Gertrude Torres

Gertrude Torres (101) was born on November 23, 1920, to the late Robert and Pauline Mathews of Hertford County, NC and departed this earthly life on August 20, 2022. She was preceded in death by her brothers Elwood Mathews, Raleigh Mathews, Jessie Robert Mathews, Jacobi Mathews and her sisters Iola Pierce, Blanche Mathews, and Ruby Mitchell. Gertrude, or Gertie as she was affectionately known by her family, grew up in a loving home in rural North Carolina and was the eighth of nine Mathews children. At a young, her mother and father instilled in her their deep love of God and the Bible which was the basis of her family values. She was baptized into Christ at the tender age of nine and remained a faithful servant of Christ. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in NYC and later attended the Manhattan Church of Christ until she was no longer physically able to attend. She professed her love of the Lord until the very end. Gertrude’s favorite scripture was Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. Although Gertrude grew up on a farm, she excelled academically and had a love for literature and poetry. The stories that she read inspired her to dream of a life in the big city one day. After graduating from Ahoskie High\ School with high marks, she set off for Brick’s Junior College in New Jersey where she advanced her studies. Gertrude would eventually find her way to NYC where she lived with her sister Ruby and family. She found work as a cashier in a restaurant while she studied to become a secretary at the Abbey Institute and after graduating, she was on her way to achieving her dream. She got her first secretarial job with the famous Sam Goody’s records company. Gertrude would eventually get a job with the Supreme Court of New York as a clerk/typist. She went on to work in the Court system for more than 30 years and when she retired, she held the title of Office Manager in the Department of Probation and Supervision. In 1956 she met and married the late William Torres of Ponce, Puerto Rico. They were married for seven years and had one son, Ricardo from this marriage. Although Gertrude raised her son as a single parent and never remarried, she was able to provide an excellent life for her son. Later, she was able to buy her own home together with her sister Ruby. She loved to travel with her friends & family especially on summer family vacations to Maine. Gertrude will be remembered for her sense of style, her love of the arts and for her good sense of humor. She was a devoted and loving sister, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother who prayed daily for her family. She leaves behind to cherish her memory one son, Ricardo, daughter-in-law Radica, grand-daughter’s Ashley & Farisha, grandson Clint, granddaughter-in-law Nerissa, grandson-in-law William Perez, great-grandson’s Shakir Hosein and William H. Perez and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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Gertrude Torres

November 23, 1920 - August 20, 2022