Gilberta Emanuel

Gilberta Emanuel, affectionately known as T.A.B. age 77, of William’s Delight, St. Croix passed away on September 9, 2021 in Charlotte, NC. Gilberta was born in the community of Blanchard on the island of St. Lucia, West Indies on April 28, 1944 to the late Etienne Promesse and the late Roselta Blanchard. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers Patrick and Lucius Promesse.

She spent her formative years attending school in the Parish of Micoud in St. Lucia. She gave her life to Christ at a very young age and lived a life of Christian service. She loved the Lord with all her heart and served in the church as a Sunday School teacher at Desruisseaux Evangelical Church and Frederiksted Baptist Church. She also served in the outreach ministry where she fed the homeless and was a member of the choir for many years at Frederiksted Baptist Church in St. Croix.

She grew up with the love of her life, Victor Emanuel, as they attended the same schools and church as children but it wasn’t until their early 20s that their friendship blossomed into a loving relationship that would last for the next 50 years. They relocated to the island of St. Croix shortly after their wedding in 1971. Out of their union came two children, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Gilberta dedicated her life to caring for her family as a stay-at-home mom and was very serious about education. She was a life-long learner and instilled the importance of education in her children. As her children got older, she pursued another career and worked her way up the ladder of the McDonald’s corporation retiring after 20+ years.

She was a wise, sweet lady that left quite an impact on anyone she met and was well-respected among her peers. She was incredibly passionate about serving and caring for others and would go out of her way to share the love of Christ to all that came across her path.

She is survived by Victor Emanuel, her loving husband of 50 years, Two children: Son, Phillip Emanuel (Dnika) of Atlanta, GA, Daughter, Eunice E. Murray (Kemuel) of Charlotte, NC. Four grandchildren: Dontese Emanuel of Los Angeles, CA; Gabrielle and Korinne Murray of Charlotte, NC; Zuri R. Emanuel of Atlanta, GA. One great-granddaughter, Sincere Grant of Seattle, WA. One godson James Surage of St. Lucia, WI. Three sisters: Mary Wilfred (Rene) of St. Lucia, WI, Celina Deterville (Alexis) of St.Lucia, WI, Agatha ‘Aggie’ Rogers (Ali) of St. Croix, VI. Two brothers: Matthew Promesse (Babzie) of St. Lucia, WI, and Alexander ‘T-Ben’ Blanchard (Estelle) of St. Lucia, WI. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and very close and special friends.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 25th at 9 a.m. at Frederiksted Baptist Church located at 89-B Wheel of Fortune, Frederiksted, St. Croix US Virgin Islands. The service will be streamed online. Live Stream Link

Memorial Donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region.