Gertie Washington was born in Jacksonboro, South Carolina on February 18, 1926. She was one of eight children to the late Marion and Elvira Simmons. Gertie passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2017 at Montefiore Hospital in Bronx, New York at the age of 90 years old.

Gertie was raised and educated in Charleston, South Carolina. She eventually married her Jacksonboro neighbor, Oscar Washington who always let it be known that he knew her since she was 4 years old. They came to New York in 1958 for better job opportunities. This union lasted 61 years until Oscar's passing in 2007. She was the mother of five children: Horace (deceased), Elvira, Margaret (deceased), Juanita and Delores (deceased).

Gertie worked in the service industry, but she was primarily a home body who dedicated her life to her family and her faith as a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. She made every effort to keep her children on the right path. She would often use as a guide the scripture Matthew 6:33 which states, "Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you". (NWT) Baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 1969, Gertie had great spiritual strength and never swayed from her beliefs. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Creston Congregation, 216 E. 183rd Street, Bronx, NY 10458. She was recognized and well respected by friends and family for her kindness and love. Gertie was also a great cook and baker. She made pies and biscuits from scratch, better than any bakery.

Some of Gertie's favorite scriptures were, Isaiah 25:8, "He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth. For Jehovah himself has spoken it." (NWT)

Revelations 21:4, "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away". (NWT)

Gertie is survived by: two daughters, Elvira Memminger of the Bronx, NY and Juanita Williams of Queens, NY; one sister, Vivian L. Simmons of the Bronx, NY; two grandsons, Joseph L. Johnson of Queens, NY and Arnold O. Kellman of the Bronx, NY; great grandsons, Shomari S. Johnson and Anthony J. Prewitt; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.