Tribute: Momay Was Her Name

Momay was an old school mother who told her children not to eat in anyone’s house and what time to be home for lunch and dinner– you had better be in your seat at the table at that time.

[Tribute To A Mother]

Black Star News investigative reporter Donald Winkfield penned the following tribute for his beloved mother who was called to the ancestors yesterday.

Lucille Elizabeth Winkfield, or Momay, lived a full life from January 14, 1928 to the early morning of June 21, 2010.

When the Creator welcomed her where she will be protected with all our great ancestors, she was on a hospital bed surrounded by her children, family and friends. I cannot remember when we began calling her Momay, but with eight children asking for things — “Mom may I have this; Mom may I have that”– it somehow became her name.

Born in Charleston South Carolina to the late David and Justine Thompson who moved north and started a new life in New York City, she would grow up on the eastside and attend school where she became a tomboy and earned the nick-name, “Mickey Bad,” before going on to graduate High School. A short time after graduation Momay would meet Grady Ray Winkfield Jr. They were married for 52 years until he moved on to glory in February 2001.

Momay was an old school mother who told her children not to eat in anyone’s house and what time to be home for lunch and dinner– you had better be in your seat at the table at that time. She was a strong family woman and protected her children unconditionally. I remember my father telling me: “The CIA and the FBI together cannot be compared to your mother when it came to protecting her children.”

Momay gave up a nursing career and became a full time housewife and returned to the workforce when her last child began the third grade. She retired from Harlem Hospital after 30 years of service as a Nurse Aide Technician and member of Local 237 and DC37.

Momay will go on to join her late son David her mother and father, brothers David, Thaddus and Julian,  and sisters Aline and Zella. Her surviving sisters are: Evelyn, Dorothy, Amelia, Lorraine and Bobby. Her children who survive her are, Thomasina, Grady III, Deborah, yours truly, Gregory, Theresa and Tyrone, daughters-in law, Mary and Gwendolyn, grandchildren Cheryl, Jermaine, Raheem (RIP), Matt, David, Keith, Grady IV, Monique, Nicole, Rasheedah, Gregory Jr., Joshua, Arriel, Karla, Tawana, Keisha, and Curry, great-grandchildren Michael, Shanecia, Malika, Jerel, Terrell, Rahneiqua, Jhene, Jontae, Jordan, Ameer, Kalique, Kamari, Imani, Brielle, Gabriella, Danielle, Kayla and Khalid; nieces Karen and Denise, nephews Richard, James, Dennis (RIP), Christopher and Mark, in addition to a host of other relatives and friends.

On behalf of the Winkfield family, I would like to thank everyone for the kind words expressed toward our dear Mother, Lucille Elizabeth Winkfield.

 
Information on Funeral:

Thursday  June 24,  2010, Granby’s Funeral  Service, Inc. 4021 White  Plains Road
Bronx New York  10466.  Business:  (718) 519- 6047  Fax: (718)  405-9877
Viewing  – 3 P.M.  to  8 P.M.
Friday  June 25,  2010.
Metropolitan Church, 1975  Madison Ave. New  York, New York 10027.
Viewing  – 10:30 A.M.   to  11: A.M. Services  – 11 A.M. 

Contact Winkfield: [email protected] if you have major news that needs to be investigated. (646) 387-8964

Together we can get the justice everyone just talks about.

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

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