Gladine McGill

It was a Tuesday, July 30, 1935, when the late Mr. James Anderson Brown and Mrs. Lucy Hopkins Brown welcomed three baby girls into the world…triplets! Although one of the three girls did not survive her earthly life for long, Gladine and her sister Nadine, survived and thrived to become known affectionately as “The Twins.”

Under the guidance of her parents, Gladine accepted Christ in her life at an early age as a member of Shorter Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of her maternal grandfather, Levi Hopkins, Sr. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Henry Lee McGill, she joined Bethel Holiness Church of God, where her father-in-law, Reverend Thomas J. McGill, presided as pastor.

By all accounts, Gladine always exuded independence. As a high school student, she was an unstoppable basketball player. You could hear her love for the game as she would get a kick out of recounting plays she had executed over girls much taller than she, as Gladine stood at only 5'2" but was a firecracker on the basketball court, known as “Lil’ Bit.” She enjoyed working on automobiles with her brothers. She would fight a boy or girl to protect her sisters. She graduated from Blevins Training School in 1953. In 1954, at age 19, she worked as one of the first negro female managers at the Montgomery Ward Department Store in Chicago, IL. Gladine married Henry Lee and served in her capacity as an Air Force Military Spouse for over twenty years.

Gladine loved horses, and to all who knew her, it mimicked her spirit…stubborn, strong, courageous, fun, free, and she would bear the weight of those who needed her at any given time. Racing a few pregnant mothers to the hospital just in time, babysitting children of neighborhood parents so they could work, rescuing strangers off the side of the road while having faith of no danger; this was Gladine. She also loved wine, music of all genres, dancing, and exercising. She received her certificate from Arkansas Fire Training Academy and was a volunteer firefighter. She enjoyed working outside and growing vegetable gardens, even winning “Yard of the Month” many times.  She was a giving person and helped so many people throughout her life.

She had a heart for children, and Gladine was like a mother to many throughout her lifetime.  SHE WAS TRULY A GOLDEN GIRL! She was an ever-presence in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, doling out wisdom unselfishly; stating the book says this or the book says that…regardless, it might as well have been set in stone when she uttered “Mark my words…it’s in THE BOOK!”

Gladine is preceded in death by her parents, James Anderson Brown, and Lucy Hopkins Brown; husband, Henry Lee McGill; brothers, Ramsey Brown, Theo Brown, Louis Brown, Connie H. Brown, Harvey Lee Brown, Elbert W. Brown, Douglas Brown, Willie Lee Brown; sisters, Mary L. Cross, Ethel “Puddin” McGill; grandson, Avery D. Haney, Jr.; and her great-grandchildren, Osaya and Isla Butler.

Gladine leaves the following loved ones to cherish her memory six children, Carl Henry (Karen) McGill of Ozan, AR; Debra Pulliam of Rockford, IL; Linda McGill of Texarkana, AR; Paul (LaTonya) McGill of Gurdon, AR; Anita (LaFrederic) Powell of Little Rock, AR; Greg Douglas McGill of Gurdon, AR; Thirteen grandchildren, (Carl) Krystal Williams (Jaiemz) of Little Rock, AR and Ariel McGill of Ozan, AR, (Debra) Latricia Alexander, James Davis Purifoy, and James Anderson Purifoy of Rockford, IL, (Linda) Corey McGill, Tony Terrell Manley-McGill of Gurdon, AR, (Paul) April Butler (Terrell) of Texarkana, AR and Delano Henry of Dallas, TX, (Anita) Chynna Powell of Dallas, TX and two grandsons-in-love Mikell Sorrells and Hussell Atkins; fifteen great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Arlene Zackery of Cleveland, OH; Nadine Powell of Sacramento, CA; one sister-in-law, Tommie Marie Franklin of Wake Village, TX; best friend, Betty Ross Morrison, and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins.

Submitted by the McGill Family.

A memorial visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the funeral home. A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Brother Terry McGill will deliver the words of comfort.