Girlene Marie Gilford

Girlene Marie Williams Gilford

‘Pick’

1937–2024

Girlene Marie Gilford was born Girlene Marie Williams on Saturday, October 9, 1937, to Rev. Iris and Mrs. Inez P. Williams on the Flath farm in Prairie Valley, Fayette County, Texas. She left this life on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at her home in Killeen, Texas, with her son, Raymond Gilford, at her side. 

Following the loss of Girlene’s brother, Iris Williams Jr., in 1945, the family lived briefly in La Grange, then Houston, finally settling in Austin in 1947 where Girlene grew up. She professed a hope in Christ at an early age, was baptized and a member of Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, where she served in the choir and was church secretary during the 1980s.

Her parents, her brother Iris Williams Jr., and her sister, Charlene Williams, preceded her in death.

Girlene attended L.L. Campbell Elementary, Kealing Jr. High, and the Original L.C. Anderson High School in Austin. While at Anderson, she served her class as both secretary and treasurer. Girlene placed 4th in the Miss Anderson High contest and played clarinet in the band. As a Junior she was elected President of the National Honor Society and was named Most Studious for that year. As a Senior she was named Best Citizen. She graduated Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 1955.

Upon graduation from Anderson, she enrolled at Huston-Tillotson College in the Fall of 1955, majoring in Home Economics. She was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 1956, the University of Texas opened undergraduate admissions to African-American students for the first time and Girlene transferred from Huston-Tillotson to UT becoming one of the Precursors. She graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics with a specialization in textiles. In September of 2016 she was able to attend a ceremony at UT Austin which honored the Precursors.

In 1959 Girlene contributed a selection of community and family folk tales that had been shared over the years to the anthology, “And horns on the toads” published by the Texas Folklore Society. Her chapter is titled, “Negro Stories from the Colorado Valley.”

While at Texas she met Milton Gilford who was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin. They married on May 21, 1960. To this union, their son, Raymond, was born. They settled in Austin, Texas.

Girlene’s passion was sewing, a skill she acquired first from her mother. For several years, between the two of them, there was at least one sewing machine running every day. She made blouses and skirts for herself and her sister, and hemmed and altered shirts and pants bought from stores.

Professionally, the bulk of Girlene’s career was in civil service for a number of federal agencies. She worked at the Internal Revenue Service as a tax examiner, then in the mid-1970s she worked as a clerk at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, in southern California, then finally in Austin at the Department of Veteran Affairs as an administrative assistant where she retired in 1996.

She leaves to cherish her memory her son Raymond Gilford of Killeen, Texas, first cousins Beverly Jackson of Temple, Texas, Brenda Long (Wendell) of Houston, Texas, Gail Gibbs of Houston, Texas, and Hattie Williams of Lompoc, California, members of the Original L.C. Anderson High School class of 1955 and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the nurses, caregivers, and staff of Embrace Hospice of Temple, Texas, for their efforts on Girlene’s behalf.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Girlene’s name to your favorite charity.