Wilma Hector

Wilma Hector, daughter of the late John Rich and Josie Kee Hector, was born on December 4, 1941 in Lawndale, NC. She departed this earthly life and entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ.

Wilma graduated from Douglas High School in Lawndale, NC where she was a member of the basketball team as well as the Business Manager for the Annual Staff of the class of 1961. Upon graduation she was hired by the school as the first black and the first female school bus driver as well as the School Secretary.
Wilma moved to New Jersey in 1964 and worked for multiple companies including the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Elizabeth and Avionics Instruments in Avenel. She met some of her closest friends at these jobs and had many cherished memories. She was a member of Mount Teman AME Church in Elizabeth, NJ for many years where she served on the Stewardess Board and the Mother’s Club. Wilma also served as Vice President of the O’Donnell Dempsey Towers Tenants Association.

Wilma was known for her love of cooking for family and neighbors as well as having close friends and church members over for meals and fellowship regularly. She loved shopping for bargains for herself and others in the basement of Bamberger’s in Newark until it closed in 1986. I recall a storm coming through one year while I was away at school and couldn’t reach her. When I finally got in touch with her she told me that she was at Bamberger’s shopping; my friends have been beneficiaries of these excursions.
Always thinking of others and how she could be a blessing to them; many times I would be at her home and see things laying around and she would say Oh, that’s for such and such, or she would ask when are you and the girls getting together so that she could send them some collard greens or pie. She was affectionately known for her infectious smile, sweet disposition, soft spoken voice and telling it like it is. Our precious mother was a blessing to us and everyone she came in contact with. We will miss her tremendously, but her sweet spirit remains with us and our love for her endures forever.

Along with her parents, Wilma was predeceased by one grandson: Javon Hector; four brothers: Franklin, Robert, Floyd and Calvin; two brothers-in-law: John Campbell and L.C. Williams and one sister-in-law: Mary.

She leaves a legacy of loved and cherished memories to her daughters: Marlisa Hector Eargle of NJ and Karen Hector of NC; one son-in-law: Simpson Eargle of NJ; one son-in-love: James Myers of NY; four grandsons: Terrance, Clinton (Brianna), Reginald Buckner Jr. all of NC and Khaleef of NJ; three granddaughters: Sa-Sha Hector and LaToya Hector-Privette (Quinton) of NC, Ebony Diehl (Terrell) of NJ; six sisters: Joe Ann Campbell, Martha Meadows (Larry) of NJ, Pauline Williams, Evelyn Bell (Bryan), Doris Hector and Joyce Ruff (Johnny) all of NC; four  brothers: John (Bessie), Harvey (Yvonne), David and John McCloney all of NC; two sisters-in-law: Bernice and Norma; thirteen great grandchildren; one very special aunt: Mary Lillian Gass; very close and dear friends: Minnie Jackson, Joanne Wilkerson, Shirley Dozier, Connie Smith and Fannie Mauney; her brothers and sisters in Christ (The Mt. Teman Family), her O'Donnell Dempsey family and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

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