Beatrice D. Gamble, 58, of Williamsport, PA quietly “took the wings of the morning” on October 1, 2022, surrounded by her family.
Beatrice was born on May 13, 1964, to the late Ethel Fundersburg and Richard Williams and raised from birth by her loving and adoring parents the late Emma and Andrew Wright. Beatrice attended the Philadelphia Public School System and received her high school diploma from Williamsport Area School District.
Beatrice was married to the late Felipe Ortiz II, and to that union was born Kyla Monae` Ortiz and Tyrielle Arie Ortiz.
Beatrice and her husband Loni were married in 1999 and remained so the rest of her life. Beatrice and Loni together brought 4 daughters and 2 sons to the union and continued to share their love with many godchildren.
Bea, whom everyone lovingly referred to worked in the Registrar’s office at Lycoming College as the Student Information Specialist since 2001. Bea was fondly known as “Momma B” around campus. She was a mentor and an away from home mother to the minority students at Lycoming College. She soon became “Momma B” to the entire campus. Bea opened her home to many of the students she had the pleasure of mentoring. She would often take students to church with her and feed them home cooked meals. Bea also hosted students who could not make it home for the holidays. Her proudest moment was hosting 22 students in her home for Easter one year. “Momma B” always made time for her students, lending an ear an open heart and giving advice. Another monumental moment in her life at Lycoming College was meeting history in the person of Mrs. Minnijean Brown Trickey of the “Little Rock Nine” (nine African American students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.) The meeting inspired Bea to pen a paper entitled “Held History Today, or as it was History Held Me”.
Bea was one of the lead female vocalists with the band Loni Gamble and Sound Cheque / Sugar and Spice and traveled extensively with the band for many years. She was a founding board member of the Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPPA), a local youth intervention and development program and also a member of Lycoming Tri-County NAACP.
Bea was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she served faithfully until joining Love Unlimited Ministries where she served as the choir director, hospitality chairperson and chairperson for the Annual Women’s Day Committee.
Bea had many hobbies and talents, she was the creator of the infamous Momma B seasonings, she was well known for her pickle recipes and named the Pickle Lady and her homemade garlic butter was sure to keeping you coming back for more, and her Homemade Healing Chicken Soup was sure to cure even the toughest of colds. Bea was also great outside of the kitchen often keeping herself busy with various projects and events, wedding/party planning, creating floral arrangements, and interior design are just a few items she was often called upon to help other. Beatrice was a lively storyteller and created several skits for the CAPPA showcases over the years.
As talented as Bea was, she will mostly be remembered for her kindness, warm spirit and just being there for everyone.
Beatrice was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Richard Charles James and Clifford Chico Williams, her godparents, Marvin Mosley and Queenie Braswell, and Beatrice’s long-time canine companion of 17 years, Maximillion Bouvieŕ Gamble.
She leaves behind, her husband Loni; children; Kyla Monaé́ Ortiz, Tyrielle Arie Ortiz, Christopher Williams, Barbra Dudley, Maurice Jordan, Kamisha Boyd-Gamble, Tiffany Porterfield; grandson Semaj Pettigrew; granddaughter, Saḿ’ielah Monise Schell, & a host of others. God-sister Donna English, God-children Reginald Oliver (Kiya), Dawn and Lenora Holloway, and Nicole Willis, as well as brothers, sisters, in-laws, and a host of nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of life memorial service for Beatrice Gamble will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 604 Market Street, Williamsport, Pa. 17701, on Saturday October 29th at 12pm.
In lieu of flowers please consider honoring Bea’s legacy with a gift to:
Beatrice “Momma B” Gamble Endowed Scholarship Fund at Lycoming College
(www.lycoming.edu/gamblescholarship.)
Crouse Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting with final arrangements. To share a fond memory or sign an online register book, please visit http://www.crousefuneralhome.com.
