She also played as a girl at the Stars of Tomorrow variety concert in New York and with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, an all-African American ensemble.
    She grew up in West Philadelphia and graduated from West Catholic High School for Girls in 1949. She earned a bachelor's degree in music from Chestnut Hill College in 1953.
    In addition to music, she enjoyed painting religious icons, gardening, and cooking.
    She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Gary A.; a brother, Frank E. Gilbert; and a sister, Neva Scott.
    A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Therese Church, Upsal and Anderson Streets. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham.

Sources

• SSDI 186-32-1164