Gladys W. Smith, devoted to family

GLADYS WALKER SMITH didn't like dirty dishes in the sink.

"She was clean and neat, so I washed dishes all day, it seemed," said her daughter, T. Carlene Davis.

"My mother was a hard worker and consistent disciplinarian," she said.

"She was not to be played with. When she gave an order, I was wise to obey and move immediately."

Gladys Smith, who worked as a housekeeper for various prominent families here and in New York, an active churchwoman and matriarch of an extended family, died Friday of complications from dementia.

She was living in a nursing home but had lived most of her life in North Philadelphia.

She was born in Norfolk, Va., to Annie Walker Deaton and Link Griffin. She got her early education there through the ninth grade.

She was 16 when her mother died and a friend told her about a job taking care of children for a family in New York City. She worked there for a couple of years before coming to Philadelphia at the age of 19.

"My mother was a lover of music," her daughter said. "She learned to play the organ and served as the organist at her church. When she moved to Philadelphia, she never even told anyone that she could play. The atmosphere was very different, so she just let it go."

Gladys worked from 1941 to 1949, during World War II, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. She later worked for a clothing factory until returning to domestic work.

She worked for the Miller family, of the moving and storage company, Miller North Broad; the family of the late City Councilman Thacher Longstreth, and that of Municipal Judge William J. Brady. She retired in 2000 or 2001.

Gladys was small in stature, but she didn't take any guff from anyone.

"My grandmother's nicknames were 'Boy' and 'Biddy,' " said her granddaughter, Darlene Jones. "I don't know about the Biddy, but I can assume that Boy came from the fact that my grandmother was not afraid to fight anyone. She could be rough when she was ruffled."

Gladys was an active member of Foster Memorial Baptist Church for more than 30 years. She lived only a block from the church and walked to services. She was a member of the Senior Choir and performed whatever chores the church needed.

She also is survived by a grandson, Sylvester Evans; seven great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Gervan Deaton.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Foster Memorial Baptist Church, 18th and York streets. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Peace Cemetery, 31st Street and Lehigh Avenue. *