Patricia Anne "GeGe" Quarry's Obituary
Patricia 'Pat' Anne Howard was gift to parents Woodrow Israel Howard and Vivian Howard (Nee Thompson) on September 6, 1945 at their home in Richmond, California. She was the fourth child of eight, including four sisters and three brothers.
The Howard family relocated to Oakland where Patricia attended Oakland Public Schools including Clawson Elementary, McClymonds, and Fremont High School. Patricia subsequently attended Laney college where she studied various genres of dance and choreography.
In the early 1960's, a militant and socially conscious mindset led Patrica to the Black Panther Party, where she worked diligently to change the outcome of civil rights as an African-American woman.
While studying at Laney, Pat met and married Cleveland J.C. Williams; from their union came her only child, Celetta Motumia Williams whom she proclaimed her 'miracle baby.'
Pat, who became known later as 'Peaches', held various occupations: from housekeeper to nanny, Pre-K child care assistant at her former elementary school and a school bus driver for Standard Bus Lines. Later, as a single mother looking for a better form of support, she applied for a job as a semi-0skilled laborer and was hired at Kaiser Sand & Gravel and O.C. Jones & Companies. Overcoming strong opposition as a female working in a male dominated industry, she operated both the jackhammer and cement mixer and assisted in construction of the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Oakland, portions of the I-580 freeway and the BART railing system. She also volunteered as a rescue worker to look for survivors in the collapsed section of the Cypress Freeway following the 1989 Bay Area Earthquake. Later she took a position in the Oakland Public Works department as a Secretary until an opportunity opened and was promoted to Parking Control Technician and later, became the first woman to hold the position of Street Sweeper for the City of Oakland. Her achievements constantly were met with hostility and discrimination as she was initially forced to dress with her male co-workers. After winning a discrimination suit, she set the precedent for mandatory separate facilities within her department which female workers still use today.
Her spiritual journey first began at St. John Baptist Church under the leadership of the late
Pastor Carl Anderson and continued to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church then pastored by the late Dr. Arilee Hightower. She later attended Love Center Ministries on MacArthur Blvd (Oakland) where she enjoyed the teaching and musical inspiration of the late Bishop Walter 'Hawkins and the Love Center Choir. She found a home at Allen Temple Bamptist Church, where J. Alfred Smith baptized her daughter and she sang melodious songs with a bold alto voice as a favoured soloist in the Inspirational Choir for over ten years.
In 1991 she became the proud grandmother to Cemara Patannishia Griffith who affectionately began to call her simply 'GeeGee.' She met and married the love of her life Manuel Quarry in 1993 and remained by his side until his death in 1997. During their devotion they witnessed the birth of second and third grandchildren: Tajauhna Sundei De'Manya (1993) and Isaiah Jalon (1996) Hunter. In 2004 her fourth grandson, Zion Joseph Lavon was born.
After her daughter married Reverend Georgory D. Hunter in 1993, she invited Patricica to visit her new church, Olivet. That same year Patricica joined her family on membership under Bishop Gordon Arlester Humphrey working in the ministries of Care & Compassion, where she never missed an opportunity to send her condolences through cards, visits, and well wishes; as leading role model of the J.O.Y. Team with the church's youth, many of which became her adopted godchildren, becoming known to everyone as GeeGee and in the Olivet Sanctuary Choir under the direction of her son-in-law, and Minister Jeffrey Williams where she traveled to both Japan and Russia, participated in 'The Gospel at Colonus' and recordings for Olivet Oakland's Sunday Night Live, leading songs such as her much loved rendition of Bay Area songwriter Clarence Eggleton's 'God Said It, I Believe It.'
Patricia became an active member of Celebration Worship Center in 2004, under the pastoral covering of her son-in-law, where she served as a Deaconess, custodian, culinary staff, and occasional praise team member. She soon rejoined Olivet Church in 2013 during his transition to acting pastor.
She enjoyed all music but gospel was her favorite. On any dayh of the week you could hear her playing the albums of Love Alive, James Cleveland's Love Fellowship Choir, and Aretha Franklin's 'Amazing Grace.' On Sunday mornings her voice rang through the house to the songs of Shirley Caesar, The Might Clouds of Joy, and the Clark Sisters. Some of her favorites, 'No Charge', 'If God is Dead', 'What Will I Do?', and 'You Brought the Sunshine.' She also enjoyed Mahalia Jackson, especially her magnificent performance of 'Trouble of This World' in one of her favorite movies, 'Imitation of Life.' An eclectic listener, she enjoyed Cajun Zydeco Music and Western classics such as 'Red River Valley.'
In 2006, after 23 years of service, Patricia retired from the City of Oakland to begin a new endeavor, her dream of starting a business, Wise Old Proverbs, taking her favorite verses from the book of Proverbs and printing them on t-shirts, hats, and other items. She traveled all over California in her RV attending many festivals, faires, and other venues, spreading her gift of practical advice through the Word of God.
In 2008 she traveled with her granddaughter, Cemara, to Washington D.C. to witness the inauguration of the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama ' one of her proudest moments. She enjoyed spending time with and spoiling her grandchildren and bragging about her daughter and son-in-law.
Patricia's interests included traveling, writing poetry, collecting a multitude of anything Obama, and helping others with direct and honest words of advice, including good deeds, sometimes whether you asked or not. She helped friends and family tirelessly in any way she could. Her philosophy: What she had she would give, but what you borrowed you had better pay back.
Patricia was a lifetime member of the National Council of Women and an active member of the fabulous Ladies in Red, the national Association of Professional Women, East Oakland-Hayward Chapter of the NAACP, Oakland-East Bay Democratic Club and the Women's Empowerment Group.
As her favorite Proverb 16.9 tells us: 'We make our plans but God has the final say.'
On May 21, 2013 the Lord decided to reunite her with those she loved who had been called to Glory before her, including: her loving husband, father, and two sisters, 'Barbara 'Beauty' Dugan and Ora Jean Howard, and a brother, Milton Howard.
Patricia leaves to cherish her memory: her mother- Vivian Griffin; daughter and son-in-law; grandchildren; sisters: Mary Amos (Oakland) and Maxine Howard (Mainz, West Germany); brothers: Woodrow Israel Howard Jr. and Walter Howard (Clearlake, CA); in-laws Charles Hunter (Oakland, CA) and Lois Pree (Texarkana, AR) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and adopted godchildren.
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